Real Madrid lift their record-extending 13th Champions League title in 2017-18
#2. Winning the La Decima in 2013-14
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Real Madrid celebrate their much-awaited La Decima in 2014
Following a long 12-year wait for the coveted La Decima (10th title) which encompassed a trio of successive semi-final exits, Madrid beat Bayern Munich 5-0 on aggregate to reach the 2013-14 Champions League final.
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In the first-ever all-Spanish title match against cross-town rivals Atlético Madrid, Sergio Ramos' equaliser deep into injury time forced extra-time where unanswered goals from Gareth Bale, Marcelo, and Cristiano Ronaldo sealed Madrid's record-extending 10th triumph in the competition. In the process, Ronaldo became the first player to score for two different winning teams in the Champions League final.
#3. First team to successfully defend Champions League
Real Madrid became the first side to successfully defend their title in the Champions League era
Riding Cristiano Ronaldo hat-tricks against Bayern Munich and Atlético Madrid in the quarter-finals and semi-finals respectively, Madrid returned to consecutive Champions League / European Cup finals for the first time since their 5th consecutive title in 1959-60. In the title match against treble-chasing Italian champions Juventus, a Cristiano Ronaldo brace coupled with a goal apiece from Casemiro and Marco Asensio sunk the Bianconeri 4-1 as Madrid became the first team in the Champions League era to win successive titles.
Bhargav is a veteran sports journalist and editor at Sportskeeda, with a rich professional experience of 17 years, working for the likes of Siemens and Bombay Dyeing. An avid football and tennis follower for over three decades, Bhargav uses his vast knowledge and experience, attention to detail, an unbiased yet interesting writing style, and thorough research to craft insightful articles, which have raked in over 18 million reads so far.
Bhargav supports Italy at national level, a team steeped in tradition and history according to him. He still harbors the heartbreak from the Azzurri’s 1994 FIFA World Cup final defeat against Brazil, and protagonist-turned-antagonist from the game, ‘Divine Ponytail’ Roberto Baggio is his all-time favorite player. His favorite manager is Marcelo Lippi, who ended Italy’s 24-year wait for the World Cup trophy, winning it in 2006.
Outside Europe’s top five leagues, he follows the MLS following Lionel Messi’s move in 2023 but favors Cristiano Ronaldo in the G.O.A.T. debate. During his free time, Bhargav enjoys driving off to new places and singing.
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