The Champions League final is here! The match starts at 6 p.m. London time and I will keep you up to date minute by minute with what happens on the pitch. Until then, let’s see where it will be played and who will play it.
The match will be played in Athens, on the Oaka Spyros Louis Stadium, also known as the Olympic Stadium.
And now, the line ups (click on the names to view the player profiles):
Viitorul Constanta: (4-3-3 counter) Nicolas Salva — Michiel Aarts, Xavier Dumont, Georgica Dicu, Sebastien Verdier — Yasen Zlatinski, Mike Broadhead, Alin Dicher — Rastislav Benko, Jerome Vrignaud, Dramane Sow
Reserves: Vaninho, Fabian Caporale, Danut Gongolea, Hector Fernandez, Roman Benes, Guido van der Meulen, Juan Cruz Argenti
Real Madrid: (4-2-3-1) Joaquin — A. Chacon, A. Viqueira, D. Boyata, W. Santillan — V. Andreani, H. Mkhitaryan — D. Martinez, O. Luz, F. Ghiglia — R. Sanchez
I have to admit that Real Madrid’s line up looks quite scary… Anyway…
The live text broadcast will be shown below, the updates will appear automatically, no need to refresh the page.
The match will be played in extended highlights mode.
LIVE BLOG — CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL 2023
Three new coaching styles for staff: technical, tactical, mental.
New in training: can specify both role and mentality for a player’s training.
More detailed and varied job interviews.
More manager profile options.
Improved manager history, featuring manager timeline.
Revamped club history screen.
Improved board intelligence, next season wage budget announced earlier.
Updated with latest Financial Fair Play regulations.
Training ground interviews introduced as well.
Tunnel interviews introduced.
Improved press conference questions.
Improved media interaction, with tabloid journalists and broadsheet journalists.
Players can turn against unhappy team-mates to support their manager.
Talk to a group of players that have the same concerns.
Improved player interaction.
Can search for unhappy or home-grown players.
New home screen search bar, similar to the web browser.
Improved scout report screen, with pros and cons and a lot more detailed data about players.
Can scout a player for up to 3 months.
Improved interaction with club scouts.
Attribute ranges instead of blanks for unscouted players.
New way to set up scouting assignments.
New player preferred moves.
Four new player roles: roaming playmaker (DM and CM), raumdeuter (AMRL), inverted wing back (WBRL), wide playmaker (MRL).
New default tactics available.
New stadium models.
Improved touchline shouts.
Improved player AI.
Improved ball physics.
New match engine lighting model.
Improved goalkeeper animations.
New 3D match engine animations that replicate real-live movement of football players. For instance, players will be able to play passes with the outside of the foot.
Biggest match engine face-lift since the 3D engine was first introduced.
You will get coaching badges in the game.
Select the type of manager you want to be: Tracsuit Manager or Tactical Manager, or a combination of the both.
New user interface features a sidebar, which allows easier navigation.
Re-designed user interface.
New FM 2015 features coming soon!
The LIVE BLOG is now closed, thanks again for your fantastic support.
You have to refresh the page in order to watch the video. Or better, click the link on top of the video and watch it directly on YouTube.
Here are the two goals:
The goals will be up in a couple of minutes, then I will close the live coverage and meet you in the comments section.
Thanks a lot to all of those who followed the live blog, your support means a whole lot to me.
We received 7.82 million pounds for winning it ;)
I’ll upload the goals shortly and then start to check and answer your comments ;)
Here are the full time stats:
Guess who was the man of the match? No, not Sow. It was Real’s goalkeeper!
Somebody pinch me, I can’t believe it!
It’s all over!!!!!!!!!!!
3 minutes of injury time…
His 20th goal of the season ;)
Sow does it again with 4 minutes left! Another great pass from Vrignaud and another cool low finish!
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!
5 minutes left…
84th minute: decent chance for Argenti after a nice cross from Verdier but the striker headed over from 6 yards out.
Another yellow card for Real, Andreani gets booked.
9 minutes left!
Last substitution: Argenti for Benko.
77th minute: chance for Real on a corner kick, the goalie did well to tip the header over the bar.
Just 20 minutes left!
