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Okay so today I decided to dive deep into the stats for that bonkers Champions League final last year, Liverpool vs Real Madrid. Kept seeing clips pop up and wanted the real numbers behind the drama. Here’s exactly how I went about it.
First thing, I fired up my laptop. Went straight to a couple of major football stat sites I always use for reliable match data – you know the big ones, but honestly, the names don’t matter much as long as the numbers check out. Didn’t bother with fancy analysis tools yet, just wanted raw facts.
Right, the scoreline jumped out first. Final score: Real Madrid 1 – 0 Liverpool. Feels weird typing it even now! Saw the one goal for Madrid clearly marked. Checked the shots next. Liverpool absolutely peppered the goal! Pulled up the shot count:
- Liverpool: 24 attempts! That’s huge.
- Real Madrid: Only 4? Seriously, just four?
But then I looked closer. Shots on target told the real story:
- Liverpool: 9 on goal
- Real Madrid: 2 on goal… and one of those went in! Madrid just ruthlessly efficient.
That goalkeeper performance from Thibaut Courtois… wow. Those saves! I hunted down his stat line: 9 saves! No wonder Liverpool couldn’t score. The guy was literally a brick wall. Made my jaw drop seeing the total confirmed like that. He was definitely the big reason behind that win.
Had to look at the possession too. Figured Liverpool dominated it. Numbers agreed: Liverpool had 54% of the ball. Madrid? 46%. So Liverpool had more of it, more shots, more shots on goal… but somehow lost 1-0. That’s football for you! Numbers don’t always show who wins.
Checked the key players list that kept popping up. Besides Courtois stealing the show:
- Vinicius Junior: Scored the winner. Only shot on target all match for Madrid? Insane. That’s clutch.
- For Liverpool, Mohamed Salah was trying everything. 9 shots total himself! But found Courtois every single time.
- Trent Alexander-Arnold created loads too – 4 key passes mentioned.
Even stuff like corners added to Liverpool’s frustration: 6 corners to Madrid’s 1, yet nothing came of them.
So yeah, putting it all together: Liverpool went guns blazing, everything stats-wise points to them being all over Madrid. More possession. Way more shots. Way more corners. Madrid barely got a sniff! But… there was Courtois. Standing on his head. Saving everything. And then Vinicius pops up with one chance, scores, game over. Madrid walked away winners. Stats tell you what happened, but Courtois? He told you why it happened. Crazy stuff. Shows why we love this game, even when it feels unfair!