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Juventus v Real Madrid – how they measure up for Champions League final


Holders Real Madrid will meet Italian giants Juventus in the Champions League final in Cardiff on June 3.
The LaLiga club saw off city rivals Atletico Madrid to reach the last two for the third time in four years while Juve resisted French hopefuls Monaco to make the final for the first time since 2015.
Here, Press Association Sport assesses the relative strengths and weaknesses of the European titans.

Star player

Cristiano Ronaldo, despite struggling to replicate the form of previous seasons, remains Real’s most dangerous player. The Portuguese reached and surpassed 100 European goals last month and his first-leg hat-trick against Atletico as good as booked Real their place in the final. Still supremely fit in his 30s, he does not tire even in the big games and he proved as much by scoring the winning penalty after 120 gruelling minutes in last year’s final.
A succession of players have staked their claims to be Juve’s outstanding performer in Europe this term, with goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon keeping a clean sheet for five straight games, aided by stellar defenders Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini. Dani Alves stepped up with two assists and a goal against Monaco over two legs. But the danger man is 90 million euro striker Gonzalo Higuain, who will have a point to prove against his former club.

Road to the final

In truth Real have been less than commanding on the continent this term. The goals have flowed, as usual, but they did not keep a clean sheet until last week’s victory over Atletico and were held to draws by Legia Warsaw and Borussia Dortmund, the Germans twice holding out for 2-2 in the group stage. Unlike Juve they have lost on the road to Cardiff, this week at the Vicente Calderon as Atletico tried in vain to rally and reach the final.
The Bianconeri never looked like wobbling in their quest to reach the knockout rounds, with Lyon the only side able to take points off them with a late goal in the 1-1 November draw. Massimiliano Allegri’s men have steadily improved, easing past Porto before completing a remarkable 3-0 aggregate win over Barcelona, which featured a shutout at the Nou Camp. Previously free-scoring Monaco were then held at arm’s length in the semi-finals.

Domestic form

Both clubs are vying for the title in their respective countries, with Real assured of the LaLiga crown if they take seven points from their three remaining matches. Apart from a dramatic defeat to Barca in last month’s El Clasico, Zinedine Zidane’s team have been dominant in the spring and should be champions for the first time since 2012.
Juve will win a sixth straight Serie A title if they avoid defeat at Roma on Sunday. Despite strong campaigns from the capital club and prolific Napoli, Allegri’s Bianconeri have never looked like surrendering top spot and such is their imperious power the treble is up for grabs as they will also face Lazio in the upcoming Coppa Italia final.

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