From Séptima to Decimoquinta, Real Madrid’s Champions League arc | OneFootball

Real Madrid have long chased European heights. AS notes that the club’s modern tale is eight European Cups since 1967, fashioned through authority, resilience and late drama.

The 32-year wait from 1966 ended in 1998, Predrag Mijatovic delivering the Séptima in Amsterdam. Santiago Bernabéu was said to have feared he would not live to see it, though the club’s competitive DNA endured.

In 2000 Paris staged the first same-nation final, Madrid beating Valencia 3-0. Two years later came La Novena, a 2-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen in Glasgow, sealed by Raúl and Zinedine Zidane’s volley, with Iker Casillas outstanding late on.

Lisbon 2014 brought the first city derby final, Diego Godín scored before Sergio Ramos levelled in the 93rd minute, then Madrid ran away 4-1 in extra time. Milan 2016 repeated the pairing and delivered La Undécima on penalties after Juanfran hit a post.

In Cardiff 2017 Madrid overpowered Juventus 4-1 in what was billed as the finest Champions League final of the century. The run continued in Kiev 2018, a 3-1 victory over Liverpool, with two goals from Bale, the first an overhead kick, closing that cycle.

La Decimocuarta in 2022 arrived via comebacks against PSG, Chelsea and Manchester City, then Marcelo lifted the trophy in Paris. The Decimoquinta in 2024 was an unbeaten campaign, highlighted by Andriy Lunin’s shootout at the Etihad and Joselu’s semi-final turnaround against Bayern, before Wembley where Dani Carvajal and Vinícius Júnior scored and Nacho lifted the cup.

Source: AS