Real Madrid pair Luka Modric and Toni Kroos have set an unbelievable Champions League mark with Saturday's win
Real Madrid midfielder came off the bench to secure his sixth Champions League win and replace Toni Kroos as the German signed off with a fifth European Cup for Los Blancos and a sixth overall on his last ever appearance for the club.
Modric joined Real Madrid from Tottenham in 2012 and although the Croatian has been reduced to a bit-part role in recent times, he was introduced in place of long-time associate Kroos with five minutes remaining as Los Blancos won the trophy for a 15th time.
The two midfielders embraced as the substitution was made and Kroos raised his arms triumphantly as he walked off the pitch for the final time as a Madrid player.
Madrid were second best for much of the night against Dortmund, but BVB were unable to convert their chances and Carlo Ancelotti's side went on to win thanks to goals from Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Junior in the last 20 minutes.
Carvajal headed home from a Kroos corner after 74 minutes and, with Dortmund chasing the game, Jude Bellingham set up Vinicius for the second following an awful misplaced pass from Ian Maatsen with seven minutes remaining.
Modric and Kroos have been at the heart of Madrid's last five triumphs in the Champions League, with the Croatian also present as Real won La Décima – their 10th European Cup – in 2014.
With six European Cups apiece, Modric and Kroos have drawn level with legendary Real Madrid winger Paco Gento, who was previously out on his own as the only six-time winner.
They have also overtaken their former team-mates Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Marcelo and Gareth Bale, who all won five.
Interim boss Stephen Frail expects Motherwell to appoint a new manager next week and admits their first job will be to lift the players’ confidence after a 3-0 mauling at home to Ross County.A double from Ronan Hale and Connor Randall’s last-minute strike secured an impressive victory for the Staggies at Fir Park.Defeat sees the Steelmen drop into the bottom half of the Premiership tab...
Mark Hughes heaped praise on goalkeeper Gabe Breeze after Carlisle picked up a vital point in the League Two relegation battle with a goalless draw against in-form Colchester at Brunton Park.Breeze made two excellent saves from Lyle Taylor as the Cumbrians ended a four-game losing run and the former Man City boss was astounded by the 21-year-old’s performance.He said: “The game had som...
Chesterfield boss Paul Cook launched a scathing attack on his play-off hopefuls after they surrendered an early lead to lose 3-1 at Sky Bet League Two table-toppers Walsall.The Spireites enjoyed a rapid start when Jamie Grimes’ eighth-minute header put them ahead against a wobbling Walsall side, who were winless in five matches with the chasing pack closing in.However, Bim Pepple and Dylan D...
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has allayed fears of an injury scare to top scorer Erling Haaland ahead of next week’s Champions League trip to Real Madrid.Haaland went down clutching his leg in the latter stages of the champions’ 4-0 Premier League thrashing of Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday and was immediately substituted.Losing the Norwegian would be a major blow to ...
Rotherham manager Steve Evans described Thomas Parsons’ performance as “atrocious” after the referee awarded a stoppage-time penalty from which Reading snatched a 2-1 victory in League One.Reading had led 1-0 at half-time through top scorer Harvey Knibbs but Sam Nombe levelled for Rotherham from a spot-kick in the 57th minute.With the game heading for a draw, Parsons adjudged Mil...
Michael Flynn believes his team can make a charge towards the League Two play-offs places after watching them come from 2-0 down to beat Barrow 3-2 at home.Matty Taylor scored twice before fellow substitute Ashley Hay hit the winner as the Robins continued their perfect home record in 2025.Cheltenham climbed to 13th in the table and sit eight points off seventh-placed Crewe with two games in hand....
Birmingham manager Chris Davies praised Jay Stansfield’s work ethic after he lit up St Andrew’s with the only goal of a 1-0 win to sink play-off chasing Charlton.Stansfield’s 23rd-minute strike stretched City’s lead to nine points ahead of second-placed Wycombe, with Blues boasting a game in hand.Victory was City’s 30th in all competitions as they extended their unbea...
Andoni Iraola refused to get carried away after Bournemouth fans were left dreaming of a potential Champions League adventure following a first league double over south-coast rivals Southampton.Travelling Cherries fans chanted of playing in European football’s premier competition next season after their side soared to fifth spot in the Premier League table thanks to a deserved 3-1 success at...
Norwich head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup praised his side for fighting back to draw 1-1 at Hull after he demanded “I want to see my football team back”.The Norwich boss had some tough words for his team as they trailed 1-0 at half-time to the relegation-threatened side, including for Kellen Fisher – but the player then delivered the assist for Josh Sargent’s equaliser.The Un...
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says Jota has a chance of starting against Bayern Munich after scoring and impressing in a 3-0 victory over Dundee United.Jota earned the club’s man-of-the-match award after cutting in from the left and curling home from 18 yards to double the lead given to the hosts by another impressive finish from Callum McGregor.The Portuguese winger has now started two gam...
