⚽️🏆  UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL 2022

FULL TIME: Liverpool 0 - 1 Real Madrid
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Real Madrid claimed a 14th European Cup as Vinicius Junior's goal saw them beat Liverpool 1-0 in the Champions League final at the Stade de France amid chaotic scenes on Saturday.

Brazilian winger Vinicius turned in Fede Valverde's enticing low cross in the 59th minute at the Stade de France and Liverpool could not find an equaliser as Jurgen Klopp's side lost to the Spanish giants in a Champions League final for the second time in five seasons.

The Anfield side will wonder what might have been had the outstanding Thibaut Courtois not pushed Sadio Mane's shot onto the inside of a post when they were on top in the first half, as they fell short of a trophy treble.

Winners of the English League Cup and FA Cup this season, they just missed out to Manchester City for the Premier League title and were denied a victory here which would have put them level with AC Milan on seven European Cups.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp

Instead Real have a fifth Champions League in nine seasons to go with their Spanish title, as Carlo Ancelotti becomes the first coach to win European club football's greatest prize for a fourth time.

Ancelotti was also in charge of Real when they won the 2014 final having also triumphed with AC Milan in 2003 and in 2007, the latter victory coming against Liverpool.

Delayed kick-off

The match kicked off 35 minutes later than the planned 10pm (Ugandan time) start in the French capital after chaos at entrances to the stadium led to fans being unable to get to their seats.

UEFA said it was "sympathetic" towards those affected and put the huge build-ups of supporters at gates down to "thousands of fans who had purchased fake tickets which did not work in the turnstiles". 

Tear gas was also fired by police as a small number of people could be seen trying to scale fences around the perimeter of the ground.

The final was only moved to the French capital after Saint-Petersburg was stripped of the game following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February.

The delayed kick-off may have been responsible for the slow start to the game itself, as it took 16 minutes before there was an incident of note, Mohamed Salah turning a low Trent Alexander-Arnold cross towards goal only for Courtois to save.

Liverpool were seen as favourites to avenge their loss to the Spanish giants in the 2018 final in Kyiv and they began to take control of the game.

Mane came agonisingly close to opening the scoring in the 21st minute as he skipped his way into a shooting position inside the box only for Courtois to tip his net-bound shot onto his right-hand post.

Klopp's side, with Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara starting in midfield after overcoming fitness worries, were on top but could not turn their superiority into a lead.

Liverpool's defender Virgil van Dijk battles with Real Madrid's midfielder Federico Valverde

Outstanding Courtois

Real, meanwhile, created almost nothing in the first half with Karim Benzema quiet, but their captain briefly thought he had got the breakthrough two minutes before the interval.

The Frenchman prodded home after the ball broke back to him inside the area but the offside flag was raised.

The decision to disallow the goal was upheld after a lengthy VAR check, despite Fabinho deflecting Valverde's touch through to Benzema.

Karim Benzema's goal was disallowed for offside

Yet Ancelotti's side kept their nerve and were rewarded with the goal as the hour mark approached.

Valverde drove forward down the right before firing a low ball across the face of goal for Vinicius to turn it in at the far post past his Brazilian national team colleague Alisson.

Real Madrid's midfielder Federico Valverde drives past Liverpool's defender Andrew Robertson to set up Vinicius for the goal

Just like in 2018, Real had drawn first blood, but this time there was no need for them to send on Gareth Bale in order to ensure victory.

Courtois was superb, flying to his right to keep out a Salah curler before two saves in quick succession late on.

Real Madrid's Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois

First the Belgian got down low when substitute Diogo Jota deflected Salah's effort towards goal, and then he produced a strong arm to turn a Salah strike behind.

It was Real Madrid's night.

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📸  Take a look at more pictures from the game:

The coveted UEFA Champions League trophy was on full display inside the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of France's capital Paris.

The Liverpool fans were in full voice.

And so were their Real Madrid counterparts.

The original 10pm (Ugandan time) kickoff was delayed to allow fans enter the stadium.

The Liverpool players warmed up.

The Real Madrid players did their own warming up too.

Whatever was going through Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp's mind before kickoff.

Real Madrid's Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti appeared set for this mouthwatering European duel.

Real Madrid's Croatian midfielder Luka Modric revised his kicks.

His teammate, Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior

Liverpool's Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah was pumped up.

And so was his teammate, midfielder Curtis Jones.

The Stade de France was packed.

Liverpool's starting lineup:

Alisson Becker; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson; Fabinho, Thiago Alcantara, Jordan Henderson (capt); Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Luis Diaz

Real Madrid's starting lineup:

Thibaut Courtois; Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, David Alaba, Ferland Mendy; Casemiro, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric; Fede Valverde, Karim Benzema (capt), Vinicius Junior

FIFA president Gianni Infantino (C) attended the match.

From left: French assistant referee Cyril Gringore, French referee Clement Turpin and French assistant referee Nicolas Danos.

Real Madrid's Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti (R) hugged Liverpool's German manager Jurgen Klopp before kickoff.

Action got under way.

Real Madrid's French striker Karim Benzema fought for the ball with Liverpool's English defender Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Real Madrid's Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois (L) cleared the ball under pressure from Liverpool's English midfielder and captain Jordan Henderson.

Liverpool's Senegalese striker Sadio Mane (front) and Real Madrid's Brazilian midfielder Casemiro vied for the ball.

Real Madrid's Brazilian midfielder Casemiro went down under a challenge.

Liverpool's Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker (R) made a save as Real Madrid's French forward and captain Karim Benzema atacked.

Real Madrid's Brazilian striker Vinicius Junior peeled away from his minders.

Real Madrid's Brazilian midfielder Casemiro and Liverpool's Spanish midfielder Thiago Alcantara went head to head.

It was a busy night for both goalkeepers on either end of the pitch.

Liverpool's Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker had to wait for a VAR decision after Karim Benzema out the ball past him into the back of the net.

After a long wait, the decision was that the Real Madrid captain was offside.

Action continued.

Then came the game-winning moment, when Vinicius Junior broke the deadlock.

This was the only goal scored in the final.

Celebrations in the Madrid camp in Paris and across the world.

REAL MADRID ARE THE KINGS OF EUROPE!