Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has insisted that luck was not involved in his Champions League final goal against Liverpool.

The Frenchman opened the scoring in Los Blancos' eventual 3-1 victory at the NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium in bizarre circumstances, as he stuck out a boot to divert Loris Karius's attempted pass into the bottom corner.

Benzema is adamant that an element of skill was involved in the breakthrough moment 51 minutes into the match, however, with his positioning and reaction skills playing a key part.

"My goal from Kiev, it was not a matter of luck," he is quoted as saying by AS. "I do not believe in luck, it's a matter of work.

"It's an easy goal but you have to be there, in the right place and at the right time, to put it in."

Sadio Mane went on to level up the scores four minutes later, before Gareth Bale came off the bench to net two goals in Madrid's third successive European success.