Real Madrid's Victory is Steeped in Marian Tradition

 

Real Madrid CF now has a total of 14 UEFA Champions League trophies, the most of any club by 7! 

 

But, this one perhaps was their most impressive yet!

 

During this 2021-2022 season, Real Madrid found themselves in what appeared to be a rebuilding season. Real Madrid saw themselves in Spain as the presumptive favorites, but in Europe, the story was much different.

 

Overall, it appeared that the Spanish League, LaLiga, would have an off season. Having dominated the previous decade with 6 UEFA Champions League trophies, 2 from FC Barcelona, and 4 from Real Madrid, this new decade was starting off not very well for the Eastern Iberians. 

 

And, the story was even more dominating because Spain had 2 teams in 8 of the 10 semi-finals last decade, as well as 2 teams in the Final in 2 finals. 

 

Furthermore, usually, one of the Spanish sides would knock out another in the quarter-finals or semi-finals. 

 

This is to say that between Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, and Atlético Madrid, it was almost like these 3, but especially with Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, were the best sides for a whole decade. And, when you go into the 2000s decade, this period of dominance continues.

 

The Spanish clubs also dominated the UEFA Europa League, the second tier competition in European club football (soccer), whereby Sevilla CF and Atlético Madrid both won 3 each. While the UEFA Super Cup was dominated by Spain as well, as 8 of the 10 champions last decade were from Spain (3 for Atlético Madrid, 3 for Real Madrid, and 2 for FC Barcelona). So, it was not an anomaly, rather, LaLiga dominated Europe and quite comprehensively!

 

The Spanish League would stay dominant in the second tier Europa League this decade winning the first 2 trophies in this competition with Sevilla CF and Villarreal CF.  

 

But, in the UEFA Champions League, only Real Madrid had made it to the semi-finals (2020-2021) and only once! 

 

It was a decade that had featured continual decline of both of the main clubs in Spain, so much so that 2020-2021, only 1 Spanish club even made it to the quarter-finals!

 

While famous Portuguese footballer, Christiano Ronaldo, had left Real Madrid before the 2018-2019 season for Juventus FC (Italy), famous Argentinian footballer, Lionel Messi, had left FC Barcelona before the 2021-2022 season for PSG (France)! This really put a damper on Spanish football as these two were the best players by far in the world for so long, and they shared the same dominant Spanish decade. 

 

And to make matters worse, to start the 2021-2022 season in the UEFA Champions League, Real Madrid had lost their second match to Sheriff Tiraspol (Moldova), at home in the Santiago Bernabéu!

 

Real Madrid looked too old and slow to compete against the likes of European super powers, but Real Madrid responded and got through the Group Stage as they would win their next 4 matches to finish 5-0-1 and win Group D. 

 

Meanwhile, FC Barcelona and Sevilla CF both were eliminated, while Villarreal and Atlético Madrid both barely made it to the Round of 16.

 

Unbeknownst to football experts, Spain was actually very good this year at the club level, but it was still at this point in time that Real Madrid were viewed as not at their best, while the other two that got through to the knockout rounds did it in very close fashion, with Atlético Madrid advancing with only 2 wins from 6. Thus, it did not look good, especially when Real Madrid was matched up with one of the tournament favorites, PSG, who now had Lionel Messi, Neymar, Kylian Mbappé, and other top players, for their Round of 16 opponent. Atlético Madrid was matched up with Christiano Ronaldo's team, Manchester United, who he rejoined this past season, and Villarreal were matched up with Italian giants, Juventus. 

 

Villarreal would win 4-1 on aggregate, while Atlético Madrid won 2-1 on aggregate. But, Real Madrid found themselves down 0-2 on aggregate with only 45 minutes to play, against what many considered to be the world's best attacking team. Real Madrid somehow found a way to pull of a miracle as French striker, Karim Benzema, scored 3 goals in the second half, and Real Madrid advanced, winning 3-2 on aggregate!

