Real Madrid: Ranking the 5 best games of Carlo Ancelotti’s first term

2. 2014 Champions League final: 4-1 win vs Atletico Madrid

Real Madrid had not won the Champions League since 2002, as their quest for a 10th Champions League title would go on for 12 years. Carlo Ancelotti took the team to the final in brilliant fashion, but the real test was still pending. The opponents of the finals were their rivals Atletico Madrid, who just won the LaLiga title.

The encounter at Lisob was heated, with Atleti’s players like Raul Garcia playing a physical game and trying to get onto the nerves of Real Madrid’s players. Real would be the aggressive team in attack, but Diego Simeone’s men would be equally solid in defence. But Atletico would be the one to take the lead, with Diego Godin’s header ending up in the back of the net, following an error of judgment from Iker Casillas.

There were 54 minutes left in the game, and Real Madrid kept increasing the pressure in attack. But they couldn’t find the key to unlock Atletico’s defence. Bale and Ronaldo kept trying their best, but couldn’t slot the ball past Courtois.

Time was ticking away. The game entered the added time of 5 minutes, and the hopes were decreasing. Real Madrid won a corner, which was taken by Luka Modric. The corner needed a hero on the receiving end for a goal, and up stepped Sergio Ramos. He would leap above everyone to divert the ball into the goal, which couldn’t be saved by the diving Belgian. The clock read 92:48, the scoreline became 1-1, as the crowd in Lisbon erupted with roars, with every other fan watching the game on television probably doing the same.

That moment of 92:48 would make Sergio Ramos a cult hero, with him being the main reason behind the game going to extra time. There was no stopping Real Madrid after that. Di Maria’s rebounded shot would be headed in by Gareth Bale, the hero of Copa Del Rey. Real Madrid had one hand on their 10th, and Xabi Alonso sitting in the stands would jump onto the pitch to celebrate with his teammates. Marcelo and Cristiano Ronaldo would go onto hit the final nail on the coffin by adding two more goals before the full-time whistle.

Madridistas had to wait 12 years for that moment of Real Madrid winning the La Decima. Millions were spent by Florentino Perez for that elusive achievement, and all it took for that investment to pay off was one man in Carlo Ancelotti, who would guide the players to glory with his brilliant management.