Real Madrid defeated Liverpool 3‑1 in the 2018 Champions League Final, a match defined by one of the greatest goals in European history. After Sadio Mané cancelled out Karim Benzema’s opener, Gareth Bale came off the bench to score an outrageous bicycle kick that stunned the stadium. Bale later added a long‑range strike to seal Madrid’s third straight Champions League title in a memorable night of drama and brilliance.