Socrates 7971 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 130798 messaggi Inviato June 1, 2017 JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID FINAL Saturday, June 3rd, 2017 - 8:45 p.m. CETMillennium Stadium, Cardiff (Wales) Referee: Felix Brych (Germany) Pirlo: ‘Juventus deserve CL’ http://www.football-italia.net/103472/pirlo-‘juventus-deserve-cl’ Jun 1, 2017 Andrea Pirlo will be cheering on his former Juventus teammates in the Champions League final - “after all these years they deserve it”. The Bianconeri reached the final in 2015 with the New York City FC midfielder in the side, but they were defeated by Barcelona, and now they have the chance to put things right against Real Madrid in Cardiff. “It’s definitely not easy to get back to the final,” Pirlo acknowledged in an interview with Corriere della Sera. “It’s also true though that the club made incredible efforts to strengthen the squad and get back to playing for the Champions League. This final is part of the plan. “I was very disappointed to lose [in Berlin] after four fantastic years, but I want my former teammates and the club to win it, after all these years they deserve it. “There’s been a path of growth where they’ve achieved everything they wanted, now all that’s missing is the icing on the cake. “Are Juventus stronger now? Certainly they’re more aware of it [their strength]. Two years ago we got to the final where at the start of the season we didn’t believe that much that we could do it. “This is a Juve built to win, and that awareness is a consequence of that. “The squad has changed completely and everyone has brought something different, from [Dani] Alves to [Paulo] Dybala, from [Miralem] Pjanic to the work of [Mario] Mandzukic. Not to mention [Gonzalo] Higuain. “Juve are a great team. “I don’t think there are many differences between Real and Juve, the Bianconeri have a complete, solid, balanced team; and at the same time they have quality. “Do they lack Milan’s European DNA? Only winning really changes things. If Juve don’t win on Saturday, people will continue to say that they always win in the League and not in Europe. “Now they have to lift the trophy.” Will this match be Juve’s defence against Madrid’s attack? “That’s reductive, but Juve certainly defend better than Real because they do it with the whole team, not just the defenders. “By contrast, Real leave their forwards free to express their great potential. “Gigi Buffon? I’m really happy for him and for the fact that he once again has the chance to reach this objective that he’s always pursued. “I’d be delighted if he won this trophy, because he’s proven he’s one of the best.” Zinedine Zidane, the Merengues Coach, played for Juve for five years, will that be an advantage? “Coaching is totally different from playing,” Pirlo pointed out. “On the bench he’s only faced Napoli. Of course he knows our football well, and he’ll know this Juve down to the smallest details, their strengths and weaknesses. “As for Max Allegri, he’s done a great job. It wasn’t easy to follow [Antonio] Conte, but he’s fitted in to the team and the club really well. “Will Madrid’s Champions League experience give them an advantage? No, it doesn’t matter. You could have 20 players who have already won it, but every game is completely different. “Paulo Dybala? The Champions League, rather than a consecration would be the start of a brilliant career for him.” Pirlo was then asked if Cristiano Ronaldo is the main danger for the Old Lady. “Absolutely, yes. He’s shown over the past 10 years that he’s the best, along with Messi. He’s a complete athlete, he can attack from the wing or from the centre. “He’s exemplary and always perfect in training sessions. He’s always at very high levels and that’s a huge compliment.” As something of a wine expert, what would Pirlo recommend to drink after a Champions League win? “In joy you can drink anything, even vinegar!” Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 7971 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 130798 messaggi Inviato June 1, 2017 JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID FINAL Saturday, June 3rd, 2017 - 8:45 p.m. CETMillennium Stadium, Cardiff (Wales) Referee: Felix Brych (Germany) Buffon: ‘Juventus can make history’ http://www.football-italia.net/103479/buffon-‘juventus-can-make-history’ Jun 1, 2017 Gianluigi Buffon hopes Juventus “can make history” on Saturday, but they’ll have to “pay extra attention” to Real Madrid’s forwards. The Bianconeri will win the treble if they defeat Los Merengues in Cardiff, and would be only the second Italian side to achieve that feat, after Inter in 2010. “This will be a very important match, just like it was two years ago against Barcelona and 14 years ago against Milan,” Buffon told Premium Sport. “The fact that after two years we’ve come back to this level, and that we’ve gained the opportunity to make history in Italian and European football, means our path has been built on important values and that has given us good results. “In a final like this the threshold of attention is already at the top level a few hours before the game, regardless of the opponents. “Then if you have great players like [Cristiano] Ronaldo, [Karim] Benzema or [Gareth] Bale in front of you you have to have a pinch of extra attention.” Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 7971 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 130798 messaggi Inviato June 1, 2017 JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID FINAL Saturday, June 3rd, 2017 - 8:45 p.m. CETMillennium Stadium, Cardiff (Wales) Referee: Felix Brych (Germany) Starting Bale in Champions League final is a risk, says Karembeu The former Real Madrid midfielder has given his opinion in the debate over whether Isco or the Welshman should start for Los Blancos on Saturday http://www.goal.com/en/news/1716/champions-league/2017/06/01/36021902/- Jun 1, 2017 Former Real Madrid midfielder Christian Karembeu has weighed in on the debate over whether Zinedine Zidane should start Isco or Gareth Bale in Saturday's Champions League final against Juventus in Cardiff, saying it would be a risk to go with the Welshman. Karembeu feels Madrid would be better off starting Isco since Bale is not completely fit and lacks match sharpness, while the former has been in fantastic form of late. Karembeu put forth the 2014 Champions League final between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid as an example, as Atletico had to substitute Diego Costa early on after starting the striker despite concerns over his fitness. "They have played well without Bale. Unfortunately for them, he was injured. In the Champions League, it is too dangerous [to risk a player who isn’t completely fit]," he explained to Goal. "You can see in the Champions League final of 2014, Atletico Madrid started with Diego Costa. They had to replace him early on. In the Champions League final, the idea is to minimize the risks. "Of course, Juventus isn’t a small team," the 46-year-old added. "They are very strong. When you see that Juventus can beat Barcelona, that means they have enough talent to beat anyone. "Real Madrid must be careful as Juventus have talented players such as [Paulo] Dybala and [Gonzalo] Higuain. Higuain was at Madrid and he will try his best to show that Madrid was wrong to sell him." Real Madrid coach Zidane is on the threshold of completing a league and Champions League double. But he has to defeat Juventus, with whom he lost the 1998 Champions League final before moving to the Spanish capital, where he enjoyed phenomenal success. Karembeu, who was part of the 1998 Real Madrid team which defeated Juventus 1-0, feels the upcoming final would be a momentous occasion for Los Blancos' coach. "Obviously, it’s going to be a great show between two big names, two clubs where Zinedine Zidane has played," he said. "He won the Champions League in 2002 with Madrid and lost the final in 1998. Now Zidane is with Real again as a manager having won the Spanish league. "Like he said, it’s the best moment in his life. I’m sure he will try to get all the players to focus on Saturday’s final." Karembeu also spoke in detail about the 1998 final, describing the win as an inspiration for the Real Madrid sides that came after. "I remember every action," he said. "It was my first final in the Champions League with Real Madrid. It was privilege as we won the title after 32 years. "It was a big game against an opponent which had Zinedine Zidane, Pippo Inzaghi, Alessandro Del Piero and Edgar Davids. We knew we could defend well. Of course, with the action of Roberto Carlos and Predrag Mijatovic, we managed to score. "It was great to win this trophy. I'm very proud to be part of the history and to inspire the next generation just like we were inspired by the previous generation of of Puskas, Gento and so on." The former French international also expressed belief that his compatriot Karim Benzema will extend his contract at the Santiago Bernabeu. "Karim has been at Real Madrid for a long time and he is one of the favourite players of Zidane," Karembeu said. "Him and Cristiano Ronaldo are very good together and understand each other well. "I think he will renew his contract. It also depends on the Champions League final and also on the player with regards to what he wants to do with his future." Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 7971 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 130798 messaggi Inviato June 1, 2017 JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID FINAL Saturday, June 3rd, 2017 - 8:45 p.m. CETMillennium Stadium, Cardiff (Wales) Referee: Felix Brych (Germany) Capello: 'Ref decisive in the Final' http://www.football-italia.net/103493/capello-ref-decisive-final Jun 1, 2017 Fabio Capello warned Juventus that “the referee could be decisive” in the Champions League Final with Real Madrid. The showdown is in Cardiff on Saturday evening and Capello’s comments did not reassure supporters. “The referee is always an important element of any Final and could be decisive,” he told Tuttosport. “This is why I have always been in favour of VAR and new technology. You cannot let a whole year’s work be cancelled out by an error, even if it is in good faith, of a referee or his assistant.” Juve supporters remain furious at the 1-0 Champions League Final defeat to Real Madrid in 1998, as Predrag Mijatovic’s goal was offside. The referee in Cardiff will be German Felix Brych. Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 7971 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 130798 messaggi Inviato June 1, 2017 JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID FINAL Saturday, June 3rd, 2017 - 8:45 p.m. CETMillennium Stadium, Cardiff (Wales) Referee: Felix Brych (Germany) Juventus v Real Madrid preview: Los Blancos chase history in Champions League final http://www.skysports.com/football/juventus-vs-r-madrid/preview/371636 Jun 1, 2017 Real Madrid will be aiming to become the first team in Champions League history to win back-to-back titles when they take on Juventus in the final on Saturday. Since the reincarnation of Europe's top competition in 1993, no team has ever managed to win the trophy in consecutive years, with AC Milan the last team to do so in 1989 and 1990 when the it was the European Cup. Zinedine Zidane's men won their 11th European trophy - their fifth Champions League - when they beat Atletico Madrid last season and victory against Juventus in Cardiff will see them make history by defending their title. Speaking before the game, Zidane was confident that his side were prepared for the final, saying: "We're very happy to be in the final. We know how difficult it is to get there and we've worked very well during the year. We deserve to be in the final and the team is going in to it in very good physical shape and we're confident." Juventus last won the competition in 2006 under Marcello Lippi and have been beaten on their past four appearances in the final including a 2015 loss to Barcelona. Juventus can become the ninth side in history to complete the league, domestic cup and European treble with victory on Saturday The Serie A champions could also become the ninth team to achieve the treble of league, domestic cup and European titles and only the second Italian club in history to do so after Inter Milan in the 2009/10 season. When asked about Juventus' history in Champions League finals, manager Massimiliano Allegri said: "Juventus haven't lost six finals, we've been involved in eight! Making the final is incredible. "There's only one Champions League like there's only one Superbowl and what matters is being in the right place at the right time. I'm delighted to be in the final and I feel fortunate to be leading a team out in Cardiff on Saturday." Team news The big news for Real Madrid is the potential return of Gareth Bale, who has been sidelined since picking up another calf injury against Barcelona on April 23. But the Wales international could start in his home city of Cardiff