Real Madrid wins the Champions League, defeats Liverpool 1-0 amid chaos in Paris

Real Madrid have won the 2022 UEFA Champions League, with Vinicius Jr's goal sealing a 1-0 win over Liverpool in the final at the Stade de France. The start of the match had to be delayed by 36 minutes owing to a security issue outside the stadium, seemingly caused due to the crowd and handling at the Stade de France, the 81,000 seater stadium at Saint-Denis outside Paris where France won the World Cup in 1998.

Unlike that year, a Brazilian had the last laugh, as Vinicius Jr's sliding finish was enough to win as Liverpool knocked and knocked but could get past Thibaut Courtois who twice made sensational saves to deny the side from Merseyside. Carlo Ancelloti, Real Madrid's Italian manager has now won his fourth Champions League crown.

Before even the opening performance by Camila Cabello could begin, the match was delayed by 36 minutes. As per the Associated Press, Police had deployed tear gas on supporters waiting in long lines to get into the stadium and security struggled with fans desperate to see the Champions League final.

Angry Liverpool fans held in the lines were seen hanging onto railings and heard shouting: “Let us in. We’ve got tickets.” There were many instances of fans breaking through security and attempting to get into the stadium. The Associated Press saw two fans - one was wearing Liverpool attire - wrestled to the ground by stewards and bundled out of the gates.

Three more fans were seen evading stewards and sprinting through the concourse and into the bottom level of the stadium. Others climbed the fences instead.

Once the action began, Liverpool had more of the ball and even a few gilt-edged chances thwarted by Madrid's keeper. The Spanish side did come close to opening the scoring though, with Karim Benzema's low finish after a penalty box jumble being overturned by VAR for being offside. With the win, Real Madrid have now been champions of Europe a record 14 times, twice their closest continental rivals AC Milan whom Liverpool would have equalled had they won tonight's encounter.

Image: UEFA Champions League