Real Madrid: Remembering La Décima five years later

It has now been five years since Sergio Ramos’ fateful header in the dying moments of the Champions League Final lifted Real Madrid to a title. We here at The Real Champs wanted to reflect on where we were and how we watched the title match that changed the club’s history.

Trailing 1-0 in stoppage time, Real Madrid needed a miracle to defeat city rivals Atletico Madrid in Lisbon, Portugal. After several good attempts at the Atleti end, Real earned a corner.

Luka Modric quickly grabbed the ball and whipped in what became known as ’92:48′ as the captain rose above the mass of players in the box and tucked home the clutch tying goal.

Los Blancos would go on to score three goals in extra time as Gareth Bale, Marcelo, and Cristiano Ronaldo buried their opponents with some great goals and better fitness.

Yasheel Vyas

I was watching the game late night at my home with my grandpa. I was on the edge of my seat throughout with each chance missed, each dribble and every tackle going in. My heart sank when we conceded the goal and the way we conceded but there was still hope with the way Madrid were playing.

I was almost standing up next to the TV with remote in my hand when Modric was taking that corner, planning to turn off the TV after the kick. Then it happened out of nowhere Sergio Ramos rose the highest to get that famous goal. It was an indescribable feeling around 3am at night I shouted at the top of my voice waking my grandfather up from sleep.

I was running around almost about to cry, completely blank stunned by what happened. Diego Costa’s reaction said it all and I could totally relate to it. What unfolded for the next 30 minutes was unreal , the way Angel “three lungs” Di Maria was running past defenders in extra time, Atletico had no answers for that. When Xabi Alonson ran down after Bale’s goal I felt that every Madridista out there  felt that. Marcelo’s goal really showed Atletico had given up , literally allowing Marcelo to walk into the box and take a shot.

The night was magical , it was historic and it was the first time I watched Real Madrid win the champions league. It is one of the best feelings in the world and I’m lucky enough to have gone through it for three consecutive years after that.

Rahul Desai

On this day, five years ago, Real Madrid won their 10th Champions League title. Where was I? In my hotel room with my dog Gabriella. As Luka Modric lined up for the corner, Gabriella lifts her head up and shakes her tail as she’s staring at the TV. As the corner comes in…I closed my eyes and the next thing I hear is the crowd cheering.

We’re tied.

Next thing you know, the rout began. Bale. Marcelo. Ronaldo.

4-1. The best game I have ever seen.

Hasan Karim

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Even though it was five years ago, I, like probably many others recall perfectly the moments of that fateful game. It seemed as though time had stood still as Luka Modric sent that ball into the box on the 92nd minute.

My friends and I were all in agreement, this is last chance saloon, the tenth is either revived now or buried for another time. As the ball came down and Ramos leaped – everyone in the room leaped in unison, as the ball rustled the net, everything was inaudible. Jumping, screaming, shouting – the TV got broken by a flying TV remote, as panic ensued about missing this moment – we turned on a computer and continued to watch.

As the next three goals flew in and we took in the fact that Real Madrid had lifted the tenth. The first club ever to lift ten, we witnessed it in our lifetime and it was something we felt blessed by. Little did we know the historic run Real would embark on from there but the 24th of May 2014 is something fans of football will never forget.

Ben Sundock

I will never forget where I was on that fateful day in May 2014. Watching on my phone while sitting in the airport with my sister before a flight, I could not have been more nervous. Wearing my Cristiano Ronaldo jersey I had bought just a few months before, I thought there was no possible way Real could come back.

As we boarded the flight, I continued to watch in agony dealing with a blurry screen and jostling people all around.

As I finally made it to my seat, I threw my belongings in the overhead bin and sat down. Just as I did, my phone screen buffered and then it happened. King Sergio rose above the Atleti defense and thumped the Modric cross past Thibaut Courtois and made Real Madrid history.

In my joy, I began yelling and kicking rather aggressively. This, of course, drew a lot of attention from the other passengers on the plane and made my sister very embarrassed.

Ali Al-Hassan

I usually tend to watch Real Madrid matches at home but was convinced by a group of friends to go to a nearby place and see it with them. As the last few minutes arrived, I regretted that decision. A close friend sitting next to me leaned over as Luka Modric stepped up to the corner and she put her arm around me and said “It’s okay. These things happen.”

I was genuinely trying to hold back the emotions and trying not to speak in fear of bursting into tears. No game has made me feel like this before. Modric took the corner and just when all hope was lost, Sergio Ramos showed us all that anything is possible. As soon as that ball went into the back of the net, there was no stopping me. I jumped out of my seat screaming in celebration.

A stranger at the table next to me randomly hugged me as we shared a true Madridista moment together. At that moment, I felt like a true supporter and realized just how deep my love goes for Real Madrid. A Barcelona fan in the group looked at me and said we were lucky. Maybe we were or maybe we weren’t, that’s debatable.

What was a fact was that we had just forced this match into extra time and there was no stopping us. The goals rolled in, Real Madrid didn’t let the euphoria of Ramos’ equalizer die until the final moment. Gareth Bale’s winner was soon followed by Marcelo and Ronaldo’s goals to give Los Blancos their tenth UEFA Champions League trophy and give us all a moment that we will cherish for the rest of our lives.

Andrew Gomes

I was at rehearsal missing the game unfortunately. We finished right on time to watch the last 5 minutes of the game. Couldn’t be a better time to watch that 92:48 goal by Ramos. I screamed and jumped and hopped and [insert joyful/nervous synonyms].

The rest was history… Glorious history.

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