REAL MADRID - LA Decima at last.
League glory for Real Madrid as his extra-
time header broke Atletico Madrid's hearts in a
4-1 defeat at Lisbon's Estadio da Luz.
Bale, signed for a world record £86million
from Tottenham last summer, indelibly wrote
his name into Real folklore with the goal that
took the team towards 'La Decima' - the
club's 10th European Cup triumph.
The defeat and final scoreline was harsh on
city rivals Atletico, who had been seconds
away from their first-ever success in the
continent's biggest club competition after
Diego Godin's 36th minute opener, only for
Sergio Ramos to power home a headed
equaliser in the third minute of added time.
Real's victory means coach Carlo Ancelotti
joins legendary Liverpool boss Bob Paisley as
the only men to win three European Cups,
while Bale again proved the man for the big
occasion having also led his new club to Copa
del Rey glory earlier this season.
With Atletico tiring and time running out in
extra time, substitute Marcelo was allowed to
advance unchecked and fire under Thibaut
Courtois, before Cristiano Ronaldo added
further gloss from the penalty spot after being
brought down by Juanfran.
Atletico's gamble on the fitness of star striker
Diego Costa proved flawed with only nine
minutes gone when the Spain international
was forced off by the hamstring injury he
sustained just a week ago against Barcelona.
Raul Garcia became the first player to go into
referee Bjorn Kuipers' book for a cynical foul
on Angel Di Maria, with Ramos cautioned for
remonstrating with his rival and Courtois
called into action to gather Ronaldo's free-
kick as the wall in front of him parted.
Bale missed a good opportunity to break the
deadlock, seizing on a terrible square pass
from Tiago and bearing down on the Atletico
box, only to scuff his shot wide as Miranda
threw himself into a last-ditch challenge.
Atletico took the lead in the 36th minute as
Iker Casillas' foolish foray off his line proved
costly as Gabi's corner was headed back into
box for Godin to rise above Sami Khedira and
nod home, despite the frantic scrambling back
of the Real goalkeeper.
Miranda went into the book for pulling back Di
Maria in the 52nd minute and Courtois had to
make his first serious save of the contest as
he tipped Ronaldo's deflected free-kick over
the bar.
Adrian Lopez, who had been sent on in place
of Diego Costa, saw his shot deflected wide,
before Ancelotti elected to make a double
change and sent on Isco and Marcelo in place
of Khedira and Coentrao.
Ramos joined a Real attack and swung a
delightful cross into the box which Ronaldo
looked destined to head home, only for the ball
to flick off his forehead away from goal and
out of reach of Karim Benzema at the far post.
There was a nasty collision between David
Villa and Casillas as the Atletico man slid in
on a dangerous low cross, with the striker
harshly booked, before Bale smashed a shot
wide of Courtois' goal from the edge of the
box.
Bale had another opportunity 13 minutes from
time as he burst away from Godin and cut in,
but he again fired wide, with Godin then forced
into a last-ditch lunge to deny Isco as Atletico
were forced further back.
The closing stages were played out almost
entirely in Atletico's final third as Real poured
forward, and just when it looked as though
Diego Simeone's superbly drilled La Liga
winners would hold on, Ramos rose to power
home a header.
Given the relentless nature of the preceding 90
minutes, it was no surprise that the pace
dipped somewhat in extra time, before Bale
capped his debut season with Real with the
biggest goal of his career in the 110th minute.
Marcelo (118) and Ronaldo (120+1) rubbed
salt into Atletico's wounds, with coach
Simeone losing his head in the closing
seconds and venturing onto the pitch to
confront Raphael Varane before being sent
from the field as the final whistle blew.
Culled from Sky sports.
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