Three keys to Real Madrid repeating as Champions League winners

Casemiro and the back four need to be in sync and mistake free

This might be a bit of a stretch considering both Casemiro and Sergio Ramos’ track record in receiving yellow cards and sometimes having mental lapses (the two combined for 22 yellow cards in La Liga and Champions League play this season) but I don’t think it’s too much to ask for in the Champions League Final.

This Juventus attack might be the most lethal Los Blancos have faced in any competition this season with former Real striker Gonzalo Higuaín playing well, Paulo Dybala making outstanding runs and scoring great goals, and the constant threat of the veteran Mario Mandžukić. Not to mention the speed of Juan Cuadrado who can play anywhere in the midfield or as a forward.

In order to suppress the attack from Juve, all four Real Madrid defenders, and the center defensive midfielder Casemiro need to communicate and keep their shape.

Zidane will no doubt be happy to have Dani Carvajal available after the right-back missed the last month with a leg injury, but, the French manager will need to make sure his full backs, Carvajal and Marcelo, don’t push too far down the wings while on the attack, as Juventus could quickly hit back on the counter-attack.

It will be interesting to see who Zidane picks to play center back alongside Ramos; will it be the veteran Pepe in possibly his last match in a Real uniform? Or will it be the younger Raphael Varane?