Juventus 1-4 Real Madrid
All hail Real Madrid the history makers.
Until now, no club had ever managed to secure back-to-back Champions League titles.
But determined to re-write the history books, determined to create a new sports betting record, determined to live up to the pre-match betting odds, Real were ruthless and once again have the top prize in world football.
They also have the top player in world football.
No wonder they win so many football games!
Two goals from Cristiano Ronaldo – the undisputed number one – ensured he reached a record 105 European Cup goals and secured a record 12th European Cup for Real and a third in four years.
Standing at 73 and a half centimetres tall and weighing 7.5kg, Los Blancos once again hold aloft the trophy with the big ears which bears the legend ‘Coupe Des Clubs Champions Europeens’.
And that needs no introduction in any language!
After a breathtaking first half in which Ronaldo and Mario Mandzukic traded goals – the latter a quite brilliantly executed overhead kick – this contest was evenly poised inside Cardiff’s vibrant Principality Stadium where the roof was closed and the sound echoed around from start to finish.
Then, just after the hour, Casemiro put Real in front with a shot which took a wicked deflection.
It was so cruel on Juventus and so uplifting for Madrid.
Within three minutes, Ronaldo had capitalised on some uncharacteristic Juve defending and history beckoned.
Juve sub Juan Cuadrado came on and was sent-off within 18 minutes for two yellow cards, although for the second season in a row, the play-antics of Sergio Ramos were deplorable and led to the Colombian being sent-off.
The game was long over though and young sub Marco Asensio added a fourth at the death, meaning Juventus had conceded more in 90 minutes than in the rest of their Champions League campaign.
Even Gareth Bale, in his home city, got on the pitch on a perfect night for Madrid and boss Zinedine Zidane.
His former club played their part for an hour but were ultimately demolished with 39 year-old goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon cutting a dejected figure long before the end.
As sad as that image was, such cynical cheating from Ramos aside, you could not dispute Real’s triumph.
They become the first team since AC Milan (1989, 1990) to win back-to-back European Cups but this is a greater achievement for the Champions League format makes it even harder to win.
Packed with class acts, whatever team in world football could leave Bale on the bench and have no place for £71 million signing James Rodriguez?
Champions of Spain and Europe in the same season for the first time since 1958, Real have ended the season as they started it: with victory, in Wales.
They are the undisputed kings of club football.
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