67th minute: an unlikely chance for left back Verdier! He got into the penalty area but his right-footed shot was saved. We have a corner kick though.
Real Madrid have a 4-1-3-1 formation now ;)
65th minute: second yellow for Viqueira! He’s off!
64th minute: good counter chance for us, Sow was clean through but the goalie pulled off a great save.
Real Madrid sent in Gonzalo Higuain.
55th minute: yellow card for Real’s centre back Viqueira. I’m sending in Roman Benes for Fernandez.
Real Madrid are making some changes, they switched to a 4-3-1-2 formation.
Great goal with his left foot! Now we’ll have to be careful at the back…
52nd minute: Sow receives a pass from Vrignaud, enters the penalty area and fires it low at the near post! GET IN!
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLL!
49th minute: Fernandez fires one from the edge of the area, well over unfortunately.
Off topic: Roger Federer won the Wimbledon final.
No changes at the break, second half coming up!
Hector Fernandez has picked up a slight injury, I will keep him on the pitch for a while longer though.
We should have converted one of those clear cut chances…
Half time: 0-0. Half time stats coming up.
Good chance for Real 40 seconds before half time, another good save by Salva.
Sow squanders a chance in the first minute of injury time, fired well wide from inside the box.
2 minutes of added time
Hector Fernandez in for injured Zlatinski.
39th minute: Zlatinski got injured, I have to replace him.
26th minute: good counter attack chance for Real, stopped by a good save from goalkeeper Salva.
19th minute: free kick header wide for Real Madrid.
The situation after 15 minutes:
Score: 0-0
Shots on target: 2-1
Clear cut chances: 2-0
Possession: 57% to 43%
15th minute: first shot for Real Madrid, from the edge of the area, held by my goalie.
12th minute: Benko scores but he was offside…
Two clear cut chances wasted inside the first minute of play!
Great chance for Benko after 50 seconds, clean through inside the penalty area but denied by the keeper!
First shot on target after 30 seconds: Sow fired straight at the goalie from just inside the penalty area.
Play!
Team talk: For the fans!
Real Madrid are 4/6 favourites according to the bookies.
Getting ready now…
By the way, I forgot to tell you that the real-life Viitorul Constanta got promoted last season so they will play in the Romanian top flight this year.
And, as you all know, it’s the first ever Champions League final for Viitorul Constanta, a club that was founded in 2009.
It’s the third final in the last four seasons for Real Madrid. They lost to Inter in 2020, then won against Chelsea in 2022 and now they face the mighty Viitorul!
Off topic: it looks like Murray is losing the Wimbledon final.
10 minutes remaining… I’m here, counting the seconds :D
By the way, Jose Mourinho is still managing Real Madrid in 2023!
60 minutes to go…
Three hours left…
Six hours to go…
A bit more than six hours left…
Vaughn
8 июля, 2012 at 11:51
Cant wait!
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 11:55
Haha, you tell me? I have to find something to do until then in order to stay away from the computer :D
Ronny
8 июля, 2012 at 12:08
Wimbledon final and Silverstone GP should do just well for you, mate. And obviously good luck tonight! Happy to see Dumont featuring, a «big gamble» making it to the CL final :)
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 12:19
Thanks Ronny. Good point on Dumont, he’s an essential player now, just a few years after joining the club.
Karl Deighton
8 июля, 2012 at 12:21
Good luck in the final!
Real have a class team, but mkhitaryan and boyar a look like the weak links, hopefully you can exploit them and win!
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 12:33
Thanks mate. Those two aren’t that weak though, at least Boyata isn’t weak at all in my view.
karl deighton
8 июля, 2012 at 16:54
I’m not saying they’re not very good, I’m just saying they’re in my opinion the worst players in Madrid’s line-up. They are both still great players though.
Not long till kick-off now!
Can’t wait, but can’t imagine how much you’re itching to get going, you mush have a lot of will power!
Good luck
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 16:57
Thanks mate. I do have lots of patience, that’s one of my (few) qualities :)
Mariano
8 июля, 2012 at 12:29
How are you going to play it, in extended version?
Cheers
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 12:32
Yes, extended highlights. I forgot to mention that.
