Real Madrid and Juventus likely to meet in Champions League Final

Of course anything can happen in football and the game can be turned on its head within minutes but judging on what we have witnessed this week, Real Madrid look set to meet Juventus in the Champions League final.

Real were up against city rivals Atletico Madrid. A team they have struggled against in the league but in European competition have won the last four fixtures. Two of those were actual Champions League finals. The first leg at the Bernabeu ended up being a one sided affair which Real won 3-0 courtesy of a terrific Cristiano Ronaldo hat trick.

The Portuguese star hasn’t scored as many goals as he would like in the league this season, but when he has been finding the back of the net they have been all important ones.

Atletico now need to win 3-0 at home to force extra time, but just 1 goal from Real and Atletico would need 5. Real Madrid then look all set for their third final appearance in the last four years. And of course if they win it they would become the first team since AC Milan in 1990 to retain the trophy.

Real may well be joined by Italians Juventus who impressively took on and beat a Monaco side who had lost just once at home all season. A 2-0 away victory is simply gold in Europe and with the way Juve defended it seems very difficult to think that Monaco can go to Italy and go through. Just one more goal from the Old Lady and the French team would need 4. Gianluigi Buffon, the Juventus goal keeper was highly impressive saving a string of shots but Juve also showed maturity and that classic way that only Italian teams play to see out a game that in the end they dominated at least by the pace of how it went.

If we get a Real Madrid-Juventus final it would be a repeat of the 1998 one which Real won 1-0. Then Juventus were arguably the best team in Europe and had started the game well and looked good for the win. But Real persisted and took their chance and got a narrow victory. That win was highly significant as it was Real’s first European Cup since 1966 and their first Champions League victory. They have now won the Champions League in its current format 5 times.

Juventus have 2 European Cups with victory in 1985 and 1996. But they have starred in many more finals losing in 1997 and 1998 and then in 2003 and 2015 where they were no match for Barcelona.

The final will take place on June 3rd at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.