2) Mario Mandzukic in 2017 (Juventus 1-4 Real Madrid)
Nobody saw it coming. Even though Juventus had dominated most of the first half of the 2017 final, it was Real Madrid who drew first blood through a Cristiano Ronaldo strike. But Juventus fought back valiantly and then produced a moment of magic that had been building up throughout the first half.
There was no question that Juve’s players were finding each other with ease, almost as if they were telepathically linked and making the right movements all over the pitch. But at 1-0, they were at their sublime best.
A long ball towards the left of the box saw Alex Sandro run in and then volley the ball back into the box while he was in mid-air. The ball found Gonzalo Higuain who chested it before flicking it with his foot to Mario Mandzukic.
The Croatian then chested it himself to set himself up for the shot. Real defenders Dani Carvajal and Raphael Varane did not stand a chance – and neither did Keylor Navas. Mandzukic’s touch and aim were true and the ball looped over everyone before dipping into the top corner of the goal. Navas made a desperate dive but clutched only air as the ball found the back of the net.
It should have been the goal to spark a comeback. Unfortunately, Juventus simply failed to get out of the dressing room in the second half and conceded three more to lose 4-1.
#Mandzukic wonder goal: from 40 yards out, six touches, never hit the ground until it hit the net pic.twitter.com/eiidMBvYt0 #bbcfootball
— Neal Collins (@nealcol) June 3, 2017
