REAL MADRID VS JUVENTUS: 4-1
In one of the most awaited finals of Champions League, Real Madrid makes a one-sided affair to beat Juventus by 4-1. Real Madrid won their 12th Championship League trophy. Real Madrid became the first team in the Champions League history to defend the trophy with complete six victories in the competition. A thrilling first half saw Cristiano Ronaldo put Madrid ahead in the 20th minute but right then Mario Mandzukic equalised for Juventus with a spectacular overhead kick which will relish the memory for a long time. For Madrid Casemiro and Marco Asensio scored one each while Cristiano Ronaldo scored double and becoming the first player to score in three different Champions League final.
Cardiff witnesses the final of UEFA Champions League 2017. There is nothing to separate these to giants teams but this will be their 19th encounter between these two teams all in Champions League with eight wins each side and two resulting in a draw. On goal score, Juventus leads with 21 against Madrid 18. The last time they faced each other in semi-finals of UEFA Cup Juventus won with an aggregate score of 3-2. Real Madrid team manager Zinedine Zidane showed confidence in Isco ahead of Bale and placed a formation of 4-3-1-2 while Juventus who is known o have strong defence placed a formation of 3-4-1-2. The match started and Madrid started off well with a free kick and their forward were striking the pass well. It was the 20th minute of the match when Ronaldo gave Real Madrid the lead with a low right-footed drive from 20 yards which curled out of the reach of Gigi Buffon goalie. Madrid lead was reduced to 1-1 when Mario Mandzukic scored a sensational goal standing just inside the penalty area he sends an overhead kick into the top right corner. Well, that’s was the kind of goal you’ll see only in finals. End to end counterattacks kept on going and none able to score. At the end of first half score were equalised at 1-1.
The second half started and both the teams looked still the same. Real Madrid was trying every single opportunity to score and finally succeeded in 61’when Casemiro fires a swerving and a dipping effort from distance just bounce on the line and into the nets. Gigi Buffon looked were upset with himself as he sat on his knee cursing himself. Right then in 64’ Cristiano Ronaldo played quick one-two into the box and shot the ball past Buffon and advantage Real takes 3-1 into the game. Juventus nearly found anyway back into the game. Bale came into the play in losing stage but it was substituted Marco Asensio who scored the fourth goal for Madrid in 90’with fine assist from Marcelo. Juventus defence thus got shattered from attacking Madrid. Thus Real Madrid lifted their 12th UEFA Championship Title.
MATCH STATS:
Cristiano Ronaldo made his fifth European Cup final appearance. Ronaldo scored twice and thus became the leading goal scorer ahead of Messi.
Real Madrid won their last six European Cup finals, the last time they lost was aginst Liverpool in 1981.
Mario Mandzukic became the third player to score in European Cup finals for two different clubs (Juventus, Bayern Munich).