After winning their third successive and record-breaking 13th Champions League title, as expected Real Madrid were given a heroes’ welcome back in Madrid on Sunday.
Scores of Madridistas lined up the streets of the Spanish capital to greet Zinedine Zidane and his boys after their 3-1 triumph over English side Liverpool in Ukraine’s Kiev.
An open-top bus carried the Madrid squad to the club's traditional celebration spot, the Plaza de Cibeles, as fans cheered and waved scarves for the ‘Los Blancos’.
Before reaching the fountain at Cibeles, the team made stops at lmudena Cathedral for a service, met the Madrid mayor Manuela Carmena at the municipal town hall and greeted fans gathered in the Puerta del Sol, the capital's central square.
Captain Ramos and Marcelo led the celebrations.
Later in the night the party moved to Real Madrid’s home Santiago Bernabeu where season ticket-holders and club members joined the team for a celebration.
As players took their turn to enter the stadium, Marcelo, who assisted Bale on his spectacular first goal, broke into a gig when his turn came. Soon Ronaldo joined the Brazilian and they both did their signature celebration for the elated Madrid fans in the house.
Later, Real Madrid players lifted their head coach Zinedine Zidane into the air to celebrate his unique feat of becoming the first coach to win three back-to-back Champions League trophies. Only Bob Paisley and Carlo Ancelotti have won the trophy thrice but none of them did it at a stretch.
In the end there were more surprises for the Madrid fans as Ronaldo took the mic. The Portuguese star, who had announced on the pitch in Kiev after the match that his association with the Madrid side may soon end, finished his speech with good news for the fans , “Thanks everyone, see you next year,” which was accompanied by his familiar wink.
On Sunday, 27 May, Gareth Bale scored twice including an incredible overhead kick after coming off the bench as Real Madrid defeated Liverpool 3-1 in the Champions League final in Kiev.
Karim Benzema struck a bizarre opening goal on 51 minutes before Liverpool, who lost leading scorer Mohamed Salah to injury in the first half, replied through Sadio Mane.
Bale replaced Isco on the hour and connected with an outrageous acrobatic effort on 64 minutes to put Real back in front.
The Welshman sealed a record-extending 13th European Cup title for Real with seven minutes left as a dreadful mistake from Loris Karius allowed his long-range shot to find the net.
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