2017 Champions League Final vs Real Madrid

Lore & Background

Juventus reached their ninth final after a 4–1 aggregate win against Monaco. They entered the final with the best defensive record in the 2016–17 Champions League, having conceded only three times. Previously Juventus won finals in 1985 and 1996, and lost a record six in 1973, 1983, 1997, 1998, 2003 and 2015. If they were to lose, Juventus would tie Benfica's record of five consecutive finals lost.

In Their Own Story

The Cardiff night hung heavy with anticipation as the Bianconeri stepped onto the pitch, their black-and-white stripes stark against the emerald turf. For twenty minutes, it felt like destiny had finally turned: Mario Mandžukić's audacious overhead kick sliced through the Real Madrid defense, sending the traveling *Juve* faithful into a delirious frenzy. History seemed within reach. But then, the spell shattered with terrifying speed. A deflection here, a relentless counter-attack there—Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. exploited every gap with surgical precision. The scoreboard rapidly morphed from 1-0 to a gaping abyss of 4-1. As the final whistle blew, the silence that swallowed the Juventus section was deafening, heavier than any roar; it marked the precise moment the dream dissolved into the cold reality of European supremacy.

Reader's Guide

The match was a repeat of the 1998 final. Real Madrid won the 1998 final 1–0. The 2017 final was the first time since the two teams met in 1998 that both finalists had won either their domestic league or the Champions League the previous season. Juventus entered the final chasing their first treble of domestic league, domestic cup, and Champions League titles.

Did You Know?

• This was the first European Cup final held under a closed roof.
• Real Madrid became the first team to successfully defend their title since Milan in 1990.
• Juventus lost their seventh Champions League final out of nine finals.
• The two sides had previously met eighteen times in European competitions, all in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League, with a record of eight wins each and two draws.