Champions League | All Roads Lead to Cardiff

Posted on 02/06/17

After a long hard season for sides across Europe, the showcase final in the Welsh capital Cardiff has finally arrived. Two of the best sides on the planet have reached a well-deserved finale but there can only be one winner.

Real Madrid and Juventus will lock horns in South Wales having beaten off the best in Europe and at home and can both claim a spectacular double.

Madrid finally broke out of their league title hoo-doo having missed out to city rivals Atletico and Barcelona for the last five years and now look to add an impressive double. The defending champions know all about a Champions League Final having played in the 2016 showcase twelve months ago in Milan. They met Atletico but neither side could be separated over 90 minutes.

Sergio Ramos’ 15th minute opener was cancelled out by Yannick Carrasco’s effort eleven minutes from time. Extra-time saw neither side take the lead nor penalties would have to determine the winner. Los Blancos triumphed on spot kicks taking the title back to the Bernabeu for the second time in three seasons and the record eleventh time in their history.

Having finished second in their group behind Borrusia Dortmund but remaining unbeaten, they overcame Napoli, Bayern Munich and once again Atletico – this time in the semi-final – to book their Cardiff stay. With Welsh superstar Gareth Bale returning to his home city, Madrid have that extra incentive to take this year’s plaudits.

Our vintage shirt of choice from Real Madrid has to be this 2001/2002 home shirt to commemorate the club’s 100th anniversary. They did the shirt justice by producing a spectacular display in the 2002 Champions League Final in Glasgow. Famed for the heroics of now-manager  Zinedine Zidane who’s volley is thought of as the greatest goal in the final’s history, they defeated Bayer Leverkusen to win their second title in three seasons, much like recent times. The plain shirt goes back to the club roots but keeping the modern badge and no sponsor. It’s simplistic adidas design is known worldwide and goes down as one of the most iconic shirts in recent times.

Moving on to Juventus, the Old Lady have risen rapidly in recent times putting past indiscretions aside following the Italian football scandal in the mid noughties. Under Massimiliano Allegri, Juve have stormed to the Italian league title and Coppa Italia. They are no on course to complete an astonishing treble.

Striker Pablo Dybala has led the line and is proving week in week out that he is a world class talent, alongside the experienced Dani Alves, Gonzalo Higuain and of course goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.

The 41-year old shot-stopper has yet to win the top honour in Europe and now has the majority of the footballing world hoping to see the legendary goalkeeper pick up a winners medal at the Principality Stadium.

A lot is poised for both to make history and with Juventus without a Champions League title since 1996 where they beat Ajax in Rome, the supporters will be desperate to finally taste glory for the first time in a generation. It was just their second honour having picked up their first in 1985.

Our Juventus shirt pick comes in the shape of their 1995/1997 home shirt where they picked up that European glory in the Italian capital. The traditional black and white stripes and badge under the collar is iconic and is a certain favourite. With the likes of Madrid’S current manager Zidane turning on the style for them it is highly thought of among Juve supporters.

Only one side can win but with so many stories to come from it, this may be one of the most highly anticipated finals in recent memory. Bale in his home city, Zidane’s first managerial European honour, Buffon’s first winners medal and so many others. The Welsh connection of Juventus legend John Charles and Cardiff, it truly is set up to be an amazing event.

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