Michael Grantham
8 июля, 2012 at 12:45
Good luck Johnny :) cant wait for the final!
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 12:48
Thanks Michael!
Ana Garcia
8 июля, 2012 at 13:16
Ha! Great idea Johnny. :)
Shame I have to work tonight so will miss it but I wish you even more luck!!
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 13:20
Thanks Ana! And don’t work too hard :P
Ana Garcia
9 июля, 2012 at 18:18
Ha!! :)
Was just in my Dad’s restaurant waiting tables and serving drinks such an exciting life I Iead! ;)
Just a re-post to congratulate you on your brilliant achievement! So great to see so many people share that moment with you deserved success as always and a fantastic story to follow.
One last question (might have been asked so many responses!) are you planning on staying on to retain the champions league or will you try another story elsewhere?
Either way am looking forward to see whats next, congratulations Johnny. :)
Johnny Karp
9 июля, 2012 at 18:43
Thanks a lot Ana. I will stay to get the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Championship and then think about what to do next.
Darren Smith
8 июля, 2012 at 13:31
Good look Johnny, I can’t wait to see what happens…looking through the squads Real are the clear favorites but I can see a hole or two to be exploited and never underestimate the underdog effect in this competition, cued up to be a great game. Just about to watch Wimbledon then tune in for the CL final, turning into a great Sunday ;)
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 14:16
Thanks Darren! I agree that Real Madrid have the better players, that is quite obvious, but we have beaten them before so I hope we’ll do that again with a bit of luck. I’m currently zapping between the Wimbledon final and today’s stage in the Tour de France :)
Sears
8 июля, 2012 at 14:47
Only 3 hours and 14 minutes Johnny , time will fly :D
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 14:55
Haha, I’m really counting the minutes mate :D
~RosT~
8 июля, 2012 at 15:21
I hope for red cards, missed penalties and goals! :)
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 16:18
Haha, I hope Real Madrid will produce the red cards and missed penalties and we’ll provide the goals :)
Ryan Daly
8 июля, 2012 at 15:28
Good luck, i cant wait until this gets underway !!
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 16:19
Thanks Ryan!
Vaughn
8 июля, 2012 at 16:00
The murray match is heating up. But that is just a opener for the main event! I predict a 2-1 to madrid (sorry) but i do want you to win!
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 16:19
Thanks mate, I understand your prediction as they are the favourites.
Tegar Triemanudigdo
8 июля, 2012 at 16:24
Hoping for excitement here!
silva
8 июля, 2012 at 16:46
Can’t wait good luck!!!
What a fine job you have done keep it up.
Please read my Crewe story
https://footballmanagerstory.com/forum/index.php?topic=1541.0
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 16:58
Thanks mate, I’ll have a look at your story later tonight or tomorrow. I will surely bookmark it for the future though ;)
silva
8 июля, 2012 at 17:32
Thanks Johnny.
Keep calm your players will do you proud :)
Jack
8 июля, 2012 at 16:48
line ups look great! Hope it’s a cracker, good luck Johnny!
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 16:57
Thanks Jack!
Vaughn
8 июля, 2012 at 17:44
Just over 15minutes! The tension is killing me!
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 17:48
Haha :))
Malhar Bhadbhade
8 июля, 2012 at 17:54
are you sure we don’t have to refresh? because your updates aren’t appearing on my screen :(
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 17:57
The updates are showing on my computer, maybe it has something to do with your browser. Refresh at will if you have to :)
Victor Baluta
8 июля, 2012 at 17:56
Good luck ! I’m following two finals at the same time: yours and the Winbledon. :D
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 17:58
Thanks Victor!
Ivo Knežević
8 июля, 2012 at 17:59
LET’S GO ROMAAAAAAAAANSSS!!!!!!!!!!
nielsneutron
8 июля, 2012 at 18:00
Good luck Johnny. I hope for a close and thrilling match!
Gbolahan
8 июля, 2012 at 18:17
Why didn’t Juan Cruz Argenti start his stats look good
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 18:42
I preferred to use Vrignaud because he was in better form. It seems I was right because he provided both assists :)
Kevin
8 июля, 2012 at 18:18
I arrived home just at the right time. GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAL!!
