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Madrid EUFA champs

With his back to goal but eyes on the incoming cross, Gareth Bale connected with the ball while leaping in the air and sent a scissor-kick arcing into the top of the net.

Fusing athleticism and technique, it was a mesmerizing sight to behold in the Champions League final.

Rarely has there been a finer goal in a European final, sealing a third successive title for Real Madrid in a 3-1 victory over Liverpool on Saturday. Yet with blunders, injuries and intrigue unfolding throughout the night in Kyiv's Olympic Stadium, the wonder-goal just enriched this engrossing climax to the European club season and set the tone for weeks of uncertainty.

A weeping Mohamed Salah was forced off in the first half with a shoulder injury that foiled Liverpool's quest for a first continental success in 13 years and left the World Cup hopes of the "Egyptian King" in jeopardy.

Tears also streamed down Loris Karius' face after the Liverpool goalkeeper's mistakes gifted two goals on the biggest match of his career. It might also be his last for Liverpool, which was denied a sixth European title by the aristocrats of the continent.

When all they should have been thinking about is celebrating, both Bale and teammate Cristiano Ronaldo also cast doubts on their Madrid careers.

But while Zinedine Zidane was adamant about the need to keep hold of five-time world player of the year Ronaldo, the Madrid coach seemed far less concerned about the future of the player whose two goals just delivered the club's record-extending 13th European title.

Bale only came on in the second half. The impact was explosive, scoring the bicycle kick in the 64th minute. Five years into his Madrid career, the 28-year-old Bale wants to be more than a super-sub.

"I need to be playing week in, week out and that hasn't happened this season for one reason or another," Bale said. "I need to sit down in the summer and discuss it with my agent."

Will Bale get assurances over a place in the starting XI?

"It might be complicated," Zidane said. "But everybody looks out for themselves and takes care of their own thing, and I understand that."

Zidane doesn't understand why Ronaldo raised fresh doubts over his commitment to the club.

"He must stay," Zidane said. "He will stay with us."

While Ronaldo became the first five-time winner in the post-1993 Champions League era, this was a comparatively muted performance in a final for a player who has contributed decisive goals in the three finals Madrid had contested in the previous four seasons.

In the tunnel before kickoff there was a furtive glance across to Salah, who has also scored 44 goals this season. But the showdown between the world player of the year and a contender for his throne never materialized.

Blame Sergio Ramos for that, although the foul that ended Salah's final was not the Madrid captain at his most cynical. Salah landed heavily on his left shoulder in a twisting fall after 25 minutes. Ramos stepped away from the scene unpunished and Salah soon managed to step up after overcoming the initial pain.

Not for long. Salah's final was over after 30 minutes.

Lying on his back, hands covering his face, Salah rose only to leave the field. An incredible debut season at Liverpool came to a crying end.

Four minutes later, the tears were flowing down the face of Dani Carvajal after the Madrid right back appeared to injure a hamstring while attempting a back-heel. Face-down on the field, Carvajal knew his final was over in the first half for the second successive season.

"Of course it was a little shock to the team," Klopp said.

There were bigger shocks to come, from Liverpool's goalkeeping blunders.

After collecting a shot six minutes into the second half, Karius rolled the ball out too casually, neglecting the presence of Benzema who stuck out his right foot and dispatched the ball into an empty net.

The immediate impact of Karius' blunder was offset by Mane's equalizer in the 55th. Dejan Lovren rose above Ramos and headed into the path of Mane, who prodded the ball over the line.



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