Real Madrid held aloft the Champions League trophy for a record-extending 15th time on Saturday

The most familiar sight in European club soccer’s greatest competition felt as fresh as ever after a 2-0 win against Borussia Dortmund in the final at Wembley Stadium.

Prior to the finals Ballspielverein Borussia 09 e. V. Dortmund, often known simply as Borussia Dortmund  were looking forward to a revenge against the Spanish giants after they were knocked out in the semi-finals by Real Madrid in the 2012/2013 UEFA Champions League.

A predictable result came in less than predictable circumstances after Dortmund wasted a lot of chances in the first half. Carvajal headed Madrid in front in the 74th minute and Vinicius doubled the Spanish giant’s lead nine minutes later. Ancelotti’s fifth Champions League title was his third in two spells with Madrid and two more than his closest rivals Zinedine Zidane, Pep Guardiola and Bob Paisley.

Carvajal, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Nacho won the trophy a sixth time to equal the benchmark set by Madrid icon Paco Gento.

Madrid’s win comes just a year after Manchester City lifted the trophy for the first time, a victory many believed would herald a new era of dominance for Guardiola’s team in Europe. Instead, it was Ancelotti who underlined his case to be considered the finest coach of his generation for his continued supremacy in the Champions League.

As well as three titles with Madrid, he was a two-time winner with AC Milan. He also lifted the Spanish title this season – his sixth league championship won in five different countries. Madrid’s dominance of the competition defies belief, having won more than double than anyone else. Milan is the second most successful club with seven.

Madrid has won nine titles in the Champions League era and this was its second in three seasons. “This is the love story between Real Madrid and the European Cup. Players come, players go, but we can say that this is our competition,” Madrid president Florentino Perez said.