It all comes down to this.
Either Juventus complete a historic treble, or Real Madrid are the first to win successive Champions Leagues since the league format was installed, with Milan being the last to win back to back European Cups.
You could say this is a match of the irresistible force meeting the immovable object.
So many storylines centred around one game. Zinedine Zidane managing against the club that – you could argue – thrust him into the world spotlight as a player.
Massimiliano Allegri managing for that validation as one of the game’s elite managers (I think he’s already elite, but not many are ready to anoint him as such).
Gianluigi Buffon, the greatest goalkeeper to play the game, gets another chance to add the elusive winner’s medal for this competition to his extensive collection of honours, while the likes of Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos – who’ve been there and done that – could be the first to score in three separate Champions League finals.
Does Gareth Bale get the start in his native Wales, where Cardiff is the backdrop for this incredible theatre?
Can Sami Khedira and Gonzalo Higuain help their current employer achieve the treble against their former employer?
What about Dani Alves? A long time Barcelona man who’ll feel like this is a personal El Clasico.
And does Alvaro Morata, scorer of Juventus’s goal in the 2015 Champions League final, play a role in defeating the team that helped propel his career?
This is a final of footballing royalty. Real Madrid, long the standard of excellence in this competition, are in their fifteenth European Cup final, having won eleven and lost three.
Juventus, twice winners, have fallen short in six finals. Twenty-two finals between them heading into Saturday.
European pedigree indeed.
Probable Lineups
Juventus (4-2-3-1): Buffon; Dani Alves, Bonucci, Chiellini, Alex Sandro; Pjanic, Khedira; Cuadrado, Dybala, Mandzukic; Higuain
Real Madrid (4-3-3): K. Navas; Danilo, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo; Kroos, Casemiro, Modric; Isco, Benzema, Ronaldo
The wildcards in the lineups here are going to be in Juventus’s formation, and whether or not Zidane plays Bale from the start for Real Madrid.
Allegri could go to a three-man central defence as he deployed in both games against Monaco, meaning Andrea Barzagli is in, and Juan Cuadrado would be sacrificed.
This would shift Juventus into a 3-4-2-1 where, in terms of his starting position, Paulo Dybala would shift a little to the right, when in actuality he’ll move all over.
I’d prefer for Allegri start with the 4-2-3-1 from the off, as the work rate of Cuadrado up and down the flank (and in support of Dani Alves) can be a big help in warding off the threat of Marcelo coming forward.
Also, it will help when Ronaldo drifts to that side, which he invariably will.
For Real Madrid, the decision comes down to whether or not it’s Bale or Isco.
Stories are that Gareth Bale is fit to play, and if he is in from the start, Real are in a true 4-3-3.
With Isco, Real could have Ronaldo pushed in as another forward with Benzema, as the Spaniard can establish his influence and passing from just behind them in the No 10 role.
A difficult decision to make for the Real boss: Isco has been brilliant for the reigning European champions, and it’s hard to sit him out here.
Three Things That Could Lead Juventus to Victory
- Danilo has not been terribly convincing from a defensive standpoint; Juventus may find some success attacking his flank to create scoring chances. I like Mario Mandzukic in that area of the pitch over the Madrid right back, with Danilo’s former Porto teammate Alex Sandro coming forward as well.
- Does Ronaldo have to be man-marked? Not necessarily. Whoever is closest can deal with him. Juventus defend so well as a team that if Ronaldo gets 1v1 with Dani Alves, for example, Alves will have cover. If Ronaldo drops deep for the ball, Juventus will be more than happy to allow that. Everyone defends for Juventus.
- Being thoroughly organized on set piece situations. Thankfully Juve have the best goalkeeper of all time, and maybe the best at organizing his defence. Real Madrid are as good as anybody in world football at scoring goals from set pieces from crosses. Ronaldo, Benzema,and Sergio Ramos are among those to be aware of in particular. Win the first ball in, and win the next ball after that.
Three Things That Could Lead Real Madrid to Victory
- It sounds crazy given the talents offered by Paulo Dybala and Miralem Pjanic, but filter things into Casemiro. He handles the role of destroying opponents’ attacks and has the skill to help Real Madrid hit on the break. If Casemiro is winning tackles and intercepting passes from his defensive midfield spot, Juventus will have problems.
- Own the middle of the park. The combination of Isco, Toni Kroos, and Luca Modric is an advantage for Real Madrid here. The three of them need to dictate things in the attack and must move the ball quickly to get the Juventus defenders unbalanced.
- While Dani Alves has made strides as a defender, he is still a player that can be exploited. Just like Juventus should have a go at Danilo, Real Madrid will find chances in behind Dani Alves, especially if he should wander forward. Ronaldo, in particular, would love to exploit that space.
Key Players You Might Not Be Thinking About
For Juventus, it’s Sami Khedira.
The German international suffered an injury in the semifinal against Monaco but is fit to play this game.
He’ll have a job to do protecting the Juventus back line, and covering a lot of ground in the process, considering the technical quality of Real Madrid’s midfield.
For Real Madrid: Marcelo.
A good way to stop Dani Alves’ ventures forward and his attacking influence on the game is to set the tone and maraud forward yourself.
Marcelo loves to attack from left back, and if Real Madrid can get superiority in possession, his presence will keep Alves (and possibly Cuadrado) pinned back.
Prediction Time
I have been banging the drum for Italian football all season, and have been saying since late 2016 that Juventus is going to win this Champions League. I’m not changing my beat.
These two teams last met in the 2015 semifinals, where Juventus denied Real Madrid a chance of winning successive Champions Leagues by beating them 3-2 on aggregate.
While a number of names have changed in two years, the constants are Gianluigi Buffon, Leonardo Bonucci, and Giorgio Chiellini.
They have the experience and the history of dealing with what Real Madrid can throw at them.
They also have the confidence; it’s hard to bet against a defence that kept Barcelona goalless over 180 minutes.
Juventus won’t take Real Madrid lightly though. After all, Los Blancos are the reigning champions of Europe for a reason; they have been here before.
The match itself won’t be as open as the neutral will hope. In fact, it will be quite cagey.
Look for Juventus to get the first goal; I’ll even say it comes from Alex Sandro (just a hunch!).
Zidane, though, will be masterful at his substitutions and in-game adjustments, as he always seems to be.
Real will find an equaliser, and my wishful thinking is that it comes from Alvaro Morata, for the sake of a real storyline.
No matter who gets them, that’s all there will be for goals, and it will take penalties to decide it.
If you ask me to pick between Gianluigi Buffon and Keylor Navas, I’ll take Buffon, and Juventus will go on to win the Treble after a gruelling, nail-biting 120 minutes, conquering it all via penalties.
SCORE: Juventus 1, Real Madrid 1 (Juventus win on penalties).
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