and it is likely to be a toss up between Bale and Isco for a starting spot. Dani Carvajal is also expected to be available for selection with Zidane having a full squad to take to the Principality Stadium. For Juventus, Mario Mandzukic is likely to be fit alongside Sami Khedira, who will battle with Miralem Pjanic and Claudio Marchisio for the two starting spots in midfield. Left-winger Marko Pjaca and centre-back Daniele Rugani are expected to remain sidelined with injuries with Allegri having a fully fit squad to choose from otherwise Match stats This is the 19th encounter between Juventus and Real Madrid - all in the European Cup/Champions League, making this the second-most played fixture in the history of Europe's premier club competition after Bayern Munich v Real Madrid (24). The head-to-head record between Juventus and Real Madrid is perfectly balanced, with eight wins each and two draws. However, their only previous meeting in the Champions League final saw Real Madrid win 1-0 in 1998 thanks to a Pedrag Mijatovic goal. Real Madrid have reached the European Cup/Champions League final for the 15th time, four more than any other club (AC Milan, 11). They've won 11 of the previous 14, again more than any other team in history. In fact, they've won each of their last five finals in the competition, last losing in 1981 against Liverpool. Juventus are the only unbeaten team in this season's Champions League (W9 D3). They are the first team since Atlético Madrid in 2013/14 to reach the final without losing a single game. In fact, no team has lifted the Champions League trophy without suffering a single defeat since Manchester Utd did it in 2007/08. Real Madrid have scored in every single one of their 12 games in the Champions League this season (32 goals, most prolific attack) but have also kept only one clean sheet; it was against Atlético Madrid in the semi-final first leg (3-0). In fact, Real Madrid have conceded the opening goal in five of their six knockout games this season whilst Juventus have never trailed at any point in this season's knockout phase. Gianluigi Buffon will become the third oldest player to feature in a European Cup/Champions League final (39 years and 4 months) after Dino Zoff (41 years and 2 months in the 1983 final) and Edwin van der Sar (40 years and 6 months in the 2011 final). Police have put a ring of steel around the National Stadium of Wales ahead of the Champions League final between Real Madrid and Juventus Dani Alves has scored more goals (10) and delivered more assists (25) than any other full-back in the Champions League since his debut in 2007/08. If he plays, it will be his 100th game in the competition and would become only the second Brazilian player to reach that milestone after Roberto Carlos. Cristiano Ronaldo has reached the 10-goal mark for the sixth consecutive Champions League campaign - no other player has done it on more than two consecutive seasons (Messi, Van Nistelrooy). He's also played more than any other outfield player in this season's competition (1110 minutes). This will be Ronaldo's fifth European Cup/Champions League final. Only three players have featured in more: Paolo Maldini, Paco Gento (8), Alfredo Di Stéfano (7). Three of the last five Champions League finals have gone to extra-time, including two which have been decided on penalties. Wales are hosting their first ever European Cup/Champions League final. They are the 16th country to do so. Betting Real Madrid are Sky Bet's slight favourites at 17/10 to Juventus' price of 15/8 to win within 90 minutes, while extra-time is priced at 21/10 with a penalty shoot-out a 5/1 chance. Ronaldo heads the first goalscorer betting at 7/2 followed by Gonzalo Higuain at 4/1, while the duo both to net is enhanced from 4/1 to 6/1 in Sky Bet's Price Boosts. Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 7971 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 130798 messaggi Inviato June 1, 2017 JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID FINAL Saturday, June 3rd, 2017 - 8:45 p.m. CETMillennium Stadium, Cardiff (Wales) Referee: Felix Brych (Germany) Zoff: 'Juve favourites with Madrid' http://www.football-italia.net/103495/zoff-juve-favourites-madrid Jun 1, 2017 Dino Zoff believes “Juventus are the favourites” for the Champions League Final against Real Madrid. “I say it ends 2-1.” The Italy legend gave his prediction ahead of this Saturday’s showdown in Cardiff. “I think Juventus are the favourites, because a side like the Bianconeri can certainly have their say,” Zoff told Rai Radio 1. “Cristiano Ronaldo can certainly be a frightening prospect, but the solidity of the Juventus team makes them reliable. “I’ll even say that it ends 2-1.” Zoff won’t be flying out to Cardiff in order to watch the Final at the Millennium Stadium. “I’ll watch at home, on the sofa, probably with a nice salami sandwich and red wine.” Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 7971 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 130798 messaggi Inviato June 1, 2017 JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID FINAL Saturday, June 3rd, 2017 - 8:45 p.m. CETMillennium Stadium, Cardiff (Wales) Referee: Felix Brych (Germany) Juventus vs Real Madrid match preview The big finale of the European club season will hit Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on Saturday night when the Spanish and Italian champions clash http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2914/champions-league/2017/06/01/36023212/- Jun 1, 2017 Real Madrid have the chance to become the first team to successfully defend the Champions League in its current format when they face Juventus in Saturday's final. The Spanish and Italians champions will clash at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, in what promises to be one of the most engaging finals of recent years. Bianconeri fans will hope to see Gianluigi Buffon with a Champions League winner's medal around his neck for the first time, while Cristiano Ronaldo can strengthen his Ballon d'Or bid by adding to the astonishing total of eight goals he scored in the quarter and semi-finals. SQUADS & TEAM NEWS Position Real Madrid players Goalkeepers Navas, Casilla, Yanez Defenders Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Nacho, Marcelo, Danilo Midfielders Kroos, James, Casemiro, Kovacic, Vazquez, Modric, Asensio, Isco Forwards Ronaldo, Benzema, Bale, Morata Gareth Bale has trained and is fit to play some part but has admitted he may not be able to last 90 minutes, meaning Isco is likely to start at the top of a midfield diamond. Otherwise Madrid are at full strength, with Dani Carvajal ready to go after a hamstring problem and only Pepe and Fabio Coentrao, both of whom appear set to leave the club this summer, absent from training. Potential starting XI: Navas; Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo; Casemiro; Modric, Kroos; Isco; Benzema, Ronaldo. Position Juventus players Goalkeepers Buffon, Neto, Audero Defenders Chiellini, Benatia, Alex Sandro, Barzagli, Bonucci, Dani Alves, Rugani, Lichtsteiner Midfielders Pjanic, Khedira, Cuadrado, Marchisio, Mattiello, Lemina, Asamoah, Sturaro, Rincon Forwards Higuain, Mandzukic, Dybala Massimiliano Allegri has had success with more than one formation in this season's competition but speculation has suggested he will deploy a three-man defence for the final. That would mean the only real selection dilemma the Italian has is whether to field Sami Khedira or Claudio Marchisio next to Miralem Pjanic in midfield. Potential starting XI: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Dani Alves, Pjanic, Khedira, Alex Sandro; Dybala, Higuain, Mandzukic. Note: Neither club has announced their travelling squad at the time of writing. The projected lists above will be updated when they have been confirmed. BETTING & GAME ODDS Real Madrid are 17/10 favourites to defend the trophy, according to Oddschecker, with Juventus priced at 2/1 and the draw through 90 minutes available at 9/4. Cristiano Ronaldo is the 7/2 favourite to score first, with Gonzalo Higuain rated at 9/2 and Paulo Dybala available at 7/1. GAME PREVIEW This feels like it might be the most evenly matched - and difficult to predict - Champions League final for several years. The past few editions of European club football's biggest game have all involved either an underdog or a team - such as Inter in 2010, Chelsea in 2012 and, to a lesser extent, Atletico Madrid in two of the past three finals - with a more defensive, reactive outlook. Atleti have twice attempted to shock their more prestigious neighbours Real Madrid, Juventus were powerless to resist Barcelona's 'MSN' forward trio in between and going further back, Bayern Munich and Barca had too much for Borussia Dortmund and Manchester United (twice) respectively. This time, though Madrid are slight favourites, it is hard to say with much certainty on whose terms the final will be played. Juventus look tighter at the back, but having a formidable defence is not the same as being a defensive team and in Dani Alves, Paulo Dybala and Gonzalo Higuain they possess plenty of attacking firepower. Madrid have the game's best player in Cristiano Ronaldo and a star-studded midfield, but are not the dominant force that Juve tried and failed to stop when they faced Barca in Berlin two years ago. It would be a surprise if more than one goal separates these two sides and perhaps Gareth Bale, likely to come off the bench in his home city, will have the chance to decide it. Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 7971 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 130798 messaggi Inviato June 1, 2017 JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID FINAL Saturday, June 3rd, 2017 - 8:45 p.m. CETMillennium Stadium, Cardiff (Wales) Referee: Felix Brych (Germany) Juventus vs. Real Madrid tactical preview: Can Real’s powerful offense break down Juve’s rock-solid defense? Will there be a new king of Europe? http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2017/6/1/15719308/juventus- real-madrid-2017-champions-league-final-tactical-match-preview Jun 1, 2017 Real Madrid is excellent offensively. They have scored 32 goals and average 2.67 goals per game in the Champions League this season. But these figures do not reflect how efficient Real Madrid's offense is. The aim of the offensive phase of a team is to generate shots so that they can score goals, and Real Madrid is excellent in this area. For example, it takes Real Madrid 28.4 passes to create one shot, which is the best in the Champions League this year. By this measure, Real Madrid is at least 15 percent better than every team other than Lyon in this competition. For comparison, it takes 38.3 shots for Juventus to generate one shot, nearly 25 percent worse than Real Madrid. Real Madrid struggles on defense, and have conceded 17 goals in the Champions League. This number is inflated because they have played more games than most teams. In fact, they have only conceded 1.42 goals per game, which is 14th lowest. But this number is also deflated because of Real Madrid's dominance in possession (9th most) and Keylor Navas' excellence. A better quantitative measure of a team's defensive performance is the number of passes an opponent needs to generate a shot on it. For example, an opponent needs 37.9 passes to produce one shot against Madrid, which is the 19th lowest in UCL. In comparison, a team needs 48 passes to create one shot against Juventus (6th lowest in UCL), almost 22 percent worse than Juventus. In fact, combining with Gigi Buffon's brilliance, Juventus only concedes 0.25 goals per game and only through set pieces. Therefore, this is a final where the best offensive team faces the best defensive team. Real Madrid Formation Real Madrid has long used a 4-3-3 formation: Keylor Navas; Dani Carvajal, Raphael Varane, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo; Luka Modric, Casemiro, Toni Kroos; Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo When Bale plays, Real Madrid plays mostly a 4-3-3 in the offensive phase. In the defensive phase, they will also use a 4-3-3 shape if they want to set up a high block/press, but with Modric joining Ronaldo and Benzema as the first line of defense. If they sit deep, they can either use a 4-4-2, with Bale and Kroos taking a right and left midfielder position. Or they can use a 4-1-4-1, with Ronaldo taking the left midfielder position and Casemiro positions right in front of the defense. Recently, Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has made a change in the starting lineup and replaced Bale with Isco. It 's hard to put Isco in any particular position in the offensive phase. But defensively, Real Madrid play fairly consistently no matter who takes on the field. (Zidane has tried to play a 3-5-2 but the results were not very promising, and he probably will not make such a drastic change in the final.) Real Madrid’s offense Real Madrid's maximal usage of the pitch Real Madrid is exquisite at using the width and the