On, to Cardiff, where Juventus await.
It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t even a win. But it was enough.
With a 4-2 aggregate scoreline, Madrid got the best of their neighbors, and secured passage beyond the semifinals.
In so doing, Real Madrid have now booked their ticket to their second consecutive Champions League final.
The Champions League final is now set! pic.twitter.com/64t2WlIlIt
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 10, 2017
There, they will face off against Juventus in an attempt to become the first ever team to repeat Champions League victories since the invention of the modern UCL tournament. Manchester United were the last ones to come close, losing to Barcelona in 2009.
2 #UCL campaigns, 2 finals for Zidane.@RealMadrid 1st holders to return to final since 2009 @ManUtd.
— MARCA in English (@MARCAinENGLISH) May 10, 2017
LIVE BLOG: https://t.co/QVVvTxtOn0 pic.twitter.com/nrEU3aFYdM
If anyone can pull off back-to-back UCL victories, it’s Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid. The depth that Zidane has in his squad has allowed him to keep crucial players fresh for the Champions League while still fighting to try to win La Liga. Thus far, Madrid’s strategy of keeping their powder dry for big matches has made them look fresh in the late stages of games.
The final is set for June 3rd in Cardiff, Wales. The location adds an interesting twist to the plot line. Gareth Bale will certainly be hoping to recover from his injury as Madrid travels to his homeland.
How cruel will it be if Real Madrid make it to Cardiff and Gareth Bale has to watch from the stands? #ChampionsLeagueFinal
— The Real Champs (@TheRealChampsFS) May 10, 2017
Standing in their way? A Juventus side boasting one of the strongest defenses in Europe.
Juventus. 6 straight Champions League clean sheets, shutting out Barcelona, now Monaco. Best Defense since... pic.twitter.com/94ouErL1wF
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) May 3, 2017
Neutrals are probably all cheering for Juventus to win. That would allow crowd-pleaser Gianluigi Buffon to lift his first ever Champions League trophy. However, Real Madrid will be looking to spoil the party, so that they can make history as the first repeat champions.
Juventus are masters at keeping clean sheets in the Champions League. Real Madrid haven’t been stopped from scoring since Manchester City in last year’s semifinals, over 61 consecutive matches.
It’s getting cliché to say now. However, it truly is the unstoppable force meeting the immovable object.
Madrid now have to turn their concentration to La Liga. There, they will be playing two matches a week. Zidane will be hoping that Bale and Carvajal can use that time to get healthy to be ready for the final.
Fortunately, Zidane’s squad is deep enough to keep fighting for trophies on two different fronts.