After twenty-three minutes in Istanbul in the 2005 Champions League final, Harry Kewell, one of Rafa Benítez key selections, hobbled off the field in the Ataturk Stadium with his team trailing by a goal following Paulo Maldini’s first minute strike. The Liverpool manager had already struggled with his choices and Dietmar Hamann was sacrificed to accommodate the mercurial Australian Kewell. Then quarter of the final played Hamann came into action and was a key part of that historic match known colloquially on Merseyside as the Miracle of Istanbul.
A game where three goals down at half time the Reds entered their dressing room struggling to keep their heads against a rampant Inter Milan. The team with the starts such as Hernan Crespo, Andry Shevchenko, Clarence Seedorf, Kaka, Cafu, Andrea Pirlo and Gattuso strangling control of the game. The subsequent comeback and ultimate victory after penalties almost the script of a Holywood movie as Liverpool returned with the European Cup the following day to Anfield.
When Mo Salah tumbled badly following a collision with Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos, the memories of that night in the Turkish capital thirteen years returned as Liverpool lost their record making goal scorer on the half hour mark. A change which halted the control Juergen Klopp’s side was having up to then over the Spanish Champions and then trying their formation as their talisman departed the action in tears. The sadness of the Egyptian shared by thousands of travelling Liverpool fans as they knew his absence would not be easily overcome.
On the other hand, the Real manager, Zinedine Zidane, also looking on knowingly that this unforeseen change switched advantage to the Spanish club. Who up to that moment were unbale to breakthrough Liverpool’s midfield wall of Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Giorgino Wijnaldum. While up front Sadio Mane and Salah had just starting to test Ramos and Rafael Varanne with Marcelo already caught out twice by the Reds fast attack. The Brazilian resorting to a couple of fouls to curb Mo’s enthusiasm. An obvious tactic by Zidane’s men as the Premier League player of the Season was off the playing field by half time.
Until the Ramos foul Klopp would have been the happier manager and looked likely to make it third time lucky in a European final and content that the game plan was stalling Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Isco’s work up front. But it was to prove temporary as just after half time recess the Red’s keeper Loris Karius went to throw a ball out to one of his defenders when it clipped Benzema outstretched foot and ricocheted into his own Liverpool net. A faux-pas that seemed to happen in slow motion and an error of the type Karius has acquired a reputation for over time. That unreliability which made it a game of two halves with Madrid now leading and growing in stature thanks to a gifted goal in what had been a tight match up to then.
Even though four minutes later Sadio Mane pinged a ball into Keylor Navas net the Liverpool swagger of this season in Europe never returned. But it stayed a balanced contest until Zidane sacrificed Isco for Bale. Who within minutes turned the game on its head with a spectacular and stunning overhead kick into the roof of Karius’ net to naturally shatter the Red’s confidence once again. Liverpool continuing to absorb their second set back and moving the ball around a bit better. But the replacement Adam Lallana not quite working, and Mane forced to drop deeper to defend Madrid attacks. With Roberto Firmino trading down the left flank in search of a break as much as he could. However, remaining largely anonymous overall with Madrid increasingly dominant.
As Klopp said afterwards “Mohamed Salah's injury was a big moment in the game. It was unlucky that he fell on his shoulder and it's a serious injury. We'll never know what would have happened if he'd played on. The shock was obvious, and we dropped too deep.”
The Liverpool manager eventually swapped out an exhausted Milner in the 81st minute for Emre Can. Who arrived on the field to see another Madrid goal when Karius was unbale to hold a long range speculative shot from Bale, the Man of the Match, that spilled out his hands and trickled into his own goal. Putting the game now out of reach at 3-1 up. Indeed, from here on in Liverpool weren’t at the races. Albeit Mane almost got one back when his shot trickled eft of the uptight. With Klopp’s side now devoid of form and shape in the Olympic Stadium. Their opponents more emboldened as the 90th minute drew nearer.
Klopp now sensing that history on the night was not written for him but Real Madrid as they were about to win their thirteenth Champions League trophy. The third consecutive title and a fourth victory in five seasons.
For Gareth Bale it was a night of much need vindication after a long season of injury and not much game time. Somehow not rating amongst Zidane’s favourites even when fit and healthy: "To score a goal like that on the biggest stage in world football is a dream come true. I've never actually scored a bicycle kick – I've had many attempts! – and it's been something I've always wanted to do. I remember Marcelo clipping the ball and it was just at the right height – it was great to get the right connection and see it hit the back of the net." Explained Bale after the match.
But then the Real Madrid manager has an abundance of riches and so getting a regular place can be a difficult task under Zinedine. “Our achievement tonight is the most important thing – we have to congratulate the players because it's not at all easy to do this,” said the Real Madrid manger after full time, “There are no words to describe it. The amazing thing about this squad is that they doesn't have a ceiling. They are hungry for more and they've demonstrated that again today.”
Thirteen now the lucky number for Real Madrid
