2018 UEFA Champions League Final facts for kids
Real Madrid players celebrate after lifting the trophy for the 13th time.
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| Event | 2017–18 UEFA Champions League | ||||||
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| Date | 26 May 2018 | ||||||
| Venue | NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev | ||||||
| Man of the Match | Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) | ||||||
| Referee | Milorad Mažić (Serbia) | ||||||
| Attendance | 61,561 | ||||||
| Weather | Sunny 20 °C (68 °F) 37% humidity |
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The 2018 UEFA Champions League Final was the exciting last game of the 2017–18 UEFA Champions League season. This is Europe's biggest club football tournament, organized by UEFA. The match took place on May 26, 2018, at the NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kiev, Ukraine.
The final was played between two famous teams: Real Madrid, who were the champions from the year before, and Liverpool, who had won the tournament five times before. Real Madrid scored first in the second half with a goal from Karim Benzema. But Liverpool quickly scored back with a goal from Sadio Mané. Then, Gareth Bale came on as a substitute for Real Madrid and scored two amazing goals, helping his team win the game 3-1.
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Journey to the Final
Both Real Madrid and Liverpool had to play many games to reach the final. They started in the group stage and then played in knockout rounds.
Real Madrid's Path
Real Madrid was in Group H. They played against teams like APOEL, Borussia Dortmund, and Tottenham Hotspur. They finished second in their group.
After the group stage, Real Madrid entered the knockout rounds. They beat strong teams like Paris Saint-Germain in the Round of 16. Then, they faced Juventus in the quarter-finals and Bayern Munich in the semi-finals. They won these tough matches to reach the final.
| Pos | Team | Pld | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Tottenham Hotspur |
6 | 16 |
| 2 |  Real Madrid |
6 | 13 |
| 3 |  Borussia Dortmund |
6 | 2 |
| 4 |  APOEL |
6 | 2 |
Liverpool's Path
Liverpool was in Group E. They played against Sevilla, Spartak Moscow, and Maribor. Liverpool played very well and finished first in their group.
In the knockout rounds, Liverpool also showed great skill. They beat Porto in the Round of 16. Then, they won against fellow English team Manchester City in the quarter-finals. In the semi-finals, they played against Roma and won, earning their spot in the final.
| Pos | Team | Pld | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool |
6 | 12 |
| 2 | Sevilla |
6 | 9 |
| 3 |  Spartak Moscow |
6 | 6 |
| 4 |  Maribor |
6 | 3 |
The Match
The "home" team for the final was decided by a special draw. This draw happened on April 13, 2018, in Nyon, Switzerland.
Match Details
| 26 May 2018 21:45 EEST |
Real Madrid |
3–1 | Liverpool |
NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev Attendance: 61,561 Referee: Milorad Mažić (Serbia) |
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Benzema  51'
Bale |
Report | Mané 55' |
Here are the kits the teams wore:
          Real Madrid
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     Liverpool
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Team Line-ups
The players who started the match and the substitutes for each team were:
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Man of the Match: Gareth Bale from Real Madrid was named the best player of the match.
Match Rules:
- The game lasted 90 minutes.
- If the score was tied, they would play 30 minutes of extra time.
- If it was still tied after extra time, a penalty shoot-out would decide the winner.
- Each team could name seven substitute players, and up to three of them could play in the match.
Match Statistics
Here are some interesting facts about how the teams played:
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Related Football Events
Images for kids
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The NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kyiv hosted the final.
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Andriy Shevchenko was chosen as the ambassador for the final.
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Dua Lipa performing "One Kiss" at the opening ceremony.
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Gareth Bale entered the match as a substitute in the 61st minute and scored two goals for Madrid.
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Captain Sergio Ramos hoisting the European Champion Clubs' Cup as Real Madrid celebrate winning the final.
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A special Ukrainian postage stamp made for the final.
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See also
In Spanish: Final de la Liga de Campeones de la UEFA 2017-18 para niños
