By: Tejas W.

It’s over! In the last edition of the Coe Times, the Champions League tournament was down to four teams. Now, only one stands supreme over European football (for effect, in this issue, I'm using “football”). Who was it? You'll find out in this Champions League Update, starting with the semis. 

​

Semifinal 1: Borussia Dortmund vs. Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) 

Not much to say here, besides UPSET ALERT!!! Dortmund punched their ticket to the final first with a 1-0 victory at home, and then another 1-0 victory at PSG’s stadium, with Niclas Füllkrug and Mats Hummels scoring in respective matches. 

​

Semifinal 2: Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich 

Now THIS is the semifinal action I want. In the first leg in Bayern’s Allianz Arena, these European giants clashed with a 2-2 draw. For Bayern, Leroy Sané and former Tottenham star Harry Kane scored, while for Madrid, Brazilian starboy Vinicius Jr. netted two goals. In the second leg at Real’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium, an action- packed game occurred that will go down as one of the greatest champions league games of all time. Bayern went up 1-0 in the 68th minute with an Alphonso Davies screamer from just inside the box. It seemed Bayern were heading to the champions league final, but one man stood in their way. Joselu, a midseason signing from Espanyol. In the 88th minute, Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer spilled the ball in front of his goal and Joselu pounced on it to level the score at 1-1. It seemed extra time was imminent, but in the 91st minute, a cross came into the box and Joselu put it in. After an offside check, the goal was confirmed. In the last minute of stoppage time, Matias De Ligt tied the game, but it was called offside without a check and Madrid headed to Wembley stadium for the final. 

 

Champions League Final: Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund

It all started in the 21st minute when Karim Adeyemi of Dortmund was played in with a through ball. He rounded the keeper, but Dani Carvajal made a miraculous tackle to prevent the goal. In the 23rd minute, Niclas Füllkrug hit the post. Then, in the 74th minute, everything changed as 5 foot, 8-inch defender Dani Carvajal headed the ball home. In the 83rd minute, Jude Bellingham intercepted a pass and teed it up Vinicius Jr. for a second goal. 12 minutes later, Real Madrid were crowned champions of Europe!!! (I’m seething inside, as I am a Manchester City fan, who were eliminated by Madrid, as well as a Barcelona fan, Madrid’s biggest rivals.) 

​

So what’s in store for us next year? We have some new faces such as England’s Aston Villa, Germany’s Bayer Leverkusen, and Spain’s Girona. Well, there are infinite possibilities, but this is my last Coe Times Champions League Update. What a phenomenal year in European football! 

 

-Tejas Waring, Soccer ("football") Journalist for The Coe Times