Gulf News' Ashley Hammond, Yousra Zaki and Matt Smith bring you all the latest news on the Champions League final. Here's how it unfolded
Kiev: Gareth Bale scored twice including an incredible overhead kick after coming off the bench as Real Madrid defeated Liverpool 3-1 in the Champions League final in Kiev on Saturday.
Karim Benzema struck a bizarre opening goal on 51 minutes before Liverpool, who lost leading scorer Mohamed Salah to injury in the first half, replied through Sadio Mane.
Bale replaced Isco on the hour and connected with an outrageous acrobatic effort on 64 minutes to put Real back in front. The Welshman sealed a record-extending 13th European Cup title for Real with seven minutes left as a dreadful mistake from Loris Karius allowed his long-range shot to find the net.
As it happened:
FULL-TIME @realmadrid 3-1 @LFC @ChampionsLeague #UCLfinal Real secure an historic third straight title, their record extending 13th
— Gulf News (@gulf_news) May 26, 2018
Substitutions to pass the time
Benzema off Asensio on, some substitutions to pass the time @realmadrid 3-1 @LFC @ChampionsLeague #UCLfinal
— Gulf News (@gulf_news) May 26, 2018
Meanwhile in Dubai, Liverpool fans get up to leave
Liverpool fans get up to leave as Real Madrid scores their 3rd goal of the night #LiverpoolVsRealMadrid pic.twitter.com/bBSKIxDH5l
— Gulf News (@gulf_news) May 26, 2018
Bale on fire with new goal
Bale struck from 25-30 yards while Karius fumbled. Two mistakes from keeper now. The score is now 3-1
GOAL Bale 83mins #UCLfinal
— Gulf News (@gulf_news) May 26, 2018
As it stands: 2-1
If you've just joined us it seems a Brit may have just ended it for the Brits 2-1 @realmadrid @LFC @ChampionsLeague #UCLfinal Mane cancelled out Benzema opener before super sub Bale unleashed an overhead scorcher
— Gulf News (@gulf_news) May 26, 2018
Goal from Bale
It's a goal with an overhead kick from Bale to put the score at 2-1.
Bale with one of the most amazing overhead kicks ever, get to YouTube and see that now @realmadrid 2-1 @LFC @ChampionsLeague #UCLfinal sensational
— Gulf News (@gulf_news) May 26, 2018
And here's how fans in Dubai reacted
The EXACT moment @realmadrid scores in the #ChampionsLeague2018 #LiverpoolVsRealMadrid game. (Although most of the crowd are Liverpool fans) pic.twitter.com/sAgN8ZwJ2W
— Gulf News (@gulf_news) May 26, 2018
Mane scores, tie at 1-1
GOAL Mane 55 mins #UCLfinal 1-1
— Gulf News (@gulf_news) May 26, 2018
The exact moment Liverpool scored #LiverpoolVsRealMadrid pic.twitter.com/5XtxVFlbXX
— Gulf News (@gulf_news) May 26, 2018
Goal!
Benzema scores a goal at 51 minutes into the game. Score is 1-0 for Real Madrid.
Horrid horrid horrid mistake from from keeper gives @realmadrid the opener 1-0 real #UCLfinal
— Gulf News (@gulf_news) May 26, 2018
Second-half starts
SECOND-HALF starts @LFC @realmadrid 0-0 @ChampionsLeague #UCLfinal how do Liverpool win without Salah?
— Gulf News (@gulf_news) May 26, 2018
And the game is back on! Despite Mohamed Salah’s absence, the crowd at this Egyptian Streetside Cafe is still going strong #LiverpoolVsRealMadrid pic.twitter.com/oWKJngL4V1
— Gulf News (@gulf_news) May 26, 2018
Half-time: The score so far
HALF-TIME @LFC 0-0 @realmadrid both Salah and Carvajal off injured
— Gulf News (@gulf_news) May 26, 2018
Benzema's goal disallowed
Real Madrid's French forward Karim Benzema scored a goal which was later disallowed for offside.
Another injury
At 35 minutes into the game, another injury with Cavahal down for Real Madrid. Lots of tears so far, no goals with score at 0-0.
Salah is out
29 minutes into the game, Salah in tears, walking off pitch, injured. He's off the finals after getting injured in a fall following a tackle by Ramos. It's a massive blow for Liverpool with Salah off and Lalana on.
Aaaannnddd Mohamed Salah is out. The crowd is visibly upset #LiverpoolVsRealMadrid pic.twitter.com/aeYHcH2pzP
— Gulf News (@gulf_news) May 26, 2018
Trent-Arnold comes close for Liverpool at 24 minutes into the game. Liverpool have dominated so far
Close calls get huge reactions #LiverpoolVsRealMadrid pic.twitter.com/92r2UoA2BY
— Gulf News (@gulf_news) May 26, 2018
UAE fans root for Salah
This is what it looks like when hundreds of Egyptians gather in one of Dubai’s oldest cafes to watch Mohamed Salah play #LiverpoolVsRealMadrid pic.twitter.com/yYsgumnPq4
— Gulf News (@gulf_news) May 26, 2018
Goalless early game
Ronaldo shoots just over 16 minutes. Van Dijk misses out on a header at back post at 18 minutes into the game. The score is still 0-0
Salah intercepted
Salah comes close! But the ball intercepted by a Real Madrid player.
Salah comes close! But was intercepted by a Real Madrid player #LiverpoolVsRealMadrid pic.twitter.com/0S4ysv4LO0
— Gulf News (@gulf_news) May 26, 2018
Kick off!
Ronaldo was trying to psyche out Salah in the tunnel with a glance before the game, formation 4312 real 433 Liverpool, Bale on bench.
The game has kicked off! #LiverpoolVsRealMadrid pic.twitter.com/4WkWeI8ejZ
— Gulf News (@gulf_news) May 26, 2018
Fans crowd old Dubai
Scores of fans have turned up in Egyptian restaurant Al Harafeesh in old Dubai to watch Liverpool versus Read Madrid in the Champions League final. The crowd sits and eagerly waits for the kick off. It's no secret they are here to watch Mo Salah play.
We are in the heart of old Dubai, where many Egyptians have gathered to watch Liverpool vs Real Madrid in the Champions League Final. pic.twitter.com/7O2s3pWstf
— Gulf News (@gulf_news) May 26, 2018
Bale on bench for Real Madrid
Kiev: Gareth Bale starts on the bench for Real Madrid in Saturday's Champions League final against Liverpool in Kiev, with coach Zinedine Zidane preferring Isco to the Welshman.
As a result, the Real starting line-up is the same as that which took to the field in last year's final, when the Spanish giants beat Juventus 4-1 in Cardiff.
Real are looking to win the Champions League for the third year running, and the fourth time in five seasons.
Here's the line-up for @ChampionsLeague #UCLfinal between @LFC & @realmadrid, less than an hour to go, 10.45pm kick-off, live coverage here, big news is that Bale is on the bench and Benzema starts up front with Ronaldo pic.twitter.com/c4PKWJo1PO
— Gulf News (@gulf_news) May 26, 2018