Real Madrid's 1,000 day empire Champions League Europe ruled for three years

Defending one's throne is never an easy feat and usually by the time you have settled into your seat another club comes along and takes it from you.

What Real Madrid have achieved, then, is a remarkable accomplishment and one from another era - Los Blancos have reigned over Europe for 1,000 days.

One thousand days as kings of Europe, with their name on the famous trophy, with three consecutive triumphs. Zinedine Zidane and Cristiano Ronaldo championed an incredible expedition that reached beyond what was ever considered possible and while the rest of the continent aims to reach the moon, Madrid have conquered Mars and left their flag.

The story begins on May 28, 2016 in Milan but, in truth, it was before that when Zidane took over a capsizing ship and managed to get it back on track, seeing off Roma, Wolfsburg and Manchester City en route to Milan.

That Estadio Santiago Bernabeu comeback against Wolfsburg should not be forgotten because of what followed. Without Ronaldo's hat-trick on a magical night, none of what happened since would have been possible.

From 11 metres

Lucas Vazquez was in his first season at Madrid and he stepped up to take that first penalty in Milan. Strolling forward, juggling the ball and spinning it on his finger, he dispatched without fuss. Marcelo, Gareth Bale, Sergio Ramos and Cristiano Ronaldo all followed by scoring, finding a way past the most effective goalkeeper on the planet in Jan Oblak. It was Juanfran who missed for Atleti, delivering another European crown to Los Blancos.

The unprecedented feat became reality

With two titles in three years already confirmed, both against city rivals Atleti, Madrid set out to do what had never been done before and to become the first to successfully defend the Champions League. They swatted Napoli aside, beat Bayern Munich and then eliminated Atletico again on the last European night at the Vicente Calderon.

Juventus were the final victims on this occasion as Madrid produced a second half to remember to break the curse that hung over the competition and its winners.

The endless story

If twice was previously seen as impossible, then winning it three times in a row was not something anyone could have foreseen. Again, they went beyond what could have been reasonably expected.

The new Paris Saint-Germain of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe arrived at the Bernabeu and left eliminated, then Juventus tumbled late on before Bayern again fell before the back-to-back champions, who claimed another victim in the form of Liverpool to add yet another chapter to the seemingly never-ending story.

One thousand days and counting...