It’s generally stated in Spain that Actual Madrid do not play finals… they win them.
Vastly profitable within the European Cup, Madrid gained the primary 5 editions of the continental competitors and claimed their fifteenth title by beating Borussia Dortmund within the 2024 Champions League closing at Wembley.
Unbeaten in a European Cup closing for the reason that early Nineteen Eighties, Actual hardly ever lose the largest matches when it issues most.
However through the years, Los Blancos have misplaced out in main finals, each on the continent and at house. Right here, a have a look at a few of Madrid’s notable defeats in showpiece fixtures…
Actual Madrid 2-5 Barcelona (Supercopa de España, 2025)
Actual Madrid’s most up-to-date loss in a closing was a painful one for Los Blancos as Carlo Ancelotti’s aspect have been thrashed 5-2 by fierce rivals Barcelona within the Supercopa de España showpiece in January 2025.
Kylian Mbappé gave Madrid an early lead, however Barça stormed right into a 4-1 lead on the break by way of Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Alejandro Balde, with the Brazilian winger including one other within the second half and Hansi Flick’s aspect comfortably holding on for a giant win regardless of the dismissal of Wojciech Szczęsny with over half an hour left to play and a Rodrygo purpose on the hour.
Actual Madrid 1-3 Barcelona (Supercopa de España, 2023)
Actual Madrid have been properly crushed by Barcelona within the closing of the Supercopa de España in Saudi Arabia in January 2023.
Gavi, Robert Lewandowski and Pedri scored the targets as Barcelona gained a primary trophy underneath Xavi. Karim Benzema netted a late comfort for Madrid.
Actual Madrid 2-4 Atlético Madrid (UEFA Tremendous Cup, 2018)
With Cristiano Ronaldo having departed for Juventus and coach Zinédine Zidane not in cost, Actual Madrid began life underneath new boss Julen Lopetegui by shedding to metropolis rivals Atlético within the UEFA Tremendous Cup in Tallinn in August 2018.
Diego Costa scored twice for the Rojiblancos, together with an opener within the first minute, and the match went to additional time within the Estonian capital after a Karim Benzema effort and a Sergio Ramos penalty. Atleti went on to win 4-2 because of targets from Saúl and Koke.
Atlético Madrid 2-1 Actual Madrid (Supercopa de España, 2014)
Actual Madrid beat Atlético Madrid after additional time to win the Champions League closing in Lisbon in Might 2014 and three months later, the 2 groups met once more within the Supercopa de España.
Raúl García grabbed a late equaliser on the Santiago Bernabéu to cancel out a James Rodríguez effort scored seven minutes earlier within the first leg and Mario Mandžukić netted the one purpose within the second match as Atleti sealed a 2-1 win on combination.
Actual Madrid 1-2 Atlético Madrid (Copa del Rey, 2013)
Forward of the 2013 Copa del Rey closing, Actual Madrid had not misplaced to metropolis rivals Atlético Madrid since October 1999 – and Los Blancos additionally had house benefit.
However Atleti needed to finish that sorry streak someplace and Diego Simeone’s aspect snatched a 2-1 win after additional time on the Santiago Bernabéu on a chaotic night for Los Blancos, with Cristiano Ronaldo and coach José Mourinho each despatched off. Earlier, Ronaldo had opened the scoring for Madrid, however Diego Costa levelled for Atleti and Miranda headed the winner for the Rojiblancos in additional time.
Actual Madrid 2-3 Zaragoza (Copa del Rey, 2004)
Actual Madrid capitulated from a robust place within the 2003/04 season, falling from first to fourth in La Liga and shedding to Monaco within the final 16 of the Champions League.
Los Blancos have been additionally crushed 3-2 after additional time by Actual Zaragoza within the closing of the Copa del Rey in March. David Beckham and Roberto Carlos scored for Madrid, with Dani García and David Villa on course for Zaragoza. Luciano Galletti’s purpose gained it for the Aragonese outfit in additional time at Barcelona’s Olympic Stadium.
Actual Madrid 1-2 Deportivo La Coruña (Copa del Rey, 2002)
Actual Madrid have been celebrating their centenary on March sixth, 2002 and what higher option to mark the event than by profitable the Copa del Rey closing at a packed Santiago Bernabéu?
Sadly for Los Blancos, Deportivo La Coruña had different concepts as targets from Sergio and Diego Tristán surprised Vicente del Bosque’s aspect in a shock defeat for the house crew. Raúl scored Madrid’s purpose within the second half, however Actual have been unable to search out an equaliser and it was Deportivo’s get together by the top of the evening.
