Italian Champions Juventus and newly crowned Spanish Champions Real Madrid will go hammer and tongs at one another on the night of 3rd June 2017 to become the Champions of Europe in Cardiff. The two teams have shown quality and deftness on their way to the showpiece final. Real Madrid has been the most successful side in the competition’s history and they’ve been crowned champions for a record 11 times. Juventus, on the other hand, have two titles in their cabinet but have lost a record six finals.
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The teams last clashed in the 2014-15 semi-finals which the Old Lady of Turin won on an aggregate scoreline of 3-2. However, they failed at the final hurdle after losing out to a supremely talented Barcelona side.
Since the introduction of the new format in 1997, no team has been able to win the Champions League title in succession but Real Madrid seem determined to break the hoodoo. Interestingly, both of Juventus’ Champions League final triumphs have come against the defending champions.
We’ve had some enthralling finals over the last decade but this one promises to be the best of the lot. Here are 5 reasons why:
#1 Buffon’s shot at glory
Gigi Buffon, one of the best goalkeepers to grace the planet, has several accolades to his name but the Champions League trophy has somehow managed to elude the Italian shot-stopper. He has been on the losing side with Juventus in two finals- 2003 against Milan and 2015 against Barcelona.
The night in Cardiff could be the end of this World Cup winner’s 22-year long wait to get his hands on the famous trophy. The veteran goalkeeper was unbeaten for 600 minutes between the sticks in this year’s Champions League which puts him fifth in the all-time table for the longest unbreached run by a goalkeeper in the UEFA Champions League.
Also read: Cristiano Ronaldo stands between Buffon and Champions League destiny
On securing participation in another final showdown in Europe’s elite tournament, the goalkeeper said, "Two years ago everyone assumed it was my last Champions League final, and I thought that too, but you have to keep believing in your dreams."
Ronaldo has been the Italian keeper’s nemesis over the years and has managed to find the net 5 times in their last 4 meetings. Buffon would have to be at his very best to deny the Portuguese this time out if he is to win his maiden Champions League winner’s medal.
#2 Juve’s defence vs Real Madrid’s attack
The Italian champions have a rock-solid defence and that has been evident for several years now. They famously managed to keep two clean sheets over two legs against a mighty Barcelona attack. They have marauding full-backs to complement Leonardo Bonucci and Georgio Chiellini who form the heart of the defence.
While Alex Sandro has been a mainstay on the left, manager Allegri enjoys the choice of placing the buccaneering Dani Alves, Andrea Barzagli or Stephan Lichsteiner on the right to complete a formidable back 4. Dani Alves, who joined the Italian giants at the beginning of this season from Barcelona, was a revelation while attacking from the right wing in the semi-finals against Monaco.
There are no qualms about the fact that the Los Meringues’ attack is pure quality and their main-man Ronaldo is peaking in form at right time for the club. His 8 goals over the quarter and semi-finals against Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid helped Real Madrid storm into the final. Benzema’s exquisite footwork in the buildup to Real’s crucial away goal in the second-leg versus Atletico Madrid was a thing of beauty.
While Madrid will miss their powerhouse Gareth Bale who’s out with an injury they have Isco amongst their ranks to deputise for the Welshman. Asensio has pleased football aficionados all around the world with his breath-taking displays all through the season.
One can simply not forget that Real Madrid also have Alvaro Morata to tilt the tide in their favour. The fleeting forward was the match-winner with two goals for Juventus over the two-legs against Madrid two years ago when the sides met in the semi-finals.
Real Madrid are the highest scoring side of this year’s edition with 32 goals and Juventus have the meanest defence having conceded just 3 goals which is a clear suggestion of the fact that this final will be one to remember.
#3 Tactical expertise on display
Zinedine Zidane may be new to the managerial game but he has enjoyed a remarkable record since taking over the Madrid squad in 2016. He’s already won the Champions League, European Super Cup and Club World Cup in his 18-month reign. He also added the La Liga trophy recently after a barren five-year run.
The Frenchman had represented Juventus in the early days of his career and parted ways with the club to join Real Madrid for a then world record fee in 2001. His side possesses the capability to press the opposition and carry out defence-to-attack transitions at a lightning pace. Juventus will have to be wary of Real’s counter-attacking prowess if they want to keep them at bay.
Allegri is in his third season at Juventus and has managed to guide his side to three Serie A titles. He’s also guided his team to the Coppa Italia final apart from the Champions League final. The Bianconeri boss famously said this before facing Barcelona in the quarter-finals, “Football is very simple, you have attacking and defending. You need both and there’s no shame in being good at defending, in fact it’s just as beautiful as a great attacking move.”
It is evident that he takes pride in having heroic defenders at his disposal but one simply cannot overlook the attacking side he has crafted since taking over at the helm of affairs. The Juve attack boasts of Gonzalo Higuain, Paolo Dybala, Mario Mandzukic and Juan Cuadrado and one should only take their attack lightly at one’s own peril.
#4 Point to prove for Gonzalo Higuain
The Argentine forward donned the Real Madrid jersey for 6 goal-laden years before leaving for Napoli in 2013 as he fell down the pecking order at Madrid. He was subjected to a lot of criticism in his years at Madrid despite the fact that he racked up 122 goals for the club. Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos is supposedly good friends with Higuain since the time he played for the Los Blancos.
Ramos, however, has fired shots by stating that he won't give away peanuts to El Pipita. Higuain scored two crucial goals in the first leg of the semi-final against Monaco and could be a key player against his former club.
In his first year for the Bianconeri, he has scored 32 goals already in 50 appearances so far continuing his goalscoring form with which he tormented opponents while playing for Napoli last season.
Higuain has often been rebuked for underperforming on the biggest stages having missed some glorious chances in the 2014 Fifa World Cup final and the 2016 Copa America Centenario final for Argentina. He would be eager to erase those memories with an inspired performance at Cardiff.
#5 Strength in depth
What’s particularly special about this year’s final is the quality of the players these sides have on their respective benches. Real Madrid enjoy the privilege of having players such as James Rodriguez, Alvaro Morata, Lucas Vazquez and Marco Asensio on their bench while the Juventus substitutes’ list includes the likes of Cuadrado, Claudio Marchisio and Medhi Benatia.
With the two sides evenly matched, the final could well be decided by the effect that the fresh pair of legs coming from the bench have on the pitch. Strength in depth is the key factor that has allowed both these teams to top their respective league tables and also reach the finals of the UEFA Champions League.
They have like for like matches for key positions and there’s a good possibility that the managers will dig deep and try to overcome the opposition side with a change in personnel later on in the game.
All these factors make for the ingredients of a remarkable finale that’ll remain etched in everyone’s memories for a while.
