Real Madrid of Spain retained the UEFA Champions League title, beating Italian giants, Juventus 4-1. This was their record 12th title.
Cristiano Ronaldo's influence was obvious in the first ten minutes of the match when he completed a sleek and swift move that saw the ball move from the back to the left and across to the right and then back to the centre.
Juventus got their goal a few minutes later with a classy Mandzukic goal. The goal was preventable at three different points before the ball hit the net. t each contact point, Real Madrid players put in a token challenge and even the goalkeeper, Navas could have moved a little faster or took an extra step before attempting to diving for the looping strike.
The Galaticos enjoyed over 60% of possession overall and more goal attempts and corners, although it must be mentioned that the Italians took control of the first few minutes of the match with threatening patterns of play.
That control came from constructive midfield influence and width provided by Dani Alves. That dominance became flaccid as Real began to wrestle the match and showed serious intent by dominating all departments.
The team structure and solid defending (Ramos), interceptions and winning ball in mid - Kroos as well as wing play by Marcelo ensured that Navas was never troubled most of the time.
Real retained it in class, with extreme mobility and passing in midfield by Modric, with obvious the Gigi Buffon disappointment.
The Juve achilles proved to be their usually potent weapon; Dani Alves overlapping, but he left a gap behind for countryman, Marcelo, to capitalise.
Alex Sandro useful in stopping Real attacks and driving Italians forward. Cuadrado came in as a substitute and got two quick yellow cards and left the pitch - Ramos made a meal out of the second offence.
As mentioned earlier, the first goal was pure class and there was nothing Juve could have done about it, but Casmero's goal was preventable. The ball deflected in as Khedira turned his back to the kicker instead of facing the ball head on and deal with danger. Buffon could have moved a little faster.
The ball was lost by Alves around the centre line and remained on the ground as play went on.
The second Ronaldo goal, Real's third, was preventable as the easy loss of ball with not much contest further up left Modric with a cross that looked more of the a cut back. Ronaldo's touch past Buffon was a chicky act of class.
The 4th goal resulting from Ronaldo freekick which was poorly defended as the ball deflected off the wall to the left and the defence reaction was mediocre as Marcelo retrieved the ball, beat his marker, outpaced him into the box and squared a hard and low ball into traffic across the goal.
A simple tap in by substitute by Asensio concluded the UEFA Champions League final in Cardiff in style. Ronaldo, Ramos, Marcelo and Isco instrumental to the result.
Higuin (Juventus) and Benzema (Real Madrid) were too quiet and hardly visible.
After the match today, is it fair to say Ronaldo scores when he wants? He was quiet by his very high standards, even though his contribution was regarded a man of the match performance.
Showing posts with label Gianlugi Buffon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gianlugi Buffon. Show all posts
Saturday, June 3, 2017
UEFA Champions League 2017 final tonight - Ronaldo and no Messi
The UEFA Champions League 2017 final in Cardiff between Real Madrid and Juventus brings the year's football fixtures to a close in grand style. In tonight football, there is Ronaldo and no Messi.
The analysis of football tonight will centre around different brands of the game the fast defensive Italian football with swift precise counter attacking and the solid systematic attack of the Spanish.
It must be said that Real have a lost a second or so in their speed of attack and became a calculating force of destruction. This is due to the aging of the Ballon' Dor winner who now plays more with head than feet.
Without the brute force of Athletico Madrid, the cunning nature of FC Barcelona, both protagonists ooze confidence as their capability to dish out the two elements is common knowledge.
This Champions league brings few things to the fore. Zinedine Zidane, like many Spanish managers fast-tracked into greatness, has people talking of him as a great coach already. Winning this will make his fans happy.
Personally, a great manager is not one who is able to stick when thrust into luxury. That is not bad either, as many managers have failed to develop staying power in those positions. To me, it is a sign that one is not a bad manager, than to confirm as a good manager, and there is a huge difference.
The good thing is that many, like Pep Guardiola, develop in that environment to be good managers due to coaching the best players who earn thew most money, by default of course. The managers coaching the worst squads with minimum budgets and bring them to greatness, usually go back to find another situation of a rescue mission perennially. Back to the match tonight.
A lot of experience comes to the party, with Cristiano Ronaldo making his 136th appearance, the only players with more than 50 with two different clubs (52 with Manchester United and 84 with Real Madrid) and Gianlugi Buffon (39) making it his 104th appearance.
Buffon's case is a sad one. He is one of the two centurions (with Zlatan Ibrahimovic) to have not won it. H e has been there many times and sentimentally, he deserves the winners' medal. However, Ronaldo has to put the Ronaldo or Messi argument to bed.
Already, the Portuguese has honuors with his country and record hat-tricks under his belt. Still, there is an army of doubters of who is the greatest. This is not a blatant support for him, but as a team player, he has no equal. Lionel Messi has incredible individual brilliance.
Without making this a poll of who is better, I leave it in your hands and look to Gareth Bale. Consider that the match is in Cardiff and Gareth Bale, born in a hospital a few minutes away from the stadium, may play only part of the match from the bench. It is never rosy even for the best.
Who is your money on, and why?
The analysis of football tonight will centre around different brands of the game the fast defensive Italian football with swift precise counter attacking and the solid systematic attack of the Spanish.
It must be said that Real have a lost a second or so in their speed of attack and became a calculating force of destruction. This is due to the aging of the Ballon' Dor winner who now plays more with head than feet.
Without the brute force of Athletico Madrid, the cunning nature of FC Barcelona, both protagonists ooze confidence as their capability to dish out the two elements is common knowledge.
This Champions league brings few things to the fore. Zinedine Zidane, like many Spanish managers fast-tracked into greatness, has people talking of him as a great coach already. Winning this will make his fans happy.
Personally, a great manager is not one who is able to stick when thrust into luxury. That is not bad either, as many managers have failed to develop staying power in those positions. To me, it is a sign that one is not a bad manager, than to confirm as a good manager, and there is a huge difference.
The good thing is that many, like Pep Guardiola, develop in that environment to be good managers due to coaching the best players who earn thew most money, by default of course. The managers coaching the worst squads with minimum budgets and bring them to greatness, usually go back to find another situation of a rescue mission perennially. Back to the match tonight.
A lot of experience comes to the party, with Cristiano Ronaldo making his 136th appearance, the only players with more than 50 with two different clubs (52 with Manchester United and 84 with Real Madrid) and Gianlugi Buffon (39) making it his 104th appearance.
Buffon's case is a sad one. He is one of the two centurions (with Zlatan Ibrahimovic) to have not won it. H e has been there many times and sentimentally, he deserves the winners' medal. However, Ronaldo has to put the Ronaldo or Messi argument to bed.
Already, the Portuguese has honuors with his country and record hat-tricks under his belt. Still, there is an army of doubters of who is the greatest. This is not a blatant support for him, but as a team player, he has no equal. Lionel Messi has incredible individual brilliance.
Without making this a poll of who is better, I leave it in your hands and look to Gareth Bale. Consider that the match is in Cardiff and Gareth Bale, born in a hospital a few minutes away from the stadium, may play only part of the match from the bench. It is never rosy even for the best.
Who is your money on, and why?
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