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The Champions League Final Player Ratings As Real Madrid Outclass Juventus

Mikey Traynor
By Mikey Traynor
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All eyes were on Cardiff as Juventus aimed to earn Gigi Buffon the Champions League title that his career deserves, while Zinedine Zidane was aiming to guide Real Madrid to becoming the first side to defend the trophy in it's current format.

This was one of the more eagerly anticipated finals in recent memory as both sides had claimed their own league title and looked in superb form throughout the competition.. And it delivered.

A wonderful first half saw Real Madrid take the lead as Cristiano Ronaldo scored in his third Champions League final, before Mario Mandzukic stunned the world with an utterly outrageous goal to draw level.

The Black Eyed Peas:

Will.I.Am - 0

The Black Eyed Peas were always going to struggle without Fergie, but I don't think anybody expected the performance to be quite that bad, and their spiritual leader Will.I.Am played a large part in that. He barely rapped a full bar, often electing to skip the final word of a sentence in favour of taking in oxygen. Amateur.

apl.de.ap - 0

Historically the weakest member of the group, the shiteness of Will.I.Am gave Apple Dee a chance to own the limelight, but, much like Will.I.Am, he was also shite. Short of breath for the most part, questions will have to be asked about his fitness for the final.

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Taboo - 0

The third of a trio of gobshites, Taboo offered nothing, and was a passenger throughout as he elected to say his lyrics loudly rather than offer any sort of musical effort. Looked the least stupid of all three on stage, but that's not enough to earn him a single rating point as he still looked stupid/

Juventus:

Gigi Buffon - 7

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Nothing he could do about any of the Real Madrid goals, he did what he could and was all class at the final whistle, as expected.

Andrea Barzagli - 5

Made one stupidly good tackle on Isco early in the second half, but was targeted at the right of Juve's back three and struggled throughout.

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Giogio Chiellini - 5

Another member of that back three who was disappointing on the night, Chiellini did not offer the commanding presence at the back that he usually does as Juve lost their grip on the game.

Leonardo Bonucci - 6

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A good first half, but a poor second half was the story of the team as a whole, but Bonucci was another who looked lost when Real kicked it up a gear in the second half.

Dani Alves - 6

A really good start with some flashes of brilliance, the Brazilian could not influence the game as he had done in previous rounds and much like the rest of his teammates looked exhausted after 60 minutes/

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Alex Sandro - 6

His touch in the build up to Mandzukic's goal was nearly enough to get a 9 all by itself, but Sandro's performance would not last the full 90, much like Juve as a whole. He looked tired and frustrated in the second half as he put in a few rash challenges.

Miralem Pjanic - 4

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The Bosnian has all the tools to be the best midfielder in the world, but as his own club president recently admitted, when one or two things go wrong for Pjanic he goes under. Did not react well to the first Madrid goal and never managed to recover as he was outplayed in midfield.

Sami Khedira - 5

Made a decent start but tired quickly and was run ragged in the second half. Not quite the donkey Eamon Dunphy labelled him earlier in the competition but did not show up in Cardiff.

Mario Mandzukic - 7

Will go down in history having scored one of the greatest ever European Cup goals, and made Eamon Dunphy look like even more of an eejit for having called him a donkey earlier in the competition. The reality is the Croat has been working his arse off out of position for Allegri all season, and he did the same in the Champions League final, although he faded badly and was given a bump in his score for that goal alone.

Paulo Dybala - 5

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After a fantastic season, the Champions League final was not Dybala's night. His attitude after Real Madrid went ahead was worrying as he was throwing his arms about when moves broke down, but even after the team got back into the game, Dybala had very little influence.

Gonzalo Higuain - 6

Anybody who played 'Red Ass' as a youngster should appreciate his assist for Mandzukic's goal, but aside from that Higuain put in a tireless effort up front despite going large parts of the game without decent service.

SUB: Juan Cuadrado - 0

Came on the pitch and kicked Ronaldo immediately, then sent off for a petulant stamp on Ramos. Embarrassing.

Real Madrid:

Keylor Navas - 7

Nothing he could do about the Juve goal, as having seen it countless times the only way he could have stopped it was if he were a few inches taller. Elsewhere was faultless, and Real Madrid would be very harsh to cast him aside for David De Gea in the summer as many believe they wish to do.

Dani Carvajal - 7

A pest going forward and busy at the back, the Spaniard was the standout from Real's back four as he involved himself in everything.

Sergio Ramos - 6

Some would have expected more of an influence if Real Madrid were going to win, but Ramos went about his job quietly and effectively, and was pretty much given the second half off.

Raphael Varane - 6

Did his job well when needed, but honestly could have been given the second half off and wasn't that busy in the first. Solid.

Marcelo - 6

One of the most technically gifted players ever to ply his trade as a left-back, Marcelo was much improved in the second half as he naturally was more comfortable in a side on the front foot.

Casemiro - 7

The manner in which he went from scolding Dani Alves for playacting to thumping a shot on goal in seconds was almost Wayne Rooney vs Newcastle-esque, but he was very fortunate to see it hit the back of the net. Has become such an important player for Zidane's Madrid and put in another solid display in Cardiff.

Luka Modric - 8

After a disappointing first half, Luka turned it on in the second and as a result, Real took a foothold in the game. His assist for Ronaldo's second was superb, and the Croatian is a player that is priceless to this team. Had his way with Juventus in the second 45.

Toni Kroos - 6

Took a backseat to Casemiro and Modric on the night but was still a big part in the midfield pressure that proved too much for the Italians after half-time.

Isco - 6

With so much talk over whether he would start over Bale, the fact was that he deserved to because he had been excellent since coming into the side. The Champions League final was not his night however, as while he wasn't bad, he wasn't as exciting as many had hoped and the game seemed to pass him by somewhat.

Karim Benzema - 6

This was such a typical Karim Benzema performance as he quietly did his part without stealing the headlines. His value to Real Madrid is not in the goals he scores, but in how he occupies opposition defenders and brings his teammates into play. He did both well in Cardiff.

Cristiano Ronaldo - 9

What more do you want from the man?

He's there to score goals and win matches, so he scored goals and wins matches. A predator, and a ruthless one at that.

SUB: Marco Asensio - 8

On the pitch only a few minutes and managed to bag himself a Champions League final goal. Ansenio is a classy footballer and will play a big role for Madrid over the next few season.

 

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