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| Edited By: Soham Mukherjee |Source: DNA webdesk |Updated: Jun 04, 2017, 05:18 PM IST
If someone would have predicted the score before the match, even in front of a sworn Real Madrid supporter he would have brushed it away as mere ramblings of a mad man. Gianluigi Buffon had conceded only thrice in the previous 1100 European minutes, until Cristiano Ronaldo slotted it past Bonucci beyond Buffon’s reach.
The match started at a frenetic pace, but Madrid doesn’t mind pace. But what makes them a fish out of water is when they do not see much of the possession. Massimiliano Allegri got the perfect antibiotic and in the first twenty minutes, Juventus were steam rolling Madrid. The key was Dani Alves playing across Higuain in the right flank, making it a 3-4-3 system with attack and high press the two fundamental pillars. Marcelo’s darting forward runs vanished like vapour, and Barzagli and Bonucci in turns followed Ronaldo like a shadow, even when he was dropping deep to get more touches on the ball.
On the other flank, Alex Sandro and Mario Mandzukic kept a check on Dani Carvajal to neutralise the Spaniard’s overlapping runs. It was well-known that if one manages to cut off the wings of the other, half the battle would be won. Allegri managed to do just that, as he kept on increasing bodies on the wide touchlines. Isco, who generally tops the diamond formation in midfield, had to constantly track back to help Modric and Kroos. To put it in simple terms, Juve had managed to disconnect Madrid’s fiery frontline from its fuel source.
Real Madrid feel that they have an inalienable right on the Champions League and they would do what it takes to achieve continental glory. When they found their primary source of chance creation being smothered, they found room in the middle of the park.
It just took seven passes to unlock Juve’s vault, and who else other than Ronaldo? Kroos played it to Benzema, who instantly squared to Ronaldo in the attacking third who laid on the ball to Carvajal. The Real Madrid defender’s presence caught Sandro by surprise, who had the presence of mind to find Ronaldo. The Portuguese timed his run to perfection before placing the ball in the bottom corner bisecting a three-yard space between Bonucci and Khedira.
Juve did not lose heart, as they knew Keylor Navas’ net can be breached as it had been done even by teams like Legia Warsaw. They pinned Madrid down to the wall. Mandzukic’s equaliser was one of the best-ever scored in a Champions League final and worthy of being nominated for Puskas award.
Higuain, instead of pulling the trigger, flicked it to Mandzukic who put in a stunning overhead kick to level things.
In Zidane’s post-match press conference, he might say that the first half was balanced but Juve had clearly outplayed Madrid, with more possession and more attempts on goal.
In the second half, Madrid were a different beast.
Madrid started to press higher down the middle and here Madrid’s quality shone through. Juve’s midfield trio of Pjanic, Khedira and Dybala turned out to be no match for their much-illustrated opponents – Modric, Kroos and Isco. When the Madrid trio started their no-holds-barred artillery bombardment, ably supported by Benzema the Old Lady was dazzled by the brilliance.
When Casemiro found the net, albeit a heavy deflection from Khedira, the shot was once again thundered from the central attacking third. This might just be the goal, which sealed it for Madrid. Juve was already on the backfoot, and to concede via a heavy deflection killed any hope of a fightback.
Ronaldo’s second was a result of artistic movement inside the box, and showed the telepathic relationship he has developed with his teammates.
Modric slid in a ball cutting past Sandro, Ronaldo out of no-where came gushing down leaving Bonucci as a mere spectator to beat Buffon at the near post; a rare feat this season. Cometh the hour, cometh the man.
Three minutes of sublime football with a divine touch left Juventus in tatters.
A curious role was played by Benzema, as he neither stuck to his role as a withdrawing striker neither an attacking centre-forward. His constant forays into spaces ruffled Juve’s backline, drawing Biaconeri shirts and opened up spaces for Madrid’s creative craftsmen.
Allegri threw in every attacking option on to the pitch, resembling a broken-yet-desperate Macbeth at Dunsinane who refuses to give up even with his back stuck to the wall.
Cuadrado was brought in along with veteran midfield general Marchisio to inject some attacking jubilance. But Madrid had already set tunes to the grass and Juve continued to dance as directed by their adversary.
Apart from Sandro’s header from a Dani Alves free-kick, Juventus was barred from seeing the face of the goal. They plunged into unnecessary challenges and although Cuadrado’s red card was harsh and uncalled for, it portrayed the frustration of losing finals on the trot. Asensio’s final flourish just before the whistle was the final blow.
The match was definitely one for the historians. Real Madrid became the first team to successfully defend the title in the modern era, to score 500 Champions League goals, and the only team to become six times European Champions post restructuring of the league. They also broke the myth that Madrid cannot win in odd years post refabricating of the league and that too not in their preferred white strip.
As far as individual records are unconcerned Ronaldo became the first footballer to score in three finals in the Champions League era, and his goal tally of 12 makes him the highest scorer in Champions League for the fifth straight season. Co-incidentally back in 2004, Ronaldo lifted his first major silverware here in Cardiff when Manchester United beat Milwall 3-0 at the FA Cup final.
But, what next for Madrid? They just completed a historic double after 1959, but a club of Real Madrid’s stature remains incomplete without a treble. Next season? May be.
