It’s typically mentioned 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 remaining at Wembley.
Unbeaten in a European Cup remaining for the reason that early 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 pair Fede Valverde and Antonio Rudiger look dejected as Barcelona gamers have a good time their Supercopa de España win over Los Blancos in January 2025. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Actual Madrid’s most up-to-date loss in a remaining was a painful one for Los Blancos as Carlo Ancelotti’s facet 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 Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Alejandro Balde, with the Brazilian winger including one other within the second half and Hansi Flick’s facet comfortably holding on for an enormous win regardless of the dismissal of Wojciech Szczęsny with over half an hour left to play and a Rodrygo aim on the hour.
Actual Madrid 1-3 Barcelona (Supercopa de España, 2023)
Luka Modric holds his head as Barcelona have a good time a aim towards Actual Madrid within the Supercopa de España remaining in January 2023. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Actual Madrid have been effectively crushed by Barcelona within the remaining 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 below Xavi. Karim Benzema netted a late comfort for Madrid.
Actual Madrid 2-4 Atlético Madrid (UEFA Tremendous Cup, 2018)
Actual Madrid’s Karim Benzema stands along with his palms on his hips as Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa celebrates a aim within the groups’ UEFA Tremendous Cup conflict in August 2018. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
With Cristiano Ronaldo having departed for Juventus and coach Zinédine Zidane not in cost, Actual Madrid began life below 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)
Raul Garcia celebrates after scoring for Atletico Madrid towards Actual Madrid within the Supercopa de España in August 2014. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Actual Madrid beat Atlético Madrid after additional time to win the Champions League remaining in Lisbon in Could 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 aim within the second match as Atleti sealed a 2-1 win on combination.
Actual Madrid 1-2 Atlético Madrid (Copa del Rey, 2013)
Joao Miranda celebrates along with his Atletico Madrid team-mates after scoring the winner towards Actual Madrid within the 2013 Copa del Rey remaining on the Santiago Bernabeu. (Picture credit score: Alamy)
Forward of the 2013 Copa del Rey remaining, 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 facet 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 gamers look dejected after defeat to Actual Zaragoza within the 2004 Copa del Rey remaining. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Actual Madrid capitulated from a powerful 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 remaining 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 aim 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)
Deportivo La Coruña gamers have a good time their Copa del Rey remaining win over Actual Madrid on the Santiago Bernabeu in March 2002. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Actual Madrid have been celebrating their centenary on March sixth, 2002 and what higher method to mark the event than by successful the Copa del Rey remaining 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 facet in a shock defeat for the house crew. Raúl scored Madrid’s aim within the second half, however Actual have been unable to seek out an equaliser and it was Deportivo’s social gathering by the tip of the evening.
Actual Madrid 1-2 Boca Juniors (Intercontinental Cup, 2000)
Boca Juniors’ Sebastian Battaglia is challenged by Actual Madrid’s Roberto Carlos within the groups’ Intercontinental Cup conflict in November 2000. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Martín Palermo scored two targets within the opening six minutes as Boca Juniors made a dream begin towards 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)
Chelsea’s Pierluigi Casiraghi challenges Actual Madrid’s Fernando Hierro within the groups’ UEFA Tremendous Cup conflict in August 1998. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Greater than 30 years after their final European Cup crown, Actual Madrid beat Juventus to say the trophy for a seventh time in 1998.
However Los Blancos have been annoyed within the UEFA Tremendous Cup a couple of months later, shedding out to a late Gustavo Poyet aim as Chelsea took the trophy in Monaco.
Atlético Madrid 2-0 Actual Madrid (Copa del Rey, 1992)
Paulo Futre in motion for Atletico Madrid in October 1991. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
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)
Alex Ferguson and Mark McGhee maintain up the European Cup Winners’ Cup as Aberdeen return house by boat following their victory over Actual Madrid within the remaining in Gothenburg in Could 1983. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
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 remaining, Alfredo Di Stéfano’s facet 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)
Diego Maradona in motion for Barcelona in January 1983. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Actual Madrid met Barcelona over two legs within the remaining 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 greatest remembered for Diego Maradona’s very good solo aim, 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 remaining. The competitors was discontinued the next 12 months after simply 4 editions.
Liverpool 1-0 Actual Madrid (European Cup, 1981)
Alan Kennedy scores the winner for Liverpool towards Actual Madrid within the 1981 European Cup remaining on the Parc des Princes. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
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 remaining on the Parc des Princes in Paris, with Alan Kennedy’s aim sealing a 1-0 win for the Anfield membership. It was the third time Madrid had misplaced a European Cup remaining.
Chelsea 2-1 Actual Madrid (UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, 1971)
Chelsea in motion towards Actual Madrid within the European Cup Winners’ Cup remaining replay in Could 1971. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Actual Madrid met Chelsea within the remaining of the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in Piraeus in 1971. The Blues went forward by Peter Osgood after 56 minutes, however Los Blancos levelled proper on the finish because of a aim by Ignacio Zoco.
Further 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 high in a 2-1 win. John Dempsey and Osgood scored for the Blues within the first half. Sebastián Fleitas netted Madrid’s aim quarter-hour from time.
Inter 1-0 Actual Madrid (European Cup 1964)
Actual Madrid’s Francisco Gento and Inter’s Armando Picchi shake palms forward of the 1964 European Cup remaining. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Actual Madrid’s second European Cup remaining defeat got here in Could 1964 because the five-time winners went all the way down to Inter in Vienna.
Objectives 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)
Ferenc Puskas scores for Actual Madrid towards Benfica within the 1962 European Cup remaining. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
After successful 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 remaining the next season, Los Blancos led 2-0 and 3-2 towards 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.
