2017 Champions League Final vs Juventus

Lore & Background

Real Madrid reached a record 15th final after a 4–2 aggregate win against city rivals Atlético Madrid. They went into the final as top scorers of the 2016–17 Champions League, having scored 32 goals. This final was their third since 2014. 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.

In Their Own Story

The Cardiff stadium hummed with tension, but within minutes, the script had been torn up. Cristiano Ronaldo, eyes locked on the goal, found space in the box before deflecting the ball past Buffon to ignite the home support. The stadium erupted, but Real Madrid wasn't done. Gareth Bale's curler from distance sliced through the Juventus defense just before halftime left the Italian giants shell-shocked, their defensive wall breached and their spirit broken. In the second half, Casemiro arrived late to smash home a header, followed by Marcelo's thunderous strike that sealed the fate of the match. The final minutes were not a struggle for survival, but a celebration of dominance, as the white shirts danced around their opponents, claiming yet another piece of silverware in a season that felt like destiny.

Reader's Guide

Cristiano Ronaldo scored the first goal in the 20th minute, deflecting in off Leonardo Bonucci. Mario Mandžukić equalized for Juventus seven minutes later with an overhead kick. Casemiro scored a long-range strike in the 61st minute to put Real Madrid ahead 2–1. Three minutes later, Ronaldo scored his second goal from a cut-back by Luka Modrić. The final goal was scored by Marco Asensio, not Marcelo.

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 match was a repeat of the 1998 final, which Real Madrid won 1–0.