In a thrilling climax to the season, Real Madrid defeated Juventus by a 4-1 scoreline, that was probably harsh on the Bianconeri. Real Madrid lifted their 12th European Cup and became the first club to win two successive titles in the UEFA Champions League Era.
Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring for Real Madrid midway through the first half, but was followed quickly by an incredible overhead kick from Mario Mandzukic to ensure that both sides went into the break on even terms. Juventus collapsed in the second half, as Casemiro's deflected effort and Ronaldo's second ensured a comfortable lead, before Marco Asensio added gloss to the scoreline in the final minute.
Here are the major talking points from the game:
#1 Real Madrid are the best team in the world
AC Milan, Ajax, Juventus and Manchester United – these are the calibre of clubs that have tried to win consecutive UEFA Champions League titles, but it is simply destiny that Real Madrid were the first to break this long-standing record in the Champions League era. This is quite simply, Real Madrid’s competition.
La Duodecima wasn’t as dramatic as their finales against Atletico Madrid, but this victory is made all the more sweeter because this is by a side that is distinctly unlike what modern Real Madrid has come to represent. Cristiano Ronaldo is very much a Galactico, but the rest of the 24 men that Zidane brought along are in every sense of the word – a team.
James Rodriguez, on his way out of the club, and left out of the squad for the final, celebrated as wildly as Sergio Ramos while lifting the trophy. There is a harmony present within this side that could foster another dominant era. Make no mistake – we’re witnessing something special. No side in the club’s history has won 4 major trophies in a single season, but this side has lifted the UEFA Champions League, La Liga, UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup in the spell of 11 months.
For all the madness, for all the controversy, for all the hate, for all the rivalries, Real Madrid simply know one thing: how to win.
#2 Cristiano Ronaldo is the greatest big-game player of all time
Lionel Messi may be the best player of all time, but he cannot hold a candle to Cristiano Ronaldo in finals. The Portuguese superstar knows what it takes to win trophies and he was deservingly the man of the match here, with two crucially-timed goals.
The first, typically, was a record-breaking goal, as Ronaldo made Real Madrid the first team to score 500 goals in the UEFA Champions League. What got lost in the 4-1 scoreline was how crucially timed it was – Madrid were rocking under a Juventus onslaught, and his goal brought them into the final.
The second was crucially timed as well, with Ronaldo cementing Madrid’s second-half dominance with a clever run past Pjanic and Chiellini into the box, followed with an inch-perfect finish. It broke Juventus' hearts and they were never a factor in the final after that goal.
Ronaldo has done it when it mattered this year, and this simply cements why the man from Madeira should win the Ballon d'Or.
#3 Mario Mandzukic is utterly deserving of the greatest UEFA Champions League final goal of all time.
In plenty of combined XI’s before the game, Mario Mandzukic had the misfortune to be compared with Cristiano Ronaldo – and predictably, lost out. The Croatian has been shunted out wide to the left wing by Massimiliano Allegri this season, but instead of throwing a strop, Mandzukic quietly buckled down and learned how to be a winger, for the good of his team.
He knows how to score in a final – Mandzukic became only the third player ever to score in two different UEFA Champions League finals for two different teams – a list that includes Ronaldo. Like most of Juventus’ goals, the move began with Leonardo Bonucci, channelling his inner Andrea Pirlo, to chip a gorgeous long ball to Alex Sandro on the left wing.
The Brazilian plucked the ball out of the air with a brilliant touch, and the ball never touched the ground after that – Higuain with a brilliant chest down, followed by the greatest goal we have witnessed in the UEFA Champions League final in recent memory – an incredible overhead kick that left Navas no chance.
Football is a cruel mistress though, and while Mandzukic won Ol’ Big Ears the last time he scored in a final (vs Dortmund for Bayern Munich), all he has tonight is a runner-up medal.
#4 Zinedine Zidane wins the tactical battle with Massimiliano Allegri
Many ‘pundits’ would have you believe that Zinedine Zidane is a tactical novice and that he’s just very lucky to manage an incredible group. The same incredible group that was overseen by Rafa Benitez. The Frenchman now stands alongside the legendary Arrigo Sacchi as one of only 10 managers to have ever won two consecutive European Cups.
The strange thing is that we’ve already witnessed a similar story this season – Bayern Munich hammered Real Madrid in the first half of their first leg, and Juventus completely dominated the game in probably the most open UEFA Champions League final in recent memory. Zidane reversed things around then, and worked his magic yet again.
Zidane’s team talk was most probably tactical – Madrid’s left side in the first half had been negated by Barzagli and Dani Alves, but all of that was solved with two long balls at the start of the second half into the left channel. Juventus dropped back on both wings, and Marcelo and Dani Carvajal were free to wreak their havoc, as Madrid completely dominated the second half.
Zizou deserves respect and now stands as one of the greatest managers in Real Madrid’s history – not bad for a managerial career that is only 18 months old.
#5 Gianluigi Buffon is forever the bridesmaid
The narrative surrounding Juventus before the game revolved about Gianluigi Buffon – the veteran was desperate to fill the only gap in his CV – a Champions League medal. However, such is the life of a goalkeeper, that you could have a stellar performance, and still let in four goals.
Juventus’ famed backline, absolutely flawless for their entire Champions League campaign, completely collapsed in 45 minutes in the second half, as they let in more goals than they did in the entirety of the European campaign this season.
In stark contrast to Real Madrid’s iconic celebrations, this final will also be remembered for the heartbreaking sight of a distraught Buffon, disappointment writ large on his face after Madrid conceded the fourth goal and he gave up the ghost. Juventus will probably be lucky to make the UEFA Champions League final for another couple of years, and it is perhaps Gigi’s destiny to never lift the trophy he wants.
