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PHOTOS: Real Madrid beat Liverpool 3-1 to win UEFA Champions League title

May 27, 2018

IMAGE: Real Madrid players celebrate with the trophy after defeating Liverpool 3-1 to win the UEFA Champions League final on Saturday. Photograph: UCL/Twitter

Gareth Bale came off the bench and scored two scorchers to help Real Madrid beat Liverpool 3-1 and defend the UEFA Champions League title in Kiev on Saturday.

Karim Benzema scored the opener in the 51st minute for Real and Liverpool equalised 2 minutes later through Sadio Mane off a corner.

 

This is Real Madrid's third consecutive Champions League title.

IMAGE: Real Madrid's Gareth Bale scores off an overhead kick to put Real back in the lead. Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Bale replaced Isco on the hour and connected with an outrageous overhead acrobatic effort in the 64th minute 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 Liverpool keeper Loris Karius allowed his long-range shot to find the net.

IMAGE: Real Madrid's Gareth Bale celebrates scoring his side's winner, his second goal, during the UEFA Champions League final against Liverpool at NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kiev, Ukraine, on Saturday. Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

In the first half,  Liverpool suffered a huge blow when their Egypt striker Mohamed Salah had to go off on the half hour with a shoulder injury with Adam Lallana brought on.

Then seven minutes later, Real lost right-back Dani Carvajal to an injury with utility man Nacho replacing him.

 

IMAGE: Liverpool's Mohamed Mo Salah is consoled by Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo as he is taken off the field following injury. Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

The English side had started brightly with Trent Alexander-Arnold testing goalkeeper Keylor Navas with a low drive but Real gradually took charge of the game.

The Spanish side had a Karim Benzema effort disallowed for offside in the 44th minute after Cristiano Ronaldo’s header was saved by Liverpool keeper Loris Karius.

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