The Mental Reaction As Gigi Buffon's Great Fairytale Became A Tragedy

A serene Massimiliano Allegri stood placidly on the sideline in a typically well-fitted Italian suit. An acrobatic Gianluigi Buffon leaped heroicly around his goalmouth in a foreshadowing all-black kit. The Old Lady marched into the Spanish capital and looked likely to clinch one of the most remarkable comebacks of the year, just one night after what was the most remarkable. It seemed as if it was meant to be.

For 92 minutes and 30 seconds, a 40-year-old Gigi Buffon exhibited gusto of a man 20 years his inferior in a bid to fore adjourn his Champions League farewell. That passion proved his downfall when he marched towards Michael Oliver with the conviction of a man determined to right a grave injustice. In doing he made contact with the referee and that was the end.

Maybe this was the way it was meant to be. Juventus went down but they went down fighting and Buffon epitomised that. It was stubborn refusal to accept reality, whether that be the tall prospect of overturning the European Champions at home or an obvious penalty at the death.

It was pure, unfiltered emotion. The kind of thing we usually praise Buffon for. Tonight it's visceral manifestation ensured his departure, and a fairytale became a tragedy.

SEE ALSO: Watch: Buffon Sent-Off As Cristiano Ronaldo Sends Madrid Through