 

In the quarter-finals, once again, the Spanish clubs were not favored. Atlético Madrid were playing tournament favorites Manchester City (England), while Villarreal were playing the other tournament favorites Bayern Munich (Germany), and Real Madrid were playing the defending Champions League Champions, Chelsea (England). 

 

Manchester City defeated Atlético Madrid 1-0 on aggregate. This was expected. Unexpectedly, Villarreal defeated Bayern Munich 2-1 on aggregate! 

 

Real Madrid though, had a completely wild matchup, as they won the first match away, 3-1, and then found themselves down 0-3 in the second match at home! But, in the 80th Minute, Brazilian winger, Rodrygo, scored a goal that would send the match into extra time, before Karim Benzema scored in the 96th Minute to put the match away! Real Madrid advanced winning on aggregate 5-4!

 

Surely, Real Madrid's luck would run out though. Real Madrid were outplayed by PSG, and needed a miracle against Chelsea. Now, Real Madrid would face Manchester City, while Villarreal would face Liverpool FC (England). Liverpool won as expected, 5-2 on aggregate. While, Manchester City was dominating up 2-0 on aggregate. In the last guaranteed minute left to play, Real Madrid's Rodrygo scored what appeared to be a consolation goal. And then, in the 91st Minute in stoppage time, Rodrygo scored again. The match went into extra time, where Real Madrid's Karim Benzema scored in the 95th Minute and Real Madrid won 3-2 on aggregate.

 

Real Madrid now were going to face Liverpool, but again, due to the poor display and what appeared to be absolutely luck on Real Madrid's side, Real Madrid were not favored. And, due to the English Premier League's dominance the last two seasons, it appeared to be a sure thing for England to add on another Champions League via Liverpool. 

 

The match dictated this too, with Liverpool dominating, just as Manchester City and PSG had done. But, the score stayed tied thanks to Belgian goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois. And, in the 59th Minute, Real Madrid's Brazilian winger, Vinícius Júnior, scored! Real Madrid had gone up 1-0 and never gave up the lead!

 

Real Madrid would win the UEFA Champions League in what appeared to be Divine Intervention, and in fact, that is how the club honored their historic season which saw Real Madrid dominate in Spain winning their record 35th LaLiga, and their 12th Supercopa de España. 

 

Real Madrid would bring their Champions League and Spanish League trophies the next day to the Catedral de Santa María La Real de La Almudena, the home of the Archdiocese of Madrid, and would have their team blessed by the Archbishop, Cardinal Carlos Osoro Sierra, in the Cathedral, as they prayed for the maternal protection of the Virgin Mary, and offered their trophies to Mother Mary. 

 

Real Madrid continues to place the importance of religion at the center of their club with their club's crest featuring a cross at the top, and their club symbolizing the Catholic Royal Family of Spain. Ironically, King Ferdinand VI is actually an Atlético Madrid fan, but celebrates Real Madrid's European and World success as well, as Los Blancos have a record 7 world championship trophies. 

 

On the current first team, Real Madrid features many Catholics and many other religious members, from Muslim to Jewish, to various Christian denominations. But, the club maintains mostly a Catholic identity on and off the field, including in their supporters.

 

And, their tradition of offering their trophies to the Virgin Mary continues this Catholic tradition the club is steeped in. 

 

In the 2014 FIFA Club World Cup Final, Real Madrid's former longtime captain, Sergio Ramos, reminded Pope Francis that Real Madrid was "God's team" before the Final, as Pope Francis's favorite team is San Lorenzo (Argentina) since he was a child, and Real Madrid would win their then, 4th World Championship, and first under the FIFA Club World Cup era, 2-0 against the Pope's wishes. Real Madrid went onto win 3 more from 2016-2018 and will hope to add another World Championship title next season.

 

And, after this historic run and their first Champions League title since the depature of Christiano Ronaldo, one has to wonder if Real Madrid truly are God's team. I myself, hope they are not, but nonetheless, they do honor God and for that, they earn my respect!

 

You can watch the video from Sunday here and see a team photo with the archbishop here.