Tom Miller
8 июля, 2012 at 18:31
Congratz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Victor Baluta
8 июля, 2012 at 18:32
Congratulations!!!
The second half was perfect. :D
Amazing performance with a Romanian team and your work after all these years is rewarded. Epic story !
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 18:42
Thanks mate, I guess it did become one hell of a story tonight.
vaibhavc
8 июля, 2012 at 18:32
YEAH! GET IN! Great work Johnny!
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 18:42
Thanks buddy.
Malhar Bhadbhade
8 июля, 2012 at 18:32
Congrats on the win mate!! Knew it was coming!!! First ever Champions League!! Crazy stuff…you’ve done it again…brought a club from nothing..to Champions League winners…hats off!
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 18:43
Thanks Malhar, it was quite a journey. I’m planning on writing a recap post with all the steps that we had to take to get this far.
Vaughn
8 июля, 2012 at 18:32
Nicely done :) Guess my prediction was wrong! Deserving champions of Europe, onwards and upwards now!
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 18:43
Thanks mate!
Ivo Knežević
8 июля, 2012 at 18:32
WOW
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 18:44
Yep, I’m still having trouble closing that jaw that dropped at the second goal :)
karl deighton
8 июля, 2012 at 18:32
Well done Johnny, that was absolutely brilliant!
Sow is a Legend, didn’t he want to leave last year? :D
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 18:45
Thanks Karl. That is right, Sow wanted to leave last summer, I didn’t want to let him go and then he changed his mind :)
Kevin
8 июля, 2012 at 18:32
Great stuff Johnny — what a remarkable achievement and I’m delighted you finally won the Champions League
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 18:45
Thanks a lot Kevin. I have to confess that it feels great :)
silva
8 июля, 2012 at 18:33
Well Done you have finally done you deserve it.
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 18:45
Thanks Silva!
Vaughn
8 июля, 2012 at 18:35
What will you do now, after winning the champions league?
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 18:46
I’m going to have a beer :) Just kidding, I’ll continue the story because I also want to win the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Championship. Then I’ll probably stop and look for another challenge.
silva
8 июля, 2012 at 18:56
I think you should try brake the dominace of Celtic and Rangers with a lower league scottish side.
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 18:57
That could be an option.
Ryan Daly
8 июля, 2012 at 18:35
absolutely fantastic — well done on a special achievement
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 18:46
Thanks Ryan.
Ben
8 июля, 2012 at 18:36
What a win! Against a strong Madrid team aswell. :) Has your reputation increased now?
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 18:47
Thanks Ben. The reputation will be updated later, probably in June (game time), and we’re still at the end of May. I hope it will go up now, it has to!
Bhargav
8 июля, 2012 at 18:36
Oh wow! Serious congratulations are in order. In a mere 12 years you’ve taken a team from the second-tier of Romanian football to the top of the World!
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 18:48
Thanks a lot Bhargav, I guess we did pull off a half-miracle here.
TE5711
8 июля, 2012 at 18:36
Congrats Johnny! I knew you could! You deserve this, your hard work and patience with the lads really paid off finally. I personally hope you will now move on to another league and team in Europe, seeing as you have accomplished your goal of winning the CL with Viitorul. Anyway, great match! You showed Mourinho what it’s all about!
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 18:48
Thanks mate, it’s always great to win against Mourinho! :D As I said, I will stick around to win the Super Cup and the Club World Championship and then think about moving.
Mariano
8 июля, 2012 at 18:39
Amazing achivement Johnny, congratulations!
Is this the first time you win the CL with a Romanian team or you did it before with the one you are a fan?
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 18:49
Thanks Mariano. Steaua Bucharest have won the Champions Cup back in 1986, on penalties against Barcelona.
Mariano
9 июля, 2012 at 00:28
No, I meant you managing a Romanian team wining the CL before on a previous version of FM.
Johnny Karp
9 июля, 2012 at 06:59
Oh, I got it now. I did win the Champions League with Universitatea Craiova in FM 2007 or 2008, can’t remember exactly.
Darren Smith
8 июля, 2012 at 18:42
Wow simply brilliant Johnny, to beat Real is the best way to go and considering your continued feud with Mr Mourinho it must be doubly good!! Those two goals were great also, Sow seems like a true clinical finisher and fingers crossed this will bring your reputation to the next level so you can start bringing in even better players. Great work and a very entertaining read, well done!
