Champions League Final Preview

Europe’s biggest club competition pits Juventus against Real Madrid in what should be an outstanding final.

The UEFA Champions League is a season long tournament run concurrently with domestic league play across Europe. The very best clubs around Europe have the chance to qualify depending on how they finish in their individual leagues the season before. For instance, a top four finish in the English Premier League would send a club to the Champions League. The first stage of the tournament begins with group play, similar to the World Cup. The top two finishers in each group move to the knockout stage. The knockout stage consists of a winner being determined after two games. One at home and one away.  The final, however, is a one game winner take all. Now that we have gotten the basics out of the way we can look at the two well deserving finalists.

Juventus 

The Italian giants boast the best defense around. Buffon, Barzagli, Bonucci, and Chiellini have only conceded three goals in the entire competition so far. That includes shutting out Barcelona over two matches, practically impossible. The legendary goalkeeper, Gianlugi Buffon, is only missing a Champions League title to truly complete his outstanding legacy.

Arguably Juventus’s most impressive player of late, however, has been the veteran right wing back Dani Alves. The Brazilian has seemingly not lost a step since heading over from Barcelona. His outstanding form lately was capped off by this stunning goal he scored in the semi finals against Monaco:

A strong defensive unit is nothing new for Juventus but this year’s addition also packs quite the punch further up the field.

Paulo Dybala is a name not many casual fans knew a few years ago but he has burst on the scene this season. The 23 year old Argentine has four Champions League goals this campaign and pops up anywhere in the attacking third of the field. Gonzalo Higuain seemed to get the choke artist monkey off of his back when he scored against Monaco in the first leg of their semi final. Higuain had previously made a bad name for him self for all the wrong reasons after missing a breakaway goal in the 2016  World Cup final. If Juventus is to win this epic finale look for Dybala, and Higuain to have a major impact.

Real Madrid 

The defending champions of this competition are led by none other than Cristiano Ronaldo. There is not much else to add on CR7 as this year he has simply been incredible yet  again. Lets take a look at some of Real’s other key pieces who often fall in the shadow of the dynamic Ronaldo.

Luca Modric and Toni Kroos are the engines that make Real Madrid go. The two pass masters dictate the tempo from mid field and can each get involved in the attack. Kroos, although not as fleet of foot as Modric, is one of the best long passers in all of world football. The two are free to roam throughout the midfield because of the presence of defensive mid fielder Casemiro. The hard nosed Casemiro sits just in front of the back line and provides some much needed bite in the Madrid midfield.

No one on the planet is playing as well as Marcelo right now. From his left back position the Brazilian is still able to make an incredible impact in every game he plays. He was instrumental in Real’s quarterfinal win against Bayern Munich scoring an important goal and pouring in countless quality crosses.

Another important development to watch is the fitness of Gareth Bale. Bale will be desperate to get back to play the Final is his home country of Wales.  However, even if he is fit to play I am not sure he would get the starting nod with how Isco has been playing lately.

This is undoubtedly the match up everyone was hoping for.  It is a tough one to call but I will go 2 – 0 to Real Madrid with two goals from Ronaldo.

Where to watch: Fox Sports

When to watch: June 3rd 1:45 CT