Real Madrid's road to glory at 2017/18 Champions League

Real Madrid's players celebrate after winning the UEFA Champions League final game between Real Madrid and Liverpool FC at the NSC Olimpiyskiy stadium in Kiev, Ukraine, 26 May 2018. [Photo: IC]

Real Madrid have won their third successive Champions League title, beating Liverpool 3-1. 

Goals from Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema proved Los Blancos are still the best team in Europe. 

Real Madrid's quest at title defense began in Group H, where they faced APOEL, Dortmund and Tottenham Hotspur. 

Qualification for the knock-outs never seemed a problem, but they did run into trouble against Tottenham. The north London team inflicted a draw and a loss on Real. 

They had to settle for second place within this group with a winless record against Tottenham. 

Real Madrid's Toni Kroos acknowledges the spectators after losing 1-3 during the soccer Champions League group H match between Tottenham and Real Madrid in London, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017. [Photo: AP]

Cristiano Ronaldo scored in each of this past season's six group games, becoming the first player to have done so in Champions League history. 

Ronaldo's goal scoring streak continued in the last 16 tie against Paris Saint-Germain. He fired Real Madrid into the quarterfinals with three goals from both legs, giving Los Blancos a 5-2 aggregate win. 

Real Madrid's next challenge was Juventus who they beat in the final last season. Ronaldo conquered the Allianz Stadium in the first leg with an acrobatic kick that earned him a well-deserved standing ovation. 

Cristiano Ronaldo's acrobatic kick during the first leg of the quarterfinal tie between Real Madrid and Juventus on April 3, 2018. [Photo: IC]

Real Madrid would not have expected any of the drama from the return leg with a comfortable 3-0 away victory under their belt. 

Juventus struck early and retaliated with another 3-0 at the Bernabeu a week later. 

Extra time seemed inevitable until Real were awarded a controversial last-ditch penalty after Lucas Vasquez was challenged from behind and went down in the box. 

Ronaldo converted the penalty to send Real Madrid through after the biggest scare of their careers. 

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates Real Madrid's progression at the UEFA Champions League quarter final match between Real Madrid and Juventus FC at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium on April 11, 2018. [Photo: IC]

Ronaldo and his team met their old foes Bayern Munich in the semifinals. It was the third time the teams have played against each other in four years with Real Madrid coming out on top on both previous occasions. 

Bayern defenders kept Ronaldo quiet in both legs, but it couldn't stop Real from improving their head-on record against Bayern, thanks to their efficiency. They punished Bayern with a 2-1 win and a 2-2 draw to reach the final at the expense of French, Italian and German champions. 

Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas celebrates after Madrid reached its third straight Champions League final 4-3 on aggregate at the Champions League semifinal second leg soccer match between Real Madrid and FC Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, May 1, 2018. [Photo: AP]