In the 21st century, there was a time when the Spanish football club giants Real Madrid deeply struggled to win any major trophy, including waiting for more than a decade to win a UEFA Champions League trophy. But since 2014, Los Blancos have dominated top football club tournaments, while they have set the image of being almost unbeatable in the final (including the single-game competition).
Real Madrid’s domination in the final
Since the calendar year 2014, Real Madrid have played 18 finals (including the single-game competition), and they won 16 matches out of those games (considering the double-leg final as one final game). So, they have an almost 89 per cent success rate in the finals during this period.
During this period, the Spanish giants won five UEFA Champions League finals, including completing the historic La Decima under the legendary manager Carlo Ancelotti, four FIFA Club World Cup finals, three UEFA Super Cups, three Supercopa de Espana and one Copa del Rey final along with other domestic league successes.
At this period, only the arch-rivals Atletico Madrid managed to beat Los Blancos in the finals and that too twice. While Colchoneros beat the Los Blancos by 2-1 in the double-leg Supercopa de Espana 2014, the same team also claimed a 4-2 win after extra time during the UEFA Super Cup 2018.
Other European clubs
Among the top European clubs, only the French giants Paris Saint-Germain have played more finals than Los Blancos during this period. PSG have played 22 finals since 2014, out of which they won 19 games with a success rate of more than 86 per cent. Out of their three final defeats, one notable was the UEFA Champions League 2019/20 final, where the German giants Bayern Munich won their sixth European Cup title with a 1-0 win.
The other top European clubs aren’t even closer than Real Madrid or PSG. Here are those records: Bayern Munich (won 13 out of 17 matches), Juventus (8 out of 17 matches), Barcelona (won 10 out of 15 games), Chelsea (won 6 out of 15 matches), Manchester City (won 9 out of 13 matches), Liverpool (6 out of 12 games), Sevilla (won 4 out of 12 matches), and Atletico Madrid (won 3 out of 6 matches).
Real Madrid’s appearances in the finals since 2014
(Note: Here Real Madrid = RM)
Copa del Rey 2013/14: RM 2 – Barcelona 1
UEFA Champions League 2013/14: RM 4 – Atletico Madrid 1 (after extra time)
UEFA Super Cup 2014: RM 2 – Sevilla 0
(Rare defeat) Supercopa de Espana 2014 (double-leg): RM 1 – Atletico Madrid 2
FIFA Club World Cup 2014: RM 2 – San Lorenzo 0
UEFA Champions League 2015/16: RM 1 (5) – Atletico Madrid 1 (3)
UEFA Super Cup 2016: RM 3 – Sevilla 2 (after extra time)
FIFA Club World Cup 2016: RM 4 – Kashima Antlers 2 (after extra time)
UEFA Champions League 2016/17: Juventus 1 – RM 4
UEFA Super Cup 2017: RM 2 – Manchester United 1
Supercopa de Espana 2017 (double-leg): Barcelona 1 – RM 5
FIFA Club World Cup 2017: RM 1 – Gremio 0
UEFA Champions League 2017/18: RM 3 – Liverpool 1
(Rare defeat) UEFA Super Cup 2018: RM 2 – Atletico Madrid 4 (after extra time)
FIFA Club World Cup 2018: RM 4 – Al-Ain 0
Supercopa de Espana 2019/20: RM 0 (4) – Atletico Madrid 0 (1)
Supercopa de Espana 2021/22: Athletic Bilbao 0 – RM 2
UEFA Champions League 2021/22: Liverpool 0 – RM 1
Los Blancos are ready for UEFA Super Cup 2022
So, the long-time in-form finalists, Real Madrid are getting to win another title as the defending UEFA Champions League winners will face the latest UEFA Europa League winners Eintracht Frankfurt in the UEFA Super Cup 2022 on August 10.
