The match we are all
waiting for is finally here. On June 3rd, Real Madrid and Juventus will clash
in the final match of the 62nd UEFA Champions League. The Millenium
Stadium in Cardiff will be watched by football fans around the world, as the two best
teams in Europe fight for glory. Real Madrid aim to be the first
team in history to win the Champions League twice in a row,
while Juventus hope to win this title for the third time in their
history (the last time in 1996) and take revenge for the 1998
finals.
Real Madrid have found a
new identity with Zidane. With him, this team crushes opposition by
overwhelming them at crucial moments. They may not have the best
playmaking style, but they don’t need it: it’s about
understanding the flow of the match. Real Madrid can make a goal in
the blink of an eye and any rival will have to stay focused for the full 90
minutes. Every player has an important role. Cristiano Ronaldo is
now a more box-orientated player, always well positioned and with
lethal finishing touches. Benzema back him up with more movement
towards the flanks to assist him, without losing his main qualities
as a striker. Isco plays as an old-fashioned playmaker and adds his
quality to the equation. Carabajal and especially Marcelo, who is the best
left-back at the moment, regularly help in an offensive capacity too. On top
of this, Kroos and Modric have stunning
accuracy in the midfield. Casemiro as their partner, fulfills the
defensive duties. Ramos and Varane as center-backs
are an established pairing, and Keylor Navas has proved to be worthy when needed. With such a display, it isn’t hard to see how Real
Madrid became the team that it is.
Juventus is a team
that reminds us of the old italian style of play. Under Allegri’s
management, they have the most solid defense in the world, with
possibly the two best center backs. Bonucci and Barzagli
know everything about the defensive duties, and work splendidly
together. If you manage to pass them, Buffon is still around to deny
almost any scoring chance. He may well be in the final years of his
career, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t still one of the best
goalkeeper in Europe. Dani Alves really adds something and one
wonders how Barcelona let him go. Pjanic replaces Pogba and Pirlo
with some quality displays. He’s not only a tactical player, always
well positioned, but also displays outstanding technique in his
touches. In offense, Allegri adds some South American flavor to
the mix, with Paulo Dybala as the key player. The young argentinean
is a vital part of the system not only due to his dribbling and
scoring abilities, but also because he commands almost every transition
from defense to attack. Gonzalo Higuaín is another important player,
always ready to score when he has a chance, but also helping in the
build-up. Finally, a word must be said about Mandzukic. The Croatian
used to be a typical striker, but now plays as a winger, covering the
entire left flank and helping in defensive duties. And when the
matches are tight, Allegri can count on Cuadrado’s dribbling to
solve the puzzle if needs be.
It’s hard to
predict an outcome for this encounter. While Real Madrid is the clear
favorite for all the bookies, with average odds of 7/8, one
should take into account that the best offense in the world will
clash with the best defense. Juventus is a solid team and it's not an
easy task to score against them. This match may well be a close one with one team grinding out a win, so we should expect a fairly low score. At 8/13, 2 goals or less seems like a probable outcome. If there
are goals, it’s hard to see Cristiano Ronaldo being without one! He's the main striker for Real Madrid and frequently scores in decisive
matches. A goal from him is 11/10 with bookmakers,
which seems generous. Enjoy the match!
No comments:
Post a Comment