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 18:53
Thanks a lot Darren, it was a double satisfaction indeed :) As for the reputation, do I really need better players? :)
Darren Smith
8 июля, 2012 at 20:22
Haha, very true :)
saltwater
8 июля, 2012 at 18:50
Brilliant win and great blog, loved how the screen refreshed automatically like a vidiprinter.
Sow is a club legend, and that just reminds me FM13 seriously need a tropy award animation.
Who’s the special one now, Mourinho!? :D
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 18:52
Hahaha, thanks mate! By the way, Sow isn’t yet listed as a legend in the club information screen but I guess it’s just a matter of time now :)
Martin F.M.J.S
8 июля, 2012 at 18:50
Well done Johnny its a great achievement and one you deserve :D
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 18:52
Thanks Martin.
TheZiggy
8 июля, 2012 at 18:56
Fantastic achievement, you’ve done it at last, winning the Champions League. I love that it was Mourinho who was in charge of Real Madrid. It’s always good to get one over him, especially as he loves to play mind-games, although I always ignore him, which is probably why he changed in my game from thinking we could be friends, to disliking me. :D
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 18:59
Thanks Ziggy, I love beating Mourinho and he dislikes me too. We do have a T-Shirt stating that, don’t we? > http://www.cafepress.com/fmstoriesshop.582331827
Jack
8 июля, 2012 at 19:04
Truly magnificent! What an achievement with such a small club!
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 19:29
Thanks Jack, it was nice indeed :)
Michael Grantham
8 июля, 2012 at 19:30
Congratulations on such an incredible achievement Johnny. Its been a pleasure reading this story and long may it continue!
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 19:55
Thanks Michael. The story will continue but I’m not sure for how long.
Lye
9 июля, 2012 at 06:07
Finally, you lay your hands on the most glamorous trophy. Congratulations, you are a true Viitorul legend. Lets hope this is the first of the many triumph in Europe.
Johnny Karp
9 июля, 2012 at 06:59
Thanks Lye, I guess it was a well-deserved triumph after 12 seasons.
Calin
9 июля, 2012 at 07:21
Congrats, Johnny! This is a dream come true for you and Viitorul and makes every Romanian fan proud — at least virtually we can win trophies like this one :)
Congrats on an amazing achievement and good job with this live blog thing!
Johnny Karp
9 июля, 2012 at 18:41
Thanks Calin. Actually I think Viitorul are our best bet in real life too, they seem to be the only serious and well-organised club in Romania.
Varun
9 июля, 2012 at 07:58
Well done Jonny you have a fantastic job with vitorria ive read it from the start. you beat a tough real side but i knew you could pull it off! :)
Johnny Karp
9 июля, 2012 at 18:41
Thanks Varun, it was a wild journey indeed.
Acss
9 июля, 2012 at 10:22
Well done mate you finally did it! :D That was a great final, well-deserved trophy after a very long road and another great season. Now what next? :) Will you be trying to defend your European title? New story coming along, or perhaps continue this one with another club? Looking forward to see how it turns out, once again huge congratulations!
Johnny Karp
9 июля, 2012 at 18:42
Thanks mate. I will continue for a while because I want to get the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Championship. Then I’ll start thinking about what to do next.
Ronan Donovan
9 июля, 2012 at 15:35
congrats!! Nice victory:)
Johnny Karp
9 июля, 2012 at 18:42
Thanks Ronan!
CsAtlantis
12 июля, 2012 at 03:46
Wow, in the end the reputation level you had did not hinder you from getting the Champions League title! Congratulations Johnny, you will have the Club World Cup to look forward to next season, great achievement with a modest squad
Now, I wonder if your reputation will go up ;)
Gaurav Chaddah
12 июля, 2012 at 06:53
WOOP!!! You finallay done it, congratulations mate, you deserve it! ;) Could you please look at my 2 stories on the forum? :D
https://footballmanagerstory.com/forum/index.php?topic=1519.0
https://footballmanagerstory.com/forum/index.php?topic=1459.0