Actual Madrid 1-2 Boca Juniors (Intercontinental Cup, 2000)
Martín Palermo scored two targets within the opening six minutes as Boca Juniors made a dream begin in opposition to Actual Madrid within the groups’ Intercontinental Cup conflict in November 2000.
Roberto Carlos netted for Madrid with simply 12 minutes on the clock, however Boca held on for a 2-1 win in Tokyo, sparking large celebrations again in Buenos Aires and throughout Argentina.
Actual Madrid 0-1 Chelsea (UEFA Tremendous Cup, 1998)
Greater than 30 years after their final European Cup crown, Actual Madrid beat Juventus to assert the trophy for a seventh time in 1998.
However Los Blancos have been pissed off within the UEFA Tremendous Cup a number of months later, shedding out to a late Gustavo Poyet purpose as Chelsea took the trophy in Monaco.
Atlético Madrid 2-0 Actual Madrid (Copa del Rey, 1992)
As of 2024, Actual Madrid had completed as runners-up within the Copa del Rey on 20 events and Los Blancos have misplaced seven of these finals on the Santiago Bernabéu.
Crushed within the 1960 and 1961 finals on the Bernabéu by Atlético Madrid, Los Blancos have been defeated by their metropolis rivals once more within the 1992 showpiece at their house floor. Bernd Schuster and Paulo Futre scored the targets for Atleti.
Aberdeen 2-1 Actual Madrid (UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, 1983)
Actual Madrid missed out on a trophy within the 1982/83 season, ending as runners-up in La Liga, the Supercopa de España, Copa del Rey, Copa de la Liga and likewise the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.
Within the European closing, Alfredo Di Stéfano’s aspect have been crushed 2-1 after additional time by Alex Ferguson’s Aberdeen in Gothenburg. Juanito cancelled out John Black’s opener with a penalty as each side scored within the opening quarter-hour. John Hewitt’s header gained the match for the Dons in additional time.
Barcelona 3-2 Actual Madrid (Copa de la Liga, 1983)
Actual Madrid met Barcelona over two legs within the closing of the Copa de la Liga in June 1983.
Los Blancos got here from two targets down to attract 2-2 at house within the first match, which is finest remembered for Diego Maradona’s excellent solo purpose, however went down 2-1 to the Blaugrana within the return match at Camp Nou in a 3-2 combination defeat. Madrid went on to win the Copa de la Liga in 1985, beating Atlético within the closing. The competitors was discontinued the next yr after simply 4 editions.
Liverpool 1-0 Actual Madrid (European Cup, 1981)
Actual Madrid beat Liverpool within the Champions League finals of 2018 and 2022, however Los Blancos have misplaced out to the Reds as soon as on the final hurdle within the European Cup.
That was within the 1981 closing on the Parc des Princes in Paris, with Alan Kennedy’s purpose sealing a 1-0 win for the Anfield membership. It was the third time Madrid had misplaced a European Cup closing.
Chelsea 2-1 Actual Madrid (UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, 1971)
Actual Madrid met Chelsea within the closing of the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in Piraeus in 1971. The Blues went forward by way of Peter Osgood after 56 minutes, however Los Blancos levelled proper on the finish because of a purpose by Ignacio Zoco.
Additional time didn’t produce a winner, so a replay occurred two days later on the identical venue and this time, Chelsea got here out on prime in a 2-1 win. John Dempsey and Osgood scored for the Blues within the first half. Sebastián Fleitas netted Madrid’s purpose quarter-hour from time.
Inter 1-0 Actual Madrid (European Cup 1964)
Actual Madrid’s second European Cup closing defeat got here in Might 1964 because the five-time winners went right down to Inter in Vienna.
Targets from Sandro Mazzola and Aurelio Milani put Inter 2-0 up on the Praterstadion with simply over an hour performed and though Felo pulled one again for Los Blancos, Mazzola quickly added one other to seal a 3-1 win for the Nerazzurri. Inter went on to retain the trophy the next season.
Benfica 5-3 Actual Madrid (European Cup, 1962)
After profitable the primary 5 editions of the European Cup, Actual Madrid have been knocked out of the competitors by fierce rivals Barcelona within the 1960/61 season.
Again within the closing the next season, Los Blancos led 2-0 and 3-2 in opposition to Benfica in Amsterdam as Ferenc Puskás hit a first-half hat-trick, however ended up shedding 5-3 to the Lisbon giants in an entertaining match.
