Real Madrid’s love affair with the UEFA Champions League continued as the latest contender, Liverpool, was swatted aside in the 2018 Champions League final as Los Blancos won the showdown in Kiev by a 3-1 scoreline on Saturday night.

Two goals from Gareth Bale, one an absolute golazo, helped Zinedine Zidane’s men compete an unprecedented three-peat at the expense of Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Advertisement

While there weren’t too many lunging tackles and subsequent dismissals, there was drama aplenty at the NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, with quite a few stars failing to live up to their billings while others stepped up to the plate and delivered when it mattered most.

Here are The Statesman’s player ratings from a memorable final in the Ukrainian capital:

Real Madrid

Keylor Navas

Made a couple of key stops, especially in the first-half.

Could have done better for Mane’s equaliser though.

Rating: 6/10

Marcelo

Not at his usual buccaneering self,  yet managed to get another assist for Bale’s screamer.

Defensively was doing well till Salah got injured and from then on, it was plain sailing for the Brazilian.

Rating: 7/10

Sergio Ramos

Lifting the title may well have been the skipper’s most meaningful contribution to the game.

Whether he meant to cause Salah harm by pulling him down in that fashion, we’ll never know but what we most certainly do know is that it was a poor display from the iconic centre-back.

At fault for the equaliser too,  as he allowed Dejan Lovren to outmuscle him.

Rating: 4/10

Raphael Varane

The talented Frenchman kept the dangerous Roberto Firmino quiet for the most part and thankfully, didn’t take a leaf out of Ramos’ book by attempting to add some unwarranted drama into the tie.

Rating: 6/10

Dani Carvajal

Was doing well until he was forced off with a hamstring injury late into the second-half.

Rating: N/A

Toni Kroos

Not the usually-unflappable German’s best night.

Couple of wayward passes and was generally struggling to cope with Liverpool’s intense pressing.

Rating: 6/10

Casemiro

Real’s midfield didn’t have their best outing and the same applies to their enforcer.

DON’T MISS | 5 talking points from Real Madrid vs Liverpool

Still, he did the best he could and it was a decent showing from the underrated Brazilian.

Rating: 6/10

Luka Modric

His nifty passes got him out of trouble on a number of occasions, but like his colleagues, couldn’t dictate the tempo of the game.

Rating: 6/10

Isco

Pretty average showing from a player who has, by and large, been on song this season.

Rating: 5/10

Karim Benzema

Held up play well and his perseverance did give Real the all-important first goal.

Rating: 7/10

Cristiano Ronaldo

Where was Real’s talisman?

Anonymous showing from the Portuguese as he struggled to beat Karius and dribble past a man all night.

Rating: 5/10

Substitutes

Nacho

Replaced Carvajal in the first-half and did a pretty bang-up job from then on.

One excellent cross found Isco in the box and the midfielder very nearly scored.


Rating: 7/10

Gareth Bale

Man of the Match and was there any doubt after that cracker?

And it was his confidence to take Karius on from distance that rung the death knell for Liverpool.

Could have had a third too, such was his dominance as Liverpool couldn’t live with his pace.


Rating: 9/10

Sergio Asensio

Came on in the final minute of regulation time as Zidane sought to run the clock down.

Very nearly set up Ronaldo in injury-time.

Rating: N/A

Liverpool

Loris Karius

Actually he did make a couple of decent stops, but they will be mere footnotes after his disastrous second-half showing.

MUST READ | Disaster for Liverpool as Mohamed Salah exits tie early with injury

Two blunders in a Champions League final, seriously?

Rating: 2/10

Andy Robertson

Excellent all game long, even if his trademark crosses were missing.

Made a goal-saving tackle on Ronaldo in the second-half.

Rating: 7/10

Virgil van Dijk

Did a decent job as neither of the three goals were his fault.

Could have done more on set-pieces though.

Rating: 6/10

Dejan Lovren

Like his partner, absolved of the blame but the Croatian did manage to get an assist for Mane’s equaliser.

Rating: 7/10

Trent Alexander-Arnold

Okay display from the young defender as he didn’t do much wrong but failed to leave his mark on the final.

Rating: 6/10

James Milner

Hardworking as ever, for a change Milner’s deliveries were quite accurate.

Rating: 7/10

Georginio Wijnaldum

Ran a lot but failed to affect the game as he would have wanted.

ALSO READ | Real Madrid star forced off with injury

Played his part in unsettling Real’s midfield with some superb pressing.

Rating: 6/10

Jordan Henderson

Like his Dutch teammate, couldn’t quite give his side the upper hand in midfield.

Rating: 6/10

Sadio Mane

Liverpool’s brightest outlet and their likeliest chance of scoring all night.

Did it once and almost had another but was unlucky to see his shot come off the post.

Rating: 7/10

Roberto Firmino

Like Ronaldo, quite anonymous.

Rating: 5/10

Mohamed Salah

His untimely exit may well have killed of Liverpool’s chances.

Rating: N/A

Substitutes

Adam Lallana

A poor replacement for Salah.

But then again, who wouldn’t be?

Rating: 5/10

Emre Can

Came on just before Bale’s second strike, but could do little from then on.

Rating: N/A