Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane (R) hugs star man Cristiano Ronaldo after Champions League win over Atletico Madrid. (Photo : Getty Images)
Real Madrid won their 11th UEFA Champions League crown on Saturday, turning back a tough challenge from Atletico Madrid with a penalty shootout victory at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in San Siro.
The score went 1-1 after full time with Los Blancos team captain Sergio Ramos netting the opening goal at the 15th minute of the match while Belgian midfielder Yannick Carrasco scoring the equalizer at the 79th to send the two team's 2016 rematch to extra time.
With both clubs unable to score the winning goal after 30 minutes of extra time was done, the game has to be decided by a penalty shootout.
Lucas Vazquez, Antoine Griezmann, Marcelo, Gabi, Gareth Bale, Saul Niguez, and Ramos alternated successful kicks in that order before Spain international Juanfran missed his in the fourth round.
Real scoring leader Cristiano Ronaldo then effectively made his turn in the penalties to hand the Bernabéu their second title in three years, the first under new head coach Zinedine Zidane, and both at the expense of their cross-city rivals, as per SkySports.
BBC Sport noted that Zidane was the seventh Real head coach that was able to bring the club a Champions League trophy.
Ronaldo was able to start for Zidane during the match despite the freak leg injury he suffered during Real's training session prior to the Champions League final. The injury did not seem to bother the three-time Ballon d'Or winner, although it was apparent that he was not that aggressive in offense during regulation time.
However, it was Ronaldo's side that got the best of their opponents in the opening minutes. Los Vikingos nearly took the lead at the sixth if not for the brilliant save of Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak off a short range shot by midfielder Casemiro from a Bale free kick.
Real continued to pressure Atleti, who actually had more ball possession in the game overall, and after a few minutes Ramos was able to score the game's first goal. The one-point lead held on until halftime.
Los Colchoneros should have leveled the count early after the restart but Griezmann did not convert the penalty kick off a Pepe foul on Fernando Torres. Atleti continued to dominate the ball against a tentative-looking Real lineup, with only Karim Benzema and Bale attacking the goal.
Moments after a shot each from Benzema and Bale were saved, Carrasco found the equalizing goal from only six yards out off a Juanfran assist.
"We went into the game in good shape. Towards the end we suffered physically. The players had cramps but that's normal. Mentally, there's a lot of pressure. You have to fight and we've got there by working hard," Zidane said after the match.
"I've got a phenomenal squad who have fought and worked incredibly hard. Having players with this kind of talent, you can achieve something great," he added.