length of the pitch to spread the opponent. This ability is due to the excellent passing ranges of their midfielders. Kroos, Casemiro, and Modric completed 7.9 (1st, 86 percent success rate), 5.4 (6th, 68 percent) and 4.4 (14th, 76 percent) long passes per game, respectively. As a team, they complete 65.2 percent of the long passes they attempt (2nd highest, Juventus is third with 65.1 percent). With such excellent ability to send long pass, Real Madrid's fullbacks can hug the sidelines and maximally stretch the opponent horizontally. During the build-up, Carvajal and Marcelo do not have to help and can push to very advanced positions. This advantage is because Kroos, Casemiro and Modric have the ability to protect the ball and resist pressure and deliver the ball to almost anywhere they want: In this case, these three midfielders form a wide midfield base in front of Ramos and Varane. They position to create multiple triangles with the center backs, providing at least two passing lanes to each defender. Once received the ball, they can send it forward to the two full-backs who are free to roam forward. They are as the launching base of long balls for Real Madrid and can send the ball to either flank consistently. Moreover, both Marcelo and Carvajal also have the ability to send the passes to the opposing flank. If the passing ranges to send long ball forwards are blocked, they can always carry the ball forward and combine with Carvajal/Marcelo and Ronaldo, and Benzema or Modric move to the flanks. Benzema is one of the most important players for Real Madrid, and his importance is under appreciated. He is an excellent target man because he is physically strong and has excellent techniques. His finishing may be off this year, but he is still splendid with the ball. In particular, his ability to play with his back to the defender and re-direct the ball to other teammates is first-rate. When Real Madrid are pressured intensively from the back, he can always be their way out of the trouble. The long pass ability of Real Madrid is dangerous because it stretches the opponent. It is tough for the opponent to press them. If you want to press them you need pressure, and pressure comes from committing more players to pressure them. When you commit too many players to press Real, you leave too much space, and those long passes can kill you. If you want to maintain defensive solidarity, you can't commit enough players to pressure the Madrid's players, and they can advance the ball and pin you down. And obviously, when you can do the long passes so well, you are always dangerous in counterattacks. Marcelo and Carvajal Everyone knows that Marcelo and Carvajal are two of the best fullbacks in the world. There are teams with excellent fullbacks, but very few possess one world-class fullback on each flank (the other teams are probably Bayern Munich and Juventus). Marcelo’s ability to dribble, pace, passing range and shooting are excellent. Carvajal is not as technical as Marcelo, but he is more direct. I am not going to talk about how good they are offensively or to compare them to Juventus' fullbacks. The only thing I will talk about is Carvajal's very odd but dangerous way to cross and shoot. In a way, "bend it like Beckham" is the Zidane's way to kick a ball. You kick it with the inside of the foot. For a pass/cross/shot to be dangerous, you need accuracy and power. Beckham was excellent with his right foot, where he can send extremely accurate crosses with a very high speed. And the way he kicked the ball allowed the ball to curve and drop very suddenly, adding unpredictability. The problem with kicking the ball that way is that you need to run towards the ball to generate enough power, and it 's hard to send the ball consistently if you are pressured. The way Carvajal kicks the ball is completely different from Beckham, where he kicks it with the outside of the foot. It is almost like he is poking the ball with a stick and it adds a lot of unpredictability to the ball. There are multiple advantages to kicking the ball that way. First, Carvajal does not always need to run/sprint to generate the power for the kick. When kicking the ball with the inside of the foot, there is a full spectrum of power to the ball. The faster/longer you run, the more the power. For the way Carvajal kicks the ball, there is a limited spectrum of power, but you do not need too much running to generate it, and it is fast enough to cause a problem. Secondly, the ball often has an unpredictable trajectory. It is very hard for defenders or keepers to anticipate the path of the ball. Technically, Marcelo is much better than Carvajal. He can use both feet, dribble and use the ball well. Marcelo is not a selfish player that likes to hog the ball. But Carvajal is far more direct and dangerous, because no matter how good Marcelo is, he often kicks the ball like most other players, with the inside of his foot. The way Marcelo — or most players — kick the ball means that there is a limit of the power that Marcelo can add to the kick given the pressure of the defender on him. For Carvajal, he can often generate a dangerous pass or shot with high pressure on him, because he can kick it with limited space, time and freedom. The way Carvajal kicks the ball is one reason why he causes so many problems to the opponent. No one pokes the ball as well as Carvajal. Positional flexibility in the offensive phase A characteristic for Zidane's team is the positional flexibility of the players during the offensive phase. When Real Madrid attacks, its players do not always adhere to their positions. Each player often shows flexibility in occupying their teammate's position. For example, Benzema often moves into the wide area or drop back to the midfield to help build-up and advance the ball. His position, usually the central striker, will always be occupied by his teammate, such as Marcelo/Carvajal when he moves to the flanks, or Isco, Modric, and Kroos when he drops to the midfield. The two strikers, Ronaldo and Benzema, are critical to trigger these interchanging positions and players movements. Benzema is a primary target man on this team who can move to the midfield or on the flanks to receive the ball and combine with other teammates. Ronaldo does not play as he used to, where he can take on multiple defenders at once. But he still can operate efficiently on the flanks. It's hard for the other team to defend these kinds of movements if they defend with a strong man-orientation. Even in a strict zonal system, where a defender only cares about his zone, these movements can still trigger confusion because you are suddenly without any player to mark, or you are dealing with different players at different times. Moreover, their willingness to operate in such large areas mean that they can often create overloads when and where they receive the ball: Real Madrid often advances the ball on the flanks. If the structure induced by these movements cannot overload on one side, they can always switch the ball to the opposite side with the long ball where there is often a lot of space: Very few teams in the world can play like that. Real Madrid has two strikers who can play the ball well. Moreover, most of their midfielders and fullbacks are also extremely skillful and can use the balls in the ways that are not confined to their positions. Because most of these players can stop and protect the ball, they can always wait for their teammates to combine with them or to generate overloads. Temporal overloads and Isco The extreme flexibility of players positions and movements allow Madrid to generate overloading scenarios all over the pitch. This tactic becomes even more dangerous in the last few weeks when he Zidane inserted Isco into the lineup. On paper, Isco plays either on the left wing in a 4-3-3 or the Trequarista in a 4-3-1-2 in the offensive phase. In reality, Isco plays all over the pitch. Position-wise, Zidane allows Isco to play with a lot of freedom. He can drop back and connect with the defenders to relieve the pressures when the backline is being pressed, move to the flanks to advance the ball, or stay in front of the opponent's defenders to operate in the zone 14 space. He has very strong tactical intelligence and can move into the space that is left by his teammates. And his skill is so good that it is very hard to displace the ball from him. Many people have hoped that Bale can recover in time to start in the final. But this Real Madrid team is way more dangerous with Isco in the starting lineup. There is a lot more flexibility, and it is very hard to contain Madrid's ball progression with Isco generating the overloads almost everywhere on the pitch. Offensively, the champions of Spain are one of the best in the world. A strong theme of the build-up and offensive phase of Zidane's team is positional flexibility. They can play that way because of the superb technical quality of their players. Long passes are also critical to maximizing the above tactics because the temporary overloads drag the opponent's defenders to the ball close side and expose the opposite side. And finally, although I did not mention (because everyone watches Real Madrid will know), their counterattacks are extremely explosive. Real Madrid’s defense Real Madrid plays a zonal defense without a strong man-orientation. They occasionally press the opponents. Before Isco was inserted into the starting line-up, Zidane's men often press with Ronaldo, Benzema and Modric. Whoever plays the right winger position will stay in the midfield. One reason may be that Modric is more tactically intelligent than Bale (or anyone who plays there other than Isco). He uses cover shadow well when he attack a defender and can maintain a constant pressure on the defenders. Casemiro is the player who gives balance to Real Madrid. Every outfield player, other than him and the center backs, are offense-orientated. He always is the first player to tackle and close-out the vertical through pass that penetrates the midfield or the counter attack opportunities. When Real Madrid retreated to a low block, they often line up as a 4-1-4-1 shape, with Casemiro protecting the last line of the defense. Under Zidane, Real Madrid maintains a more cohesive shape in the defensive phase. With the strong defensive quality of Casemiro in the midfield, their defense is more robust and provides more resistance. There is no doubt that with Casemiro, Zidane has figured out a way to strengthen the defense of his team, the problem is that there are two issues he nor Casemiro can solve. Firstly, Real Madrid's first line of defense can be very leaky. A problem that Real Madrid often has when they defend in a traditional 4-3-3 formation is that the front three players do not apply enough pressure to the opponent's defenders during their the build-up. Ronaldo, Benzema, and whoever plays on the right wing often allow the enemy's defenders to advance to the half-line and pass with a lot of freedom. It can become a problem because it gave a lot of pressure to their three midfield players, especially with center back that has an excellent passing range or can carry the ball forward. Modric and Kroos have to choose between marking the opponent's midfielders or pressuring the advancing center backs. In turn, Casemiro is left alone to try to guard the space in front of the box, and he is often overwhelmed by the other players who will run into those areas. The second issue is much more serious compared to the first one. It happens when Real Madrid sits deep and defends in a 4-1-4-1 low block. None of the midfield players — usually Isco/Bale, Modric, Kroos, and Ronaldo — have the defensive discipline to play the zonal marking scheme. The idea to sit deep in their zonal scheme is to close out advancing attacks and more importantly, cut out the passes that aim at the space between the lines. The two central midfielders cannot hold their zones for long. Kroos in particular, are very easily attracted by the movement of the ball and has a tendency to try to intercept or tackle the attackers. However, he and Modric are not good at tackling, and Kroos is very slow. What ends up happening is that Kroos moves out of his zone and leaves a ton of space behind and exposes Casemiro and the two center backs: Moreover, when you play a zonal scheme, you need to exchange marking duty when a player is moving in and out of different zones. Real Madrid is very bad at it: The defense then collapses because some players are over-marked while others are completely unmarked. The failure to implement zonal defense principle is a major weakness of Real Madrid, and this is why their defense struggles. They have the heart, but not the skill to play a solid zonal defense scheme. Juventus vs. Madrid On paper, Juventus and Real Madrid are very different teams. One team is an expert in defense, and one team is explosive on the offense. But there are similarities. Juventus and Real Madrid are the two best teams in Europe. They went on a similar journey this season. In