Dominant Real Madrid Has Created Champions League History
Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Real Madrid beat Juventus 4-1 in a memorable Champions League final full of attacking verve and brilliant goals on Saturday as the Spaniards won the title for the third time in four years and 12th in all.
Portugal forward Ronaldo hit Real’s first and third goals. Mario Mandzukic then scored a spectacular overhead equaliser for Juventus, which was eventually in vain.
A long-range deflected effort by Casemiro and a neat finish by the irrepressible Ronaldo within four minutes effectively settled one of the most entertaining finals for years, with a late tap-in by substitute Marco Asensio adding the gloss.
The victory means Real are the first team to successfully defend the trophy in the Champions League era. AC Milan were the last team to retain Europes top prize when they triumphed in 1989 and 1990.
“It’s been a spectacular year, you couldn’t dream of anything better,” said Real coach Zinedine Zidane.
“We won the (Spanish) league on the very last day. It’s very difficult to reach the Champions League final two years running, but we did that.”
It was heartbreak again for Juve, as the Italians let in more goals on Saturday than the three they had conceded in the 12 games they played to reach the final.
Juventus looked the more adventurous side in the first 20 minutes but it was Real which struck first after the sort of trigonometric build-up that coaches write books about.
Ronaldo was at the heart of it, playing the ball into the path of Dani Carvajal who cut it straight back to allow the Portuguese forward to sweep the ball sweetly into the far corner.
That made Ronaldo the second man to score in three finals, after Alfredo Di Stefano, who netted in five in a row for Real in the 1950s.
All-time great goal
Ronaldo’s effort was eclipsed seven minutes later by one of the all-time great final goals.
Juve centre back Leonardo Bonucci drove a long diagonal ball which Alex Sandro reached and cushioned back across the box.
With another volley Gonzalo Higuain knocked it to Croatia striker Mandzukic, who took a touch on his chest and, with his back to goal, struck a stunning bicycle kick that looped over Real keeper Keylor Navas.
The ball did not touch the ground between leaving Bonucci’s boot and hitting the net.
It was a different story after the break, however, and though Juve’s drilled defence initially kept Real at arm’s length, it was undone by a two-goal salvo — one each from Casemiro and Ronaldo — before Asensio finished things up.
Portugal forward Ronaldo hit Real’s first and third goals. Mario Mandzukic then scored a spectacular overhead equaliser for Juventus, which was eventually in vain.
A long-range deflected effort by Casemiro and a neat finish by the irrepressible Ronaldo within four minutes effectively settled one of the most entertaining finals for years, with a late tap-in by substitute Marco Asensio adding the gloss.
The victory means Real are the first team to successfully defend the trophy in the Champions League era. AC Milan were the last team to retain Europes top prize when they triumphed in 1989 and 1990.
“It’s been a spectacular year, you couldn’t dream of anything better,” said Real coach Zinedine Zidane.
“We won the (Spanish) league on the very last day. It’s very difficult to reach the Champions League final two years running, but we did that.”
It was heartbreak again for Juve, as the Italians let in more goals on Saturday than the three they had conceded in the 12 games they played to reach the final.
Juventus looked the more adventurous side in the first 20 minutes but it was Real which struck first after the sort of trigonometric build-up that coaches write books about.
Ronaldo was at the heart of it, playing the ball into the path of Dani Carvajal who cut it straight back to allow the Portuguese forward to sweep the ball sweetly into the far corner.
That made Ronaldo the second man to score in three finals, after Alfredo Di Stefano, who netted in five in a row for Real in the 1950s.
All-time great goal
Ronaldo’s effort was eclipsed seven minutes later by one of the all-time great final goals.
Juve centre back Leonardo Bonucci drove a long diagonal ball which Alex Sandro reached and cushioned back across the box.
With another volley Gonzalo Higuain knocked it to Croatia striker Mandzukic, who took a touch on his chest and, with his back to goal, struck a stunning bicycle kick that looped over Real keeper Keylor Navas.
The ball did not touch the ground between leaving Bonucci’s boot and hitting the net.
It was a different story after the break, however, and though Juve’s drilled defence initially kept Real at arm’s length, it was undone by a two-goal salvo — one each from Casemiro and Ronaldo — before Asensio finished things up.
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