Image Credit- The New York Times.
Defending Champions Real Madrid were facing the Italian Champions Juventus in the finals of the 2016-17 UEFA Champions League. Interestingly Real Madrid were eying a Historic Double of La Liga and Champions League, whereas Juventus was eying an unprecedented Treble. As a result, everyone expected this clash to be a blockbuster.
During the first 19 minutes of the game, Juventus controlled the ball and had three excellent scoring opportunities. Keylor Navas easily stopped two efforts on goal from Gonzalo Higuaín, while Navas dove to his right to push Miralem Pjanić's more threatening attempt wide. Cristiano Ronaldo scored the game's opening goal in the 20th minute, defying both the scoring opportunities and Real Madrid's attempts to counterattack in the midfield. Dani Carvajal and Ronaldo played a one-two on the right before Carvajal passed across for Ronaldo to shoot low to the left corner of the net, where it deflected in off Leonardo Bonucci's right foot. Seven minutes later, Juventus equalized the score with a goal. A ball from Higuaín was chested down by Mario Mandžukić, who then hooked it over his shoulder from 15 yards (14 m) away, sending it arcing over Navas. The strike was compared to Zinedine Zidane's effort for Real Madrid in the 2002 final and hailed as one of the greatest goals ever scored in a Champions League final. At the end of the first half, Juventus held a lead while Real Madrid's defenders, Dani Carvajal and Sergio Ramos, were given two yellow cards.
Even though play was delayed multiple times due to fouls and injuries to players on both sides, Real Madrid started the second half strongly and in control. Casemiro's long-range goal gave Real Madrid a 2-1 lead in the 61st minute as it ricocheted off Sami Khedira and went past Gianluigi Buffon into the left corner of the net. After Luka Modrić cut back on the right, Ronaldo scored Madrid's third goal of the game and his second three minutes later, finishing in the 6-yard (5.5-meter) box. As Juventus resisted more attempts from Real Madrid, they were given three more yellow cards, one of which went to Juan Cuadrado, who had just been substituted. Karim Benzema, a striker for Real Madrid, was replaced by Cardiff native Gareth Bale, who was granted a homecoming despite not being well enough to start. After pushing Sergio Ramos, who fell while holding his foot, in the 84th minute, Cuadrado received a second yellow card and was substituted off. In the ninetieth minute, Marco Asensio scored Madrid's fourth and final goal with a tap-in from 12 yards (11 meters) following a Marcelo cut-back from the left.
By the time final whistle was blown, the Men from Turin were flabbergasted. Real Madrid became the first team to win back-to-back titles in the Champions League era with their victory, securing a record-tying twelfth triumph in the European Cup/Champions League. Only three teams have accomplished this feat in the past: Real Madrid (1956–60), Ajax (1971–73), and Bayern Munich (1974–76). This was the club's third title success in four seasons. Since the start of the Champions League, Real Madrid has never lost a final; their most recent loss was in 1981. With the win, Madrid achieved a League and European Cup double for the first time since the 1957–58 campaign. Something which every Madrid Fan will always remember.
To relive that moment, Click Here.
No comments:
Post a Comment