2001/02: Zidane strikes gold for Madrid
Wednesday, May 15, 2002
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Zinédine Zidane's superb goal at Hampden Park gave Real Madrid CF a 2-1 victory over Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the Spanish club's centenary year, but the German side's brave battle to the final was almost as memorable.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen 1-2 Real Madrid CF
(Lúcio 13; Raúl 8, Zidane 45)
Hampden Park, Glasgow
Seventy-two teams. One hundred and ninety-seven games. Ten months. One winner. The long and winding road to Glasgow took its toll. But for Real Madrid CF the journey was well worth the while. The reward for Vicente del Bosque's men was a third UEFA Champions League success, adding to their wins in 1998 and 2000. Madrid progressed through the first group stage with AS Roma as bridesmaid, and again set the pace during the second group stage, becoming the first team into the last eight.
It was here that the threat from Bayer 04 Leverkusen materialised: Klaus Toppmöller's men burying Liverpool FC's chances in a tie which saw more plots than a gravedigger. One-nil winners at Anfield, the English side had looked set for the semi-finals until a late goal by Brazilian defender Lúcio made the aggregate score 4-3 to Leverkusen. Their next opponents were Manchester United FC, who succumbed on away goals after Oliver Neuville equalised in a 1-1 draw in the Rheinland. Meanwhile, Madrid had seen off one old foe, holders FC Bayern München, before a combination of class and character helped them past another, FC Barcelona, in a semi-final tie dubbed the 'match of the century' by the Spanish press. Zinédine Zidane and Steve McManaman decided the issue with goals that silenced Camp Nou as Madrid prevailed 3-1 over two legs.
Zidane was at it again at Hampden Park. After Lúcio had equalised Raúl González's early strike for Madrid, the French international scored a goal worthy of winning any final. Which it did: his brilliant 44th-minute volley dividing the sides. Madrid were European champions in their centenary year, their ninth such triumph; Leverkusen, runners-up in their domestic league and cup, were second best again.