Internet Desk: Europe’s two superpowers Juventus and Real Madrid will be coming into the contest on a real high when they will take on each other in the illusive final at Cardiff in the UEFA Champions League on Saturday. While Juventus won their fourth straight Serie A title, Real Madrid had a brilliant season to clinch the La Liga. Before the two top teams take on each other, here goes some factors which could seal the fate of the title.
Goalkeeper and Defence
The so-called defensive wall of the Old Lady is one of the most important puzzles to be solved by Zinedine Zidane’s forwards.
Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini, along with the experienced Gianluigi Buffon in goals, account for an admirable sum of 2449 matches as professional football players.
Able to move from a three-person backline to a defence of four, they have conceded just 30 goals in 50 games so far this season, just 0.6 percent on average, and they have tortured every attacking opponent – including Barcelona’s MSN, which was kept to zero goals.
Real Madrid: Defending from central positions
With Daniel Carvajal and Marcelo spending much of the 90 minutes advancing to the opposition’s box, it’s Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane, along with Casemiro, Toni Kroos and Luca Modric, who are responsible for blocking potential counter attacks.
In contrast to the Italian compact back-line, Los Blancos have seen Keylor Navas collecting the ball from the back of his net 17 times in 12 Champions League games, managing to keep a clean sheet in just a single game against Atletico Madrid for the first round of the competition’s semi-finals.
Massimiliano Allegri: A collector of several models
Following the departure of Antonio Conte, Allegri was heavily criticised at the beginning of his tenure, before delivering major achievements both domestically and in Europe.
The legendary coach Arrigo Sacchi praised the Italian by mentioning that “he is an enlightened tactician and consistent coach who guides the group with wisdom and mastery,” and he has proved Sacchi right, leading his team to a couple of Champions League finals.
His ability to manoeuvre between several tactics from 3-5-2 to 4-2-3-1, as well as 3-4-1-2, 4-4-2 and 4-3-3, has placed him among the elite of the continent’s coaches.
Zinedine Zidane: The master of rotation
Managing the time between the players, the French coach has already captured LaLiga and reached the European final, with 20 players ready to feature in his starting line-up.
He isn’t afraid to change the tactics of the team before and during the match, transforming the primary 4-4-3 to 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 when needed, keeping his squad satisfied, concerning their minutes on the pitch, as well as pleasing the board by leading the team to success.
Cristiano Ronaldo vs Paulo Dybala:
Paulo Dybala presents a more complicated problem to deal with. Given a free role in Juve’s system, his tendency to drift around the pitch and seek the ball can create numbers-up advantages in dangerous areas, while his passing range, distance shooting and devilish trickery in and around the box makes him a worrying prospect from anywhere on the field.
Cristiano Ronaldo is still Real Madrid’s biggest attacking threat. His move from the left wing to a more free role in the center has made him a more complete attacker, and now he’s affecting the game in a brand new way for Real Madrid. While he doesn’t have the same turn of pace he did as a younger player, he’s become a more unselfish runner and passer, and it’s benefitted Madrid as a whole. His scything runs will be the focus of Juventus’ entire back line.