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5 Reasons Why The 2018 Champions League Final Was The Best Of The Last 10 Years

Colman Stanley
By Colman Stanley
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The Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kiev was the setting for Europe's premier yearly footballing event in 2018.

It was a game that mixed moments of craziness with moments of some of the best football the competition has ever seen.

Here are five reasons why it was the best final of its generation.

The Meeting Of Two European Giants

Heading into the final, it was the European Cup's most successful side vs its third most successful (tied with Bayern Munich and Barcelona).

Real were looking for a 13th title, and a third in a row, while Liverpool were seeking out their sixth and their first since Istanbul.

It would also be second time the two sides had met in the final, with Real out for revenge for the the 1-0 loss in 1981.

It was also the first time they had met in a knockout stage since Madrid had been humiliated in the round-of-16 in 2009.

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All the parts of its historical meaning were in place, and the match itself lived up to its billing.

READ HERE: Greatest Champions League Finals: Manchester At Midnight In Moscow

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The Karius Final

Surreal is the word, and feeling, that best sums up in the 51st minute of the match.

In a single moment, nearly 60 million people saw a man's career deteriorate instantly, as Lorius Karius, under no pressure at all, carelessly threw the ball into the path of Karim Benzema's outstretched leg before watching it roll causally into the back of the net.

Such was the astonishing nature of the goal that there was a brief moment of all-round disbelief which left viewers thinking,  'surely it couldn't, it shouldn't count', for goals like this were not meant to happen in these games. But of course, there was no reason why the goal could be ruled out.

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There were claims after the game that the destructive Sergio Ramos - whose roughing up of Mo Salah saw Liverpool's best player leave the game in the first-half - had left Karius concussed from an earlier corner.

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Whether it was true or not hardly mattered as everyone had made their mind up that his head was gone, before the German produced his second howler of the match to after a speculative Gareth Bale shot, to end Liverpool's hopes of a comeback.

Karius was sent out on loan soon after before ending up as third choice at Newcastle United.

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His appearance in the 2023 EFL Cup final was his first game in two years.

 Bale's Goals

The beautiful enigma that was Gareth Bale at Real Madrid.

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Despite being often maligned by fans for poor performances, and, particularly towards the end of his time at Madrid, open about his greater love for Wales and golf, Bale had a remarkable record of clutch goals for Real.

Famously, his extra-time score against Atletico in the 2014 final gave his team the lead, and his winner in the 2014 Copa del Rey final against Barcelona was one of the most sensational moments in the club's history.

And still, in 2018 he managed to out do himself with arguably the best Champions League final ever, and his second goal of the evening, the speculative long ranger which ended Liverpool and Karius.

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Zidane's Legacy

With his classy and graceful play style, Zidane was not only one of the game's greatest players of all-time, but also extremely well liked among most fans. Even his career finishing headbutt in the 2006 World Cup final is looked on as badass way to bow out.

This knack of being able to do no wrong carried into his managerial career, where in his first three years, he lead Real to a hat-trick of Champions League titles, and had 'completed' club management by the age of 45.

And he did so while always being the coolest man in the stadium.

Reality Check For Liverpool

The ridiculous 'It Means More' slogan has rightfully rubbed up opposing fans the wrong ways for years, and for supporters of rival Premier League clubs it would have been very sweet to watch Liverpool lose in such fashion.

League of Ireland fans vehemently opposed to the worship of the 'Queen's teams' would also have found solace in the disappointment of their Irish supporters.

The idea that Anfield has some sort of magic aura, and that supporting the club is more unique and special than rooting for any other side, is grating, and coupled with Klopp's penchant for far fetched excuses, it was nice to Liverpool 'put in their place' so to speak.

SEE ALSO: Selecting An All-Time XI Of Greatest Champions League Final Performances

 

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