La Décima

Lore & Background

Real Madrid won the 2014 UEFA Champions League final 4–1 after extra time against Atlético Madrid at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon, Portugal, on Saturday, 24 May 2014. A 93rd-minute header by Sergio Ramos cancelled out Diego Godín's first-half goal, saving Real Madrid from defeat. In extra time, goals from Gareth Bale, Marcelo and Cristiano Ronaldo secured the victory. This was the first final between teams from the same city and the second all-Spanish final. Real Madrid reached a record 13th final after a 5–0 aggregate win against defending champions Bayern Munich.

In Their Own Story

Silence hung heavy over Lisbon as the clock passed 90 minutes, the stadium holding its breath under forty years' weight. Then, the ball floated high into the box; amidst a chaotic scramble in the penalty area, Sergio Ramos rose above every defender to thunder it home. The eruption wasn't just noise—it was the sound of a curse shattering. As extra time commenced, that roar never faded, signaling through history that the wait for the tenth star had finally ended.

Reader's Guide

The match took place at the Estádio da Luz (officially known as the Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica) in Lisbon, Portugal. The venue was chosen at a UEFA Executive Committee meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, on 20 March 2012. The last European Cup final in Lisbon was in 1967 at the Estádio Nacional. As winners, Real Madrid earned the right to play against 2013–14 UEFA Europa League winners Sevilla in the 2014 UEFA Super Cup and qualified for the semi-finals of the 2014 FIFA Club World Cup, ultimately triumphing in both competitions.

Did You Know?

• Real Madrid's previous European Cup title before La Décima was in 2002, a gap of 12 years.
• This was the fifth tournament final to feature two teams from the same association.
• The match is considered one of the greatest Champions League finals in history by the media.
• Real Madrid's coach Carlo Ancelotti became the fifth manager to win titles with two clubs.