their domestic leagues, they have been leading the rest of the packs for quite some time. Both coaches have experimented the formations and the players to find the perfect balance they like: Zidane tests multiple players in that right wing role. His decision to play Isco and the way he uses the player push Real Madrid to a higher level. For Allegri, he has tested multiple formations and settle to the 4-2-3-1. But it is not a strict structure. The introduction of Dani Alves and Andrea Brazagli on the right wing and the right back makes the formation a hybrid between 4-2-3-1 and 3-5-2. Like Zidane's, these changes also raise the bar for Juventus. These experimentations and optimizations are evident in the performance in the Champions League. Both teams went through the group stage with not-so-impressive performances and then exploded in the knock-out stage against some very tough opponents. I do not agree with the common perception about this game is if Juventus can stop Real Madrid. In my opinion, this game is about whether Real Madrid can beat Juventus' defense. It is because Juventus does not have to sit deep and wait for counterattack opportunities to hurt Real Madrid. It can be one way to attack them, but Juventus is fully capable of attack through build-up. Of the seven goals they score against Barcelona and Monaco, only one came from counterattack. Four of them came from open play. Even if Real Madrid has more possession in the final, Juventus can generate enough threats against them through build-up. On the other hand, Real Madrid has not played against a defense like Juventus this season. Their dismantling of Atletico Madrid is scary, but Atleti’s defensive scheme is very different from Juve’s. Diego Simeone's team is more aggressive in tackling the ball to force transition, and it can favor Real Madrid's players when they are not close down fast enough. Juventus can play very passive zonal defense to shut down space without attacking the ball's handlers. If Juventus plays with more passive zonal defense, it will be a problem for Real Madrid. Their positional swaps will not work if Juventus' defenders stay in the zone and not dragged away. Juventus' zone can shift very fast in any direction, and in that case, Real Madrid's overloads would not work, and they will have to shift the ball to the other side. Then the question becomes can they do this faster than the shifting of Juventus' defenders? Real Madrid will need to initiate the offense before Allegri's men settle into the defensive structure. There is always an option to press aggressively to force transitions. Sami Khedira is very likely to start, and he is prone to miss-pass compared to Claudio Marchisio and Miralem Pjanic. But can Real Madrid apply that kind of pressure? None of their front players are very good in that department. And you can bet in a final, Juventus' players are more careful and focused so that they do not make these types of errors. Against an organized zonal defense, the best way to counter it is to play a direct approach. Benzema is a great target man, and Ronaldo is lethal in those ping-pong balls' chances. But will they play like that? Moreover, Real Madrid's players aren't so physically overwhelming. There will be chances for Juventus to score. Real Madrid's defense collapses similarly in every round in the knockout stage. Khedira — and maybe Pjanic and Marchisio — will be critical. Gonzalo Higuain and Paulo Dybala will be marked very tightly. Khedira's excellent positioning and movement will allow him to get to the right place at the right time. But his finishing has been off compared to early season and chances are often fewer in the final. Mario Mandzukic is always a threat when he is up against Carvajal in a physical duel. And then there are Ramos' headers in the set-pieces or the free kicks from Pjanic and Dybala. Those are the chances that often decide a final. Juventus is a better team because they are more balanced than Real Madrid. This theme has been their key to the season. But this is a one-game final. A single game tends to minimize the difference between two teams and individual incidents become more important than collective strength. We will find out who is the king of Europe on Saturday. 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Socrates 7971 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 130798 messaggi Inviato June 1, 2017 JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID FINAL Saturday, June 3rd, 2017 - 8:45 p.m. CETMillennium Stadium, Cardiff (Wales) Referee: Felix Brych (Germany) Xavi: 'Buffon deserves Champions League' http://www.football-italia.net/103508/xavi-buffon-deserves-champions-league Jun 1, 2017 Xavi is cheering on Juventus against Real Madrid in the Champions League Final. “Gigi Buffon and Dani Alves deserve it, but the chances are 50-50.” The sides go head-to-head in Cardiff on Saturday evening and Xavi will be watching from Qatar. “Winning the Champions League would be a crowning moment in Buffon’s career,” Xavi told www.sc.qa. “I would like to see Buffon winning the Champions League. As a Barcelona fan, it is logical and natural that I want Juventus to win. But I also want them to win for Buffon and Dani Alves, who also deserves it. “Dani is an impressive player who has made a difference in the lead-up to the final. I also have a very good relationship with Dani. “I see the chances of both teams in the final at 50-50, a final is always difficult to predict and there are no clear favourites. Juventus have been doing things well for years, and they are a big club and have not won the Champions League for many years now and will be eager to set the record straight. “Real Madrid are also very strong, they have signed good players, I think we’re going to see a great final. “Juventus have players like Paulo Dybala and Gonzalo Higuain who can make a difference in attack. In addition to defence, Dani is also contributing a lot in attack and creating some great goals. “For Real Madrid, Karim Benzema can be decisive, so too Isco, Luka Modric and Cristiano Ronaldo. They have a lot of players who can all make a difference individually. We will see a fantastic final.” Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 7971 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 130798 messaggi Inviato June 2, 2017 JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID FINAL Saturday, June 3rd, 2017 - 8:45 p.m. CETMillennium Stadium, Cardiff (Wales) Referee: Felix Brych (Germany) UCL final key battles include Ronaldo vs. Barzagli, Marcelo vs. Dani Alves http://www.espnfc.co.uk/uefa-champions-league/2/blog/post/3137551/champions-league -key-battles-include-real-madrid-star-cristiano-ronaldo-vs-juve-defender-andrea-barzagli Jun 1, 2017 Saturday night's Champions League final between Real Madrid and Juventus has the makings of a true classic: two league champions, two excellent sides playing a very different brand of football and plenty of fascinating individual battles. Here are four that may have a significant bearing upon the destination of the European Cup. Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Andrea Barzagli Even by his standards, Cristiano Ronaldo's form throughout this season's Champions League knockout stages has been incredible. Hat tricks against Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid have won matches almost single-handedly: when Real aren't playing well, Ronaldo has been their saviour, and when they are playing well, he makes them almost unstoppable. Ronaldo is now playing almost as a conventional centre-forward. Throughout the course of his career, he's increasingly evolved from a proper winger to a pure goal scorer but now, he's essentially a penalty box operator, waiting for service in the middle before using his incredible physical attributes and powerful shooting to crash home goal after goal. His battle against the Juventus centre-backs -- particularly right-sided centre-back Andrea Barzagli -- will be fascinating. On paper, an aerial threat is precisely what the Italian defenders (and 35-year-old Barzagli) would like to face. But Juve's second-leg performance against Monaco was curious: while Barzagli surprisingly coped against the speed of Kylian Mbappe extremely well, they looked uncharacteristically nervous when defending crosses. If they hesitate this weekend, with Ronaldo lurking, they'll be punished. In truth, Ronaldo has rarely performed particularly well in a Champions League final but he's almost always decisive in some way. He powered home the opener in the 2008 final against Chelsea in his Manchester United days, scored in extra-time against Atletico in 2014 and converted the decisive penalty against the same opposition in 2016. Only in 2009, when United were defeated by Barcelona, has he failed to influence the game. You suspect, this weekend, Ronaldo will find the net even if Juve keep him quiet for long periods. Marcelo vs. Dani Alves One of the most exciting battles in Cardiff will be between two international teammates, with Marcelo and Dani Alves going head-to-head down the flanks. Indeed, such is the quality of Brazilian full-backs that we're likely to see four on the pitch here, with former Porto colleagues Alex Sandro and Danilo doing battle down the opposite flank. But it's Marcelo vs. Alves that feels particularly exciting. The latter has often been excellent against Real Madrid over the years, having regularly faced them in his Clasico days, and he's demonstrated over the course of this season that he remains a tremendous attacking threat. His performance against former club Barcelona in the quarterfinals was outstanding: he essentially served as Juve's main attacking force. In this game, he could be fielded in three separate positions: as a wide midfielder in a 4-2-3-1, a wing-back in more of a 3-5-2 or even as a conventional right-back. Whatever his position, however, he'll be up against Marcelo. Marcelo will be fielded at left-back but because Real Madrid are likely to use a narrow midfield, he'll be asked to push forward regularly and provide left-sided width. In that sense, he might appear as much a wing-back as a full-back. While Real's midfield is overloaded with playmakers, Marcelo is as technically gifted as most and will play a crucial role in Real's passing triangles as they set up camp in Juve's half. Alves, however, will be looking to speed in behind on the counterattack. He might prove the game's key player. Isco vs. Miralem Pjanic and Sami Khedira If Zinedine Zidane could select a 100 percent fit Gareth Bale, Isco would probably be the man to miss out. But Bale's absence might prove to be a blessing in disguise because Isco has been in sensational form over recent weeks: he was absolutely outstanding in the semifinal against Atletico Madrid, positioning himself between the lines, knitting together midfield and attack. It feels peculiar that Real are so much better with a player in Isco's mould considering that they already use Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, two outstanding playmakers, but Isco is different. He plays higher, he slaloms away from challenges quickly and he provides the missing link when Real are constructing passing moves. With Bale playing out wide, Ronaldo and Benzema sometimes feel disconnected from the rest of the side. With Isco in the side, everything feels more cohesive. He will seek to overload Juve's midfield, and this could prove very tricky to cope against. Casemiro will be concerned with Paulo Dybala but Modric and Kroos will go up against Miralem Pjanic and Sami Khedira. Isco is almost a "bonus" midfielder and Juve might struggle to track his movement, which might tempt one of Juve's centre-backs up the pitch, subsequently leaving the back line understaffed. Always something an outsider in this system, Isco might be Real's main man this weekend. Gonzalo Higuain vs. Sergio Ramos All 22 starters here will be desperate to win, but Gonzalo Higuain might have more incentive than most. This is a man who was ditched by Real Madrid three years ago, a player who has been constantly criticised for his poor performances in big games: he wasted Argentina's best chance in the 2014 World Cup final and while he's banged in plenty of league goals ever since, it still feels like he needs a big game performance to prove his quality on a global level. He'll be up against former teammate Sergio Ramos, who is the opposite type of player. Wildly inconsistent over the course of a campaign and incredibly prone to getting himself into bother with referees, Real's captain is nevertheless among the greatest "big game" players of his generation having scored crucial goals in the Champions League finals of 2014 and 2016. This weekend, though, Ramos will be primarily concerned with stopping Higuain. The Argentine tends to play in that inside-right channel, with Mario Mandzukic drifting inside from the left into a second striker position alongside him. Higuain's game has changed since moving to Italy: he's slimmed down slightly and found an extra yard of pace, which might prove crucial for a Juve side likely to play on the counterattack here. Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 7971 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 130798 messaggi Inviato June 2, 2017 JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID FINAL Saturday, June 3rd, 2017 - 8:45 p.m. CETMillennium Stadium, Cardiff (Wales) Referee: Felix Brych (Germany) Italian airline arranges special flights for Champions League final http://www.espnfc.co.uk/uefa-champions-league/2/blog/post/3137551/champions-league -key-battles-include-real-madrid-star-cristiano-ronaldo-vs-juve-defender-andrea-barzagli Jun 1, 2017 Italian airline Alitalia says it has arranged 39 special flights to transport nearly 4,000 Juventus fans to the Champions League final on Saturday in Cardiff, Wales. The flights on Friday and Saturday will originate in Turin, Verona, Milan, Bologna, Rome and Catania. Alitalia says it will even employ a long-haul Airbus A330 to accommodate the extra demand. Cardiff Airport says it is expecting 24,000 additional passengers this weekend and some 400 additional aircraft. Cardiff is about a two-hour train journey from London. Juventus face Real Madrid in Cardiff's Millennium Stadium for the coveted title. Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 7971 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 130798 messaggi Inviato June 2, 2017 JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID FINAL Saturday, June 3rd, 2017 - 8:45 p.m. CETMillennium Stadium, Cardiff (Wales) Referee: Felix Brych (Germany) Juventus vs. Real Madrid: Team News, Preview for UCL Final http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2712817-juventus-vs-real- madrid-team-news-preview-live-stream-tv-info-for-ucl-final Jun 2, 2017 Juventus will take on Real Madrid in the 2017 UEFA Champions League final on Saturday at the National Stadium of Wales in Cardiff. Los Blancos, who have won the tournament a record 11 times, including in 2014 and 2016, will be aiming to become the first side to retain the trophy since it became known as the Champions League in 1992. It would also mark a league and European Cup double for Real, who won La Liga ahead of Barcelona this year. The Bianconeri have, surprisingly, lifted it just twice, with their last victory coming in 1996. They will be targeting a treble having won Serie A and the Coppa Italia this season. Team News Per Tom Doyle of the Evening Standard, Sami Khedira and Mario Mandzukic should be available for Juventus, while Pepe is likely to be out for Real Madrid because of his broken ribs. Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane will have to choose between playing Gareth Bale or Isco, after the former admitted he is "not 100 per cent" fit due to an ongoing ankle problem, per BBC Sport. Predicted Juventus Lineup: Gianluigi Buffon; Dani Alves, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini, Alex Sandro; Miralem Pjanic, Sami Khedira, Juan Cuadrado, Paulo Dybala, Mario Mandzukic; Gonzalo Higuain Predicted Real Madrid Lineup: Keylor Navas; Dani Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane, Marcelo; Toni Kroos, Casemiro, Luka Modric, Isco; Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo Preview A glance at the final league tables in Serie A and La Liga will show you where the two sides' respective strengths lie. Real racked up 106 goals in 38 matches this season, but in shipping 41 they also demonstrated their slight defensive vulnerability. By contrast, Juve conceded just 27, but they weren't quite as free-scoring as their opponents and managed 77 going forward. It has been a similar story in the Champions League this year, with Real netting 32 and conceding 17 in 12 matches so far, while for Juve those figures are 21 and three, with just one goal being lost from open play. While it will be intriguing to see how Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon handle Cristiano Ronaldo and his team-mates—particularly after they successfully kept clean sheets in both quarter-final legs against Barcelona—the most fascinating battle on show could be between Brazilian full-backs Dani Alves and Marcelo. FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/Getty Images The two will be pitted directly against one another, and the winner could have a huge influence on the outcome of the match. While they are both probably better defenders than they are often given credit for, the pair truly shine going forward. Alves did not get his career in Turin off to the best of starts, but he has produced some breathtaking performances of late, particularly in the Champions League. In the two semi-final legs against AS Monaco, the Brazilian had a hand in all of Juve's four goals, assisting two directly and scoring one himself with a spectacular volley. Football writer Jack Lang marvelled at his performance: 9 May Jack Lang ✔ @jacklang Nice of Monaco to let Dani Alves use this tie to recut his highlight reel Follow Jack Lang ✔@jacklang It's Dani Alves Christmas 9:31 PM - 9 May 2017 11 Retweet 11 like Twitter Ads info and privacy Overall, he has six goals and seven assists in all competitions this season. Marcelo has three goals and a staggering 13 assists to his name. He has impressed throughout the campaign yet again, with his performances against Bayern Munich and Barcelona in April particularly catching the eye. Football journalists David Cartlidge and Dermot Corrigan hailed his efforts: Follow David Cartlidge ✔@davidjaca Feel like in last two games a lot of people have only just realised Marcelo's value at RM. Influential for a long time now...#ElClasico 10:34 PM - 23 Apr 2017 1212 Retweets 2020 likes Twitter Ads info and privacy Follow Dermot Corrigan ✔@dermotmcorrigan Three assists and a goal for Marcelo in his last five games now. Resting him and playing Coentrao not really an option I guess... 6:00 PM - 29 Apr 2017 3939 Retweets 5656 likes Twitter Ads info and privacy There will be a feast of world-class talent on show in Cardiff, and the match promises to be a thrilling showpiece as a result. Any number of players could decide it for either side, but the duel between Alves and compatriot Marcelo could define the match and ultimately the result. Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 7971 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 130798 messaggi Inviato June 2, 2017 JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID FINAL Saturday, June 3rd, 2017 - 8:45 p.m. CETMillennium Stadium, Cardiff (Wales) Referee: Felix Brych (Germany) B/R Experts Predict the Champions League Final http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2712998-br- experts-predict-the-champions-league-final Jun 2, 2017 Real Madrid face Juventus in the UEFA Champions League final on Saturday knowing victory will make them the first side to defend the trophy since the tournament was rebranded in the 1990s. Will Zinedine Zidane's men get the job done, or will Max Allegri's side thwart them? Our experts have been poring over the form book, and their views are below. Karl Matchett's View on Juventus vs. Real Madrid 1 OF 4 Antonio Calanni/Associated Press This should be one of the most intriguing Champions League finals in years, without the derby factor when Atletico have met Real Madrid, but still with a side with the same defensive solidity and star quality in attack in Juventus. Real won't change a thing from how they usually play; they'll look to be on the front foot without necessarily dominating possession or pressing high upfield, with most of their best work against quality opposition coming in midfield transitions and getting players forward quickly. Isco hasn't just been good enough of late to win a place—he's helped force an entirely different tactical arrangement, one that gets the best out of Cristiano Ronaldo but may leave Real vulnerable to Juve's attacks down the wings. It's plausible that the main protagonist of the game is Juan Cuadrado as an outlet for Juve, and how Real's full-backs cope defensively will determine whether they can become the first team to retain the Champions League-era trophy. Juve, for their part, must learn lessons of previous finals and not be too withdrawn, too patient or afford Real too much respect. Prediction: Juventus 2-1 Real Madrid First goalscorer: Paulo Dybala Lars Pollmann's View on Juventus vs. Real Madrid 2 OF 4 Massimo Pinca/Associated Press Famously, the UEFA Champions League crown has never been defended. Real Madrid have earned the right to attempt this feat against Juventus on Saturday, even though many would still argue Los Blancos are merely a very good side, not a historically great one. Real's road to Cardiff was much bumpier than that of the Vecchia Signora, having failed to win their group and relying on luck more than anything to get past Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals. Juventus, on the other hand, have been almost flawless in the competition this season and have their own chance at making history; Allegri's team is aiming for the first treble in the rich history of Italy's superclub. Real often struggle to control matches, even against lesser opposition, as evidenced by the number of come-from-behind wins it took Zidane's team to capture La Liga this season. Coming back against Juventus, who boast arguably the best defence in Europe, would be a daunting task. Then again, Madrid may be the one side with enough swagger about them to manage just that. The Italians will rely on their near-perfect organisation and entertain the idea of stopping Real's incredible scoring run—Los Blancos have scored in each of their past 64 matches across all competitions. Surely Gianluigi Buffon's career will not end without the legendary Juve goalkeeper hoisting the Champions League trophy. Prediction: Juventus 2-0 Real Madrid First goalscorer: Alex Sandro Adam Digby's View on Juventus vs. Real Madrid 3 OF 4 Antonio Calanni/Associated Press Juventus will take on Real Madrid knowing a victory will validate the quality of the team. They have won six consecutive Serie A titles—a feat no other Italian side has accomplished—but without a Champions League triumph. That achievement would perhaps be seen as more of an indication of the weakness of their domestic competition rather than the strength of the Bianconeri if they lose on Saturday. History is difficult to read, as Real Madrid have won just one of their past six meetings with Juve, but they also emerged victorious the last time they met in UEFA's showpiece event. That 1998 defeat was the second of four consecutive final losses for the Old Lady, a record coach Allegri and his players will be looking to end. Prediction: Juventus 2-1 Real Madrid First goalscorer: Mario Mandzukic Dean Jones' View on Juventus vs. Real Madrid 4 OF 4 Alessandra Tarantino/Associated Press It is not always the case that we have Europe's two best teams in the Champions League final, so this is a mouth-watering tie. Juventus have been the best team over the course of the season, but Real Madrid have a winning mentality that gives them something special. The amazing defence that Juve have built their season on should not be underestimated. After all, they played 180 minutes of football against Barcelona in the quarter-finals and did not concede a goal. It will be great to see Paulo Dybala on this stage. It's a fantastic opportunity for him to outshine Cristiano Ronaldo in front of a worldwide audience. But even when thinking about the brilliant back line and the Dybala goal threat, I cannot help but fancy Madrid to win this final. They are versatile. They have game-changers from the bench. They are chasing history as the first team to win this trophy in successive seasons as part of the tournament's current incarnation. I can see Zidane starting with Isco, who's deserving of his spot in the team, then bringing Gareth Bale on midway through the second half. Just imagine Bale scoring the winner in Cardiff to grab the headlines. Prediction: Juventus 1-2 Real Madrid First goalscorer: Cristiano Ronaldo Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 7971 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 130798 messaggi Inviato June 2, 2017 JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID FINAL Saturday, June 3rd, 2017 - 8:45 p.m. CETMillennium Stadium, Cardiff (Wales) Referee: Felix Brych (Germany) Padoin: 'Too much Barca respect in 2015' http://www.football-italia.net/103527/padoin-too-much-barca-respect-2015 Jun 2, 2017 Simone Padoin looks back at the last Juventus Champions League final, believing they gave Barcelona too much respect. The 33-year-old was part of the Bianconeri squad that reached the final in 2015 and were ultimately defeated by the Catalans, but has now moved on to Cagliari. "We knew that the Blaugrana were almost unbeatable, and that thought stopped us for half a game,” Padoin told La Repubblica. "We faced players that will remain in the history of football, but it was so exciting to get there. "I think back to the last week of training, all going at 2,000 KM per hour, and the incredible desire that each of us had. "Some knew that it would be the most important evening of their lives. I watched the final from the bench and it was logical that it was like this. "I saw a contracted Juve from the beginning and then came the tonic of the Morata equaliser. We kept them on a string and at certain points we believed we could win. "The problem was that we started to believe it too late. I remember the fans in front of our hotel all through the night and I remember when I passed Messi during the warm-up, there was the absolute feeling of being in contact with a creature from another world. "This time, however, they are sure that none of my former teammates will feel this way, even against Cristiano Ronaldo." Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 7971 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 130798 messaggi Inviato June 2, 2017 JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID FINAL Saturday, June 3rd, 2017 - 8:45 p.m. CETMillennium Stadium, Cardiff (Wales) Referee: Felix Brych (Germany) Ronaldo: Madrid better than Juve http://www.football-italia.net/103537/ronaldo-madrid-better-juve Jun 2, 2017 Cristiano Ronaldo believes Real Madrid “are stronger” than Juventus and hopes “it’s a tragic” Saturday night for Juventus. Madrid are considered slight favourites over Juve to win the Champions League Final, and Ronaldo is confident his side will prove they are worthy of such a tag. “How I see Saturday night going? With [Madrid] raising the cup to the heavens,” the Portuguese told Fox Sports. “I would take a bad game but see Real win the Champions League. “Juventus are an excellent team, it’ll be a balanced clash, but I’m sure Real Madrid are stronger and we only have to prove it. “I hope it’s a magical night for us and a tragic one for Juventus.” Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 7971 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 130798 messaggi Inviato June 2, 2017 JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID FINAL Saturday, June 3rd, 2017 - 8:45 p.m. CETMillennium Stadium, Cardiff (Wales) Referee: Felix Brych (Germany) Allegri: Juve need pride & heart http://www.football-italia.net/103545/allegri-juve-need-pride-heart Jun 2, 2017 Max Allegri says Juventus “must put in a performance of pride and heart” against Real Madrid in the Champions League Final. Allegri was first to take to the microphones at Juve’s Press conference for the showdown on Saturday, and he outlined what he wanted from the Bianconeri in Cardiff. “We have reached the last game of the season and it is also the most important,” the Coach told Mediaset Premium. “Over the course of these months, our conviction and self-belief have grown. The victories throughout the campaign trained us to prepare for tomorrow’s game. “It’s wonderful to be here, but we must have the belief that we can bring home the trophy against Real Madrid. It requires balance and mental strength. “We worked during the week to fix a few things, but we’re ready now. The moment the whistle blows, we must do everything to win that Cup. “Ronaldo is important, but what really counts is Juventus, who must put in a performance of pride and heart to take this trophy. “Real Madrid have great players and are well-organised, but so are we. I still have to decide between Barzagli and Cuadrado, also with an eye on extra time, which could be an issue.” Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 7971 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 130798 messaggi Inviato June 2, 2017 JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID FINAL Saturday, June 3rd, 2017 - 8:45 p.m. CETMillennium Stadium, Cardiff (Wales) Referee: Felix Brych (Germany) Buffon: No Madrid advantage http://www.football-italia.net/103546/buffon-no-madrid-advantage Jun 2, 2017 Juventus’ Gianluigi Buffon accepts Real Madrid have more experience in Champions League Finals but insists “it won’t change the balance” of Saturday’s game. Buffon has been tipped to win the Ballon d’Or if Juve win the clash in Cardiff, but the veteran goalkeeper preferred to focus on how the Bianconeri would fare. “There is the right type of tension, a good degree of concentration and the ardent desire to do something historic,” he told Mediaset Premium. “I think it’s better to consider tomorrow’s match as an important test during which every one of us must give our best. “It’s not as if Real Madrid’s history in Finals is a new development. They have had a lot of success and a great deal of confidence in these situations and that could make it easier for them, but it won’t change the balance of the game.” Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 7971 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 130798 messaggi Inviato June 2, 2017 JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID FINAL Saturday, June 3rd, 2017 - 8:45 p.m. CETMillennium Stadium, Cardiff (Wales) Referee: Felix Brych (Germany) Alves: Age doesn’t matter! http://www.football-italia.net/103547/alves-age-doesnt-matter Jun 2, 2017 Dani Alves insists Juventus’ age will not matter in the Champions League Final against Real Madrid. “We’re youngsters and we’re still having fun!” Only Alex Sandro, Miralem Pjanic, Juan Cuadrado and Claudio Marchisio are under the age of 30 in Juve’s first team, but Alves made it clear his side were raring to go in Cardiff. “It’s special to have so many great players in the Champions League Final, a game watched by the whole world. We want to make the most of this moment,” he explained. “I don’t feel any more important than the others because I’ve won it before. I came to this team in order to help them experience a dream, one that I can live again too. Every day we must write new pages of history. “I don’t think it would change much for Buffon’s career if he wins the Champions League or the Ballon d’Or. He doesn’t need this trophy to become a legend. “We’ve got one more step to make the dream come true and need to take this opportunity. “I sleep very well before a Final and I advise my teammates do the same, because we’ve got a lot of hard work to do in the evening. “I am nobody to give advice or teach, especially people who already have great experience in football and have won important trophies in their careers. “I am eternally a student, I am always learning from my teammates and that is the strength of our squad. “We united our experiences and histories, which is what convinced us we’ve got only one path forward, to combine those strengths and individual talents to be a great unit. “That is our greatest strength, the collective, and it makes us stronger than the sum of our parts. “When you look at the trajectory of my career, you can see there is success, but it doesn’t help me to think of that, because every day you have to write a new page of your history. “I don’t think that tomorrow I could be the only player with three Trebles. I am simply a player who wants to win. “In all honesty, I am not someone who thinks about himself too much. It’s a team sport, so that’s the objective. “I want to be at the same level as my teammates, as helping those around me to get even better is the challenge of my life. “That’s why I came to Juventus. I am here to fight for this great dream. “We are dreaming, but on the field we do what’s needed to take home the result and the trophy. “This match must be played to win, to celebrate with the fans and take the trophy home. Obviously we respect our opponents, but have no fear. At least, that’s my view. “Beating Real Madrid with Juventus would be the icing on the cake! We are their opponents tomorrow and they are not necessarily the favourites. “It’s Juventus-Real Madrid, not Dani Alves-Real Madrid, and a battle between two big clubs with strong players. “Juventus last won this trophy in 1998 and they say Mijatovic’s goal was offside, so the Bianconeri feel this game particularly keenly. “We will try to play without fear compared to the opponents. Without fear of Real Madrid’s pedigree. Without fear of their trophy cabinet. We will play with energy and positivity. “Stop asking about our age! We’re youngsters! We’re still having fun, our age doesn’t matter! “We have to face this moment with joy, with passion that fuels our love for this game. Don’t feel pressure or anxiety, because you don’t win with that, you win with other qualities and characteristics. “We know it’s a special match, but mustn’t change the attitude that took us to Cardiff. “We need to continue the way we’ve played so far, sweating through the shirt and crowning the work of an entire season. This is the spirit of Juventus.” Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 7971 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 130798 messaggi Inviato June 2, 2017 JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID FINAL Saturday, June 3rd, 2017 - 8:45 p.m. CETMillennium Stadium, Cardiff (Wales) Referee: Felix Brych (Germany) Max Allegri on Juventus' UCL chances: We are here to take the cup home http://www.espnfc.co.uk/juventus/story/3137966/max-allegri- on-juventus-we-are-here-to-take-the-cup-home Jun 2, 2017 Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri says his side "must" win the Champions League on Saturday night, insisting that now is their time. Allegri has guided the Bianconeri to three consecutive Serie A and Coppa Italia doubles, but all that matters to him now is crowning one of the most successful eras in the Italian club's history by clinching European football's greatest honour. "I've heard that Juve have lost finals etc., but tomorrow is the final, and we must not think of what happened 20, 50 or 100 years ago, we just need to do what we have to do to win this cup. It's very simple," Allegri said at a news conference in Cardiff. "Playing the Champions League final doesn't happen every day, and Juve have played two in the past three years -- one of them tomorrow. We're proud of that, but that's not enough. Tomorrow we have got to win. We are here to try to take the cup home. "We've arrived in the right place at the right time tomorrow. You always need a bit of luck in finals, but we have the right aggression, with great respect and humility which are qualities that have distinguished Juventus throughout its history, and above all in recent years. "We've worked all year and I think all the wins this year have been training sessions for us to get to this game, which we must win. It's a final." It is a final which could carry two trophies for Juve goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon or Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, with the winner tipped also to be voted the next Ballon d'Or winner. Buffon, 39, has not won either in his glittering career, but he says he is only focused on the one of them -- the Champions League. "As far as I'm concerned, I don't think at all about something like that because we have two completely different roles -- I purely have to defend and he has to attack, and as a consequence there is not more I can do in my game than not concede goals," Buffon said of the comparison between him and Ronaldo. "Somebody like him can determine far more, beyond scoring. Of course it's humbling that people talk about it, but it won't change my way of feeling. The Ballon d'Or would be gratifying, but it's secondary -- the only thing that counts for me today is winning tomorrow. Right now, it [Ballon d'Or] doesn't interest me. "It would give me immense joy [to win], because when you reach this stage, you know perfectly well what you have had to do to get here, and there is nothing more beautiful in life than to receive a reward for all your hard work and efforts, and nothing better than to be able to share it with your teammates. "Certainly the emotions that I can have are different to any other lad who is younger than me, like Dani [Alves], who have already won this and have another four or five years at least ahead of him. I have to exclude that, so as a result it will be a much more special game for me, but I intend to play it without having any regrets. Massimiliano Allegri and Juventus are better prepared to win the Champions League this time around. "This is imperative for me for this game and I hope I succeed because we are a really compact group, founded on selflessness. I know that a good performance of mine could help the team and this is the biggest gift I would like to give to my teammates." It would also enable him to get one over Zinedine Zidane in a major final for the second time in his career, after victory in the 2006 World Cup final. And while Buffon has paid tribute to the Frenchman's career, he says he would just have to deal with it. "The fact 11 years have gone since that final against Zidane, and now I meet him as a coach is not a surprise because he had the pedigree as a player and he has it as a coach -- that winning touch," said Juve and Italy's No. 1. "He's not won every game in his life, though, because defeats are part of life too, and I hope he will have one tomorrow because it still wouldn't take anything away from his outstanding career." While Buffon will be bidding to keep Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and either Gareth Bale or Isco out of danger at one end, it will be up to Gonzalo Higuain, Paulo Dybala and others to do the damage at the opposite end of the field. Allegri says that both are ready to step up to the plate and deliver, reiterating his belief that this is Juve's year. "Higuain has absolutely nothing to prove," Allegri said. "He's already proven he's a great player, and he's scored important goals in the Champions League, like against Monaco. When he hasn't scored, he's played great and he'll play a great game tomorrow. "Dybala has grown in terms of his character and how to prepare for games like this. He's been extraordinary this season and tomorrow he's certainly not going to suffer any pressure. "In 2015, we arrived in the final -- deserving to be there -- but we certainly didn't have the conviction we have now because that year it was a bit unexpected. This year is different. Last year, we played a great Champions League, but then you can still get knocked out in the last 16 to a team like Bayern Munich in the last minute. Juventus have grown a lot. "I live day by day and we've prepared for each game, winning the Coppa Italia, then Serie A and now we are here for this final, to end an extraordinary year, and tomorrow we need to give even more." Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 7971 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 130798 messaggi Inviato June 2, 2017 JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID FINAL Saturday, June 3rd, 2017 - 8:45 p.m. CETMillennium Stadium, Cardiff (Wales) Referee: Felix Brych (Germany) Materazzi: 'Juve deserve Treble' http://www.football-italia.net/103554/materazzi-juve-deserve-treble Jun 2, 2017 Marco Materazzi admits he “can’t cheer on Juventus, but they do deserve the Treble” and Champions League against Real Madrid. The former Inter hero knows tomorrow evening the Bianconeri could follow in his 2010 footsteps by winning Scudetto, Coppa Italia and Champions League. “Juve proved recently that they deserve the trophy more than the others,” Matrix told Mediaset Premium. “Don’t ask me to cheer on Juventus, but if they do manage it, then it would be fully deserved. “Their strengths are in their solidity: club, team, fans, everyone had this objective in their minds for a long while. They must now do what it takes to make it come true. “Gigi Buffon could win the Ballon d’Or if he takes this trophy. Otherwise it’d be a scandal, seeing as he’s deserved it for years. I hope he can get this title.” Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 7971 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 130798 messaggi Inviato June 2, 2017 JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID FINAL Saturday, June 3rd, 2017 - 8:45 p.m. CETMillennium Stadium, Cardiff (Wales) Referee: Felix Brych (Germany) Alves determined to keep Champions League promise to Buffon The Brazilian sent a text to the legendary goalkeeper when he signed at Juventus and said that he would help 'Gigi' to win the competition http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/683/main/2017/06/02/36051342/- Jun 2, 2017 Dani Alves spoke of his determination to deliver a dream Champions League title to Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon ahead of Saturday's showdown with Real Madrid. Buffon, 39, has failed to land Europe's biggest club prize in his storied career, while Alves has the experience of three Champions League triumphs - the last coming for Barcelona against Juve in 2015. Facing the media ahead of the game, Alves does not feel as though his previous experience with Madrid's Clasico rivals will be a deciding factor but spoke of the motivation he finds in helping his illustrious colleague capture the only major title to elude him. Alves said: "I don't feel more important than any of the other players because I've lived moments like this. Moments are only good for the history to write pages and pages. "Life has brought me here to this team to try and deliver a dream that for quite a long time now I've already had. Unfortunately, we haven't experienced this dream yet. "I just came to try and share this dream with them, a player as important as Gigi to not have this trophy… it would not change very much in his career as a footballer but I think it would be one more wonderful page added to his football history. "We need to use this opportunity to make sure that the dream becomes a reality and to make football history. "To win a trophy with Buffon before he retires - that would be special for me." View image on Twitter Follow OptaPaolo ✔@OptaPaolo 87% - Gigi Buffon has the highest save percentage (87%) among goalkeepers with 2+ appearances in the current Champions League. Shutter. 5:47 PM - 2 Jun 2017 4545 Retweets 4949 likes Twitter Ads info and privacy The great Buffon smiled as he sat next to Alves and later recounted an exchange between them upon the Brazilian's arrival in Turin when they began to plot a course to European glory. "I sent him a text when I heard he signed for Juventus. He's a bit like me, he's an optimist and he said: 'Yes I will help you win the Champions League'," Buffon said. "Until now he has been a revelation for me. Not as a player, we've all seen, we've all learned what he can do on a pitch. We know him as a footballer but I met him and got to know him and off the pitch there's a lot more to him than what you see on the pitch." Juventus have won the main prize just twice in eight finals, while Madrid are after their 12th European crown, but Buffon sees that as a challenge to meet head on. Buffon added: "We are confident but we also feel humble because Real Madrid has a certain feeling with finals, they are used to winning finals, we have lost quite a number of finals so perhaps it’s a good match in that sense and we are going to try and overturn our record in history." Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 7971 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 130798 messaggi Inviato June 2, 2017 JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID FINAL Saturday, June 3rd, 2017 - 8:45 p.m. CETMillennium Stadium, Cardiff (Wales) Referee: Felix Brych (Germany) Zidane: 'Juve-Real Madrid is 50-50' http://www.football-italia.net/103556/zidane-juve-real-madrid-50-50 Jun 2, 2017 Zinedine Zidane insists Real Madrid and Juventus “have a 50-50 chance” of winning the Champions League and expects “a very open, entertaining game.” The showdown is in Cardiff tomorrow night at 20.45 CET - 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT). “We are ready, we are prepared. We worked so hard to get here and won La Liga too, so we’re in a good period of form. It’s our duty now to play the Final that we earned and we’re ready for this game,” said the Coach in his Press conference. “There’s no pressure. We have always lived with his pressure as players and Coaches. You know full well what Real Madrid is like and the fact they always say we are the favourites in any Final, but that’s not the case. Nobody is the favourite here, we’ve both got a 50-50 chance of winning the trophy. “If when I was a child they’d have told me I would experience all these things as a player and a Coach, I wouldn’t have believed it. I am enjoying every moment! It’s a fantastic experience, spectacular, and we’ll see what happens. It’s wonderful being back in a Final again after last year. “I think it’s tougher for me as a Coach than the players, as there are those I won’t even ask to put on their kit, as they won’t be on the bench. It’ll be a difficult choice, I have to look to my conscience, but at the end of the day we are all in the same boat.” Gigi Buffon said Cristiano Ronaldo sets the example for everyone and he’s impressed by the Portuguese star’s constant hunger for success. “He’s a good lad who cares about everyone else, but he always wants more. He’s never sated, both in training and in a match situation. I love that desire to win, which makes him a born leader. Off the field he’s a good guy and cares about those around him. “The important thing is to give everything you’ve got. I lost many things too, as a player and a Coach. We know that we are playing against a great side and what everyone wants is to see a beautiful Final. “Juve defend very well, but that’s not their only strength. They attack very well and have always had very strong squads, this year even more so. I don’t know if it’s better than teams they had in the past, but they’ve got a lot of quality. “Naturally the midfield has a very important role. I just note that in football the most difficult thing is to score a goal and deny a goal. You can play a great game for 90 minutes and concede at the end. I can say it, because I’ve lived through it, that I played good football and didn’t score many goals. I had some important ones, but there weren’t that many!” Juventus have conceded only one goal in the six knockout games against Porto, Barcelona and Monaco, so Zidane was asked if this was attack against Catenaccio. “Actually, I believe it will be a very open game. I know the Juventus mentality and approach well. There is a style of strong defence, but Juventus are so much more than that. Trust me, it’ll be an open and entertaining game.” Gareth Bale confessed he is not 100 per cent fit after his calf strain, so will the Welshman start in Cardiff or Isco? “I won’t tell you who plays… Last week I said they could even play together. Anything could happen. The important thing is that I see they are all ready to play, not just physically, but psychologically too. What I care about is that we are all in physically good shape at the end of the season and that’s positive. You’ll see how we play tomorrow. “I think the positive thing about a game like this is that everyone is highly-motivated. You have to help create motivation at the start of a season, not ahead of a Final. “We won’t change the approach we’ve had so far. The players know they must give their all, then football is unpredictable and anything can happen. “Nothing must change. Getting to the Final was the target we set at the start of the season. Now we’ll see what happens.” Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 7971 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 130798 messaggi Inviato June 2, 2017 JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID FINAL Saturday, June 3rd, 2017 - 8:45 p.m. CETMillennium Stadium, Cardiff (Wales) Referee: Felix Brych (Germany) Marcelo ignores Dani Alves comment http://www.football-italia.net/103558/marcelo-ignores-dani-alves-comment Jun 2, 2017 Marcelo shrugged off Dani Alves comments as Real Madrid prepare to face Juventus in the Champions League Final. “We know what we’ve done and what we have to do.” The Final is in Cardiff tomorrow night at 20.45 CET - 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT). Dani Alves pointed out to Spanish papers that Juventus want revenge for the 1998 Champions League Final, when Predrag Mijatovic scored an offside goal. “It’s a Champions League Final, everyone tries to focus on other things, but we are just thinking about playing our game,” said Marcelo in his Press conference. “We know what we’ve done and what we have to do, we know the history of Real Madrid, so what Dani Alves says is of no interest to us. “It wasn’t a disadvantage that we didn’t play any official games for two weeks. We celebrated La Liga, we rested and worked hard in training. I think we’re in good shape. “We’ve got no problem whether Juventus play with three at the back or four. We trust in the Coach. He knows we support him day after day, he knows how to face Juve tomorrow. “Keylor Navas is a great goalkeeper and has improved a great deal with our coaching staff. He suffered the comparison with Iker Casillas in the first season. Hopefully tomorrow he can give us an extra hand.” Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 7971 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 130798 messaggi Inviato June 3, 2017 JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID FINAL Saturday, June 3rd, 2017 - 8:45 p.m. CETMillennium Stadium, Cardiff (Wales) Referee: Felix Brych (Germany) Juventus v Real Madrid Champions League Final Match Preview http://www.juvefc.com/juventus-v-real-madrid-champions-league-final-match-preview/ Jun 2, 2017 Juventus v Real Madrid Champions League Final – Saturday, 3rd June – 19:45 GMT – National Stadium Cardiff Juventus History is important. It explains how we reached the Now. It offers suggestion of where we went wrong, where we went right, where we could do better. Yet history offers zero value to the war we face in Cardiff, when those warriors on the front line of our shared cause step onto the battlefield and launch themselves with berserk zeal towards the enemy. However…whilst some will look back to our record in Champions League finals, our achievements, or failures when reaching the gates of Valhalla, I prefer to simply look back as far as January of this year. To when Allegri understood all too well that regardless of the slow, haphazard procession to a possible, even probable historic 6th straight league title, such was our absence of recognisable form, our inability to present the sum of our parts let alone more, required major innovation, if we were to challenge for the highest accolades. I am glad he reached for divinity. Rolled the dice. His tactical acumen, decisiveness and determination to throw his all into the new design deserves immense praise. We became more entertaining, trickier to handle and stepped up to present ourselves as one of the finest sides on the planet, perhaps of the ages. Yet despite this warranted lauding, the real test comes tomorrow. Physically, mentally and emotionally, pretty much everything which matters, we appear perfectly positioned to enter the final confident, organised and brimming with self belief. I cannot see a better position. Everything has fallen into place. Not just tactically, but with the return to the fold of not just Marchisio, but also Alves and in the case of the latter, Max has again shown superb intelligence to understand that Barzagli can cover the CB/RB position, with less pace, but more guile, allowing the Brazilian to apply his experience and technical brilliance higher up the field in place of the vastly improved, yet still prone to drooping Colombian. Sami will be key. His fitness is one of several factors I see as pivotal in the tie. Since leaving Madrid, where he felt less than respected by the fans, it is easy to suggest and suspect that this is the game he has been waiting for more than any other. Professional as he most certainly is, to produce a performance which silences those thousands, millions, who failed to support him, will be added desire and venom in his approach. Chiellini, who indeed needs a rest now and then as his body and age catch up with his gladiatorial style, is another key factor in this war of the ages. For he revels in such circumstances, and like Buffon and certainly Barzagli, Giorgio will see this game as potentially the biggest of his life. I have full faith he will step up to the mark. I want this defence to mark their names in history as one of the strongest of all time. So do they…To concede three goals, all from set pieces, in 12 CL games is an astonishing record, but it counts for nothing if we miss a step at a vital moment at the final hurdle. I really do see this game as the judge and jury over carving a niche in history as Legends, for the BBC + Santo Buffon. There are no weaknesses in our side. Yet there are defensively and between the sticks of our opponents. Allegri is more experienced, more wily and more hungry than our beloved Zizou. That is another key factor. For yes I must admit that I have been impressed with the frenchman’s progress as manager, but the lingering suspicion remains, of how he has inherited a team which on paper, is stronger than every other on the planet. He still has to manage, to encourage, to guide and yet has he truly been tested tactically? As odd as it may seem to some, my biggest fear of Real is not Bale appearing (or even starting) nor Kroos, nor that horrendously arrogant pug faced pretty boy who has assumed a position of demigod, Ronaldo, but our old friend Alvaro Morata. Yet I do not wish to tempt fate, so will leave that as a brief mention. Felix Brych will officiate, and his blood and name offer promise of solidity behind the whistle. He has no history of controversy and seems a solid choice to officiate a game wherein he will face two very different sets of trickery merchants. We are a generally fair team, yet it must be noted that defensively we have one or two prone to the classic italian proclivity of furbizia…It is the antics of the spanish side I worry more for, as their league is littered with fakery, theatrics and far more unsporting behaviour and the protection which meets it, than our side are accustomed to. Still…we have fared well enough with the officials thus far. So why worry of such things, when we have a brick by name, brick by nature to keep all in attendance honest as the forest… There is a strange sensation of time slowing, until kick off. And not just my life, but the world as a whole perched on a knife edge, paused, awaiting direction of which way to fall and then follow. Whilst I have succumbed to health concerns, babylon morphing into Hades through maulings of my snout, betrayals of those I considered literally flowing through my crimson rivers, my removal from the beastly two wheeled devil steed until next year and my growing awareness of the steady procession towards global apocalypse…there has been one leading light, which has remained bright and resplendent during this wretched storm of hail, blizzard and gale. Given the woes and traumas which I am well aware for a Gazan would seem mere trifles, yet I am in a different realm, and they matter, they debilitate in every sense and form, I have steered clear of tying myself to the Juve procession towards glory, out of fear that my own path is at odds with their success. Yet now, finally, I understand that their success has buoyed parts of me, it has sent a breeze into the sagging sails of my raft tied together with my own torn out hair, it has added vigour to the defiance in my eyes as I glare at the eye of the storm… I demand and hope and pray to the lords of the underworld, for nothing less than total commitment. If found, I will remain nervy, anxious, for every second, for every blade of grass fought for, every ball, every tackle, every movement of whistle to mouth…and the furthest I can allow my hopes and dreams to touch, to reach for, is to end the game proud of those warriors in black and white who mean so much to so many. Tomorrow, we march as One. Forza Juve TGP – (follow me on twitter here) 4-2-3-1/3-4-2-1: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Alves, Khedira, Pjanic, Sandro; Dybala, Mandzukic; Higuain. Injuries: Pjaca (knee). Real Madrid Q&A A big thank you to Ali (RM_Insider) for answering your Twitter questions – You can follow him here on Twitter 1. How do you think that Zidane will try to break down Juve’s defence? I think Zidane will try to make use of set pieces as much as possible considering that it has been this team’s strength throughout the season especially with people like Cristiano & Ramos who have frightened defences with their heading abilities. 2. Would playing Isco be an advantage or a disadvantage? Playing Isco would definitely be an advantage. With Carvajal & Marcelo in the starting XI, we’ve got our wings covered well & Cristiano could join Benzema upfront. Isco’s presence makes it easier for us to keep possession, rather than focusing on the flanks & speed when Bale plays. 3. If you could take one player out of our starting XI who would it be and why? I’d definitely take someone from the centre backs. Chiellini or Bonucci I’d say. The chemistry they have in the back & their height makes it very difficult for us especially that we’re depending on set pieces a lot like I’ve previously said. 4. What weaknesses of Juve do you think Real can exploit, and what weakness of Real do you think Juve can exploit? Real Madrid can definitely exploit Juve’s midfield and try as much as possible to win the battle in the centre of the pitch. On the other hand, Juve can focus on pissing Ramos off ! A furious Ramos makes him reckless and a red card is pretty much on the table, when he isn’t focused. 5. If Bale is fit, should he start ahead of Isco? I don’t believe so. Bale has been out most of the season and isn’t capable of playing a game of this magnitude. Bale has been Madrid’s main man in the first half of the season but his injury allowed us to benefit from Isco’s brilliance and helped us form a more cohesive team. In my opinion, even Vazquez & Asensio could have more impact on the game than Bale in his current situation. 6. Which area on the pitch do you think you’re weak or need improving? Our main issue this season I’d say was the striker position. Even though Benzema has shown glimpses of brilliance here and there throughout the season, it’s still not enough for a man like Benzema in a team like Real Madrid. Karim missed way too many chances this season which could’ve cost us a lot . Let’s hope he’s on his day on Saturday. 7. Who are Real’s weak links and how good is Casemiro orchestrating the midfield? In terms of weak links, I’d say it’s Benzema and that’s a bit of an exaggeration as there is no one player that is holding the team back. Casemiro’s presence in the starting XI is not just about orchestrating the midfield, it’s about holding it together and keeping that link between our midfield and defense. Casemiro is also a very physical player, which is something that we will definitely need against a team like Juventus. 8. Name one thing that makes you fearful of Juve and one thing that you think Juve should be fearful about Real? Juve can frighten you in so many ways and on so many levels. If it’s not Buffon, it’s their defense. If it’s not their fullbacks, it’s their strikers. Their players are never offline; regardless of how the team is doing, there’s always that one player that can pull the job off for Juve. In terms of Real Madrid, I think Juve should be afraid of their counter attacks and they better not give them the spaces that they always ask for because once they have it, you’re done. 9. Who is going be Real’s most essential/important player in the final? Based on the last few games and how Real Madrid were doing in the Champions League, I’d say Cristiano Ronaldo who has personally dragged the team into the final during this campaign. Cristiano has been doing great throughout the years at Real Madrid but this season is different as he is much more decisive than ever. 10. What would be your combined Juve/Real XI? Buffon, Carvajal, Ramos, Bonucci, Chiellini, Marcelo, Kroos, Modric, Isco, Cristiano, Dybala. 11. Which Real player has impressed you the most this season and why? It’s not secret. I’m a huge Carvajal fan boy and my jaw has been dropping every single time I watch him play. So many players have been instrumental this season but Carvajal’s presence along with Marcelo as well has been astonishing this season. 12. Prediction for the final ? Sadly, I’d say it’s a 2-1 for Juventus. Probable lineup: 4-3-1-2: Navas; Danilo, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo; Kroos, Casemiro, Modric; Isco; Ronaldo, Benzema Injuries: Carvajal Formation Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 7971 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 130798 messaggi Inviato June 3, 2017 JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID FINAL Saturday, June 3rd, 2017 - 8:45 p.m. CETMillennium Stadium, Cardiff (Wales) Referee: Felix Brych (Germany) Probable line-ups: Juve-Real Madrid http://www.football-italia.net/103568/probable-line-ups-juve-real-madrid Jun 2, 2017 Juventus are widely expected to start Andrea Barzagli, Dani Alves and Sami Khedira, while Gareth Bale is tipped to get the nod for Real Madrid. The Champions League Final in Cardiff kicks off on Saturday at 20.45 CET - 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT). Stefano Sturaro and Marko Pjaca are ruled out by injury, but the rest of the Juve squad is available for Coach Max Allegri. Most of the starting XI is already well-known, but the system is still not entirely clear. It is reported that Allegri will again drop the 4-2-3-1 formation for what is essentially a 3-4-3 with Barzagli partnering Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini in the famous BBC defence. Khedira joins Miralem Pjanic in midfield with Dani Alves and Alex Sandro in more advanced roles, leaving Juan Cuadrado on the bench. Paulo Dybala and Mario Mandzukic flank centre-forward Gonzalo Higuain. Real Madrid have practically a full squad at their disposal as they attempt to become the first club to win back-to-back editions of the Champions League. Here again, there is really only one doubt and that has to do with the fitness of Bale. The Welsh wizard would relish the opportunity to play the Final in his home city, but hasn’t played since late April due to a calf strain. He’s back in training, but by his own admission “not 100 per cent,” though Spanish papers claim Bale will start unless the medical staff rule against it. That means Isco will be on the bench, ready to come on with fresh legs later in the match. Cristiano Ronaldo completes the Merengues version of BBC with Bale and Karim Benzema. Raphael Varane was out for around two months, but played three full Liga games towards the end of the season and is fit to start. Probable line-ups Juventus (3-4-3): Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Dani Alves, Pjanic, Khedira, Alex Sandro; Dybala, Higuain, Mandzukic Real Madrid (4-3-3): Navas; Danilo, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Kroos, Casemiro, Modric; Bale, Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
