It will be a long night for Real Madrid fans around the globe, whether they made it to the stadium or if they watched on their TV sets or mobile apps. But once the win has sinked in, it's time to take a look at the historic feats accomplished by the 13-time UEFA Champions League winners.
Their three-one win over Manchester City saw them reach a title clash for the 17th time. Just so you can compare their stats against those from their opponents on May 28, Liverpool have only been able to reach the title match in ten different editions.
Now, let's have a look at what they have done during the current Champions League edition. Carlo Ancelotti's men were able to reach the final by claiming comeback wins in each of their KO stage ties. Who had done it before them? No one.
3 - Since 2003-04 when the last 16 was introduced, Real Madrid are the first team to lose a match in the last 16 (0-1 vs PSG), quarter-final (2-3 vs Chelsea) and semi-final (3-4 vs Man City) in a season and still reach the UEFA Champions League final. Immortal. pic.twitter.com/ZwHt65PDml
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 4, 2022
Tonight's win for Real Madrid also helped them get rid of a hoodoo against English opposition in this tournament.
Real Madrid have knocked out an English side from the #UCL semi-finals for the first time since 2016. The team then? Manchester City. pic.twitter.com/cGjzuGJhCL
— Squawka (@Squawka) May 4, 2022
Now, it is time to take a look at what Karim Benzema has done. The Frenchman has been impressive throughout the season, with fans urging FIFA and France Football to give him this year's Ballon D'Or already. But his performances for Los Blancos have seen the player matching a record by none other than Cristiano Ronaldo en route to one more Champions League final, among a couple more milestones you will find here.
BENZEMA TIES RONALDO FOR MOST GOALS IN A SINGLE KO STAGE (10) pic.twitter.com/QH02EGdoh8
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) May 4, 2022
To reach the Champions League final, Real Madrid had to go through last year's champion, Chelsea, in the quarterfinals and runner-up, Manchester City, in the semifinals.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 4, 2022
In the 4 games against last year's finalists, Karim Benzema had 8 goal contributions (7 goals, 1 assist). pic.twitter.com/CvkDj9fqRy
Karim Benzema has now scored 43 goals in 43 games this season #UCL pic.twitter.com/VJ6IMbwF8L
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 4, 2022
And now, it's time to praise Carlo Ancelotti's influence in this massive story. The Italian coach has already won La Liga with the Spanish side this season, and he will try to replicate what Zinedine Zidane did for Los Merengues just five years ago with a record-breaking appearance in the title clash.
5 - Carlo Ancelotti has reached his fifth UEFA Champions League final (2003, 2005 and 2007 with AC Milan, 2014 and 2022 with Real Madrid), the most of any manager in the competition's history. Grande. pic.twitter.com/61IciOWNFG
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 4, 2022