SPORT 16 SATURDAY 3 JUNE 2017 Real, Juventus in Cardiff showdown Cardiff Cristiano Ronaldo IANS (centre) and Marcelo Juve must be 'fiendish': Allegri (right) of Real Madrid panish football giants arrive at Cardiff Airport Real Madrid will hope ahead of the UEFA Cardiff and deserved it but perhaps we to become the first Champions League Reuters didn’t feel confident enough team in history to win final against Juventus. because we had come out of a the Champions League uventus coach Massimiliano number of years of struggling in Sin successive seasons while Allegri (pictured) says his the Champions League. We Juventus will expect their water- Jteam need to be "fiendish" to didn’t expect to win but now it tight defence to stand tall against beat Real Madrid in today's is different," Allegri added. their vaunted rivals when the Champions League final. Allegri declined to give any two sides meet in the final here Allegri, whose side are play- information on his team selec- at the Millennium Stadium ing in their second final in three tion, saying he had yet to make today. seasons after losing to Barcelona up his mind but would factor in The feted sides who have in 2015, admitted that Real start the risk of the game going to won their respective domestic as favourites but believes Juve strike when Real offer us an extra-time. leagues - the Spanish La Liga are capable of pulling off a opening," he added. Juventus have appeared in (Real Madrid) and Italian Serie surprise. Allegri said his team had eight European Cup/Champions A (Juventus) - have been in ram- "We have worked hard all matured since that loss to Bar- League finals but have only paging form going into the final year and the wins this season celona and now had greater twice emerged victorious. and on Saturday it will be a bat- have been all about reaching this self-confidence. "Tomorrow (today) stats tle between Real's attack and game. But on Saturday we need "Two finals in three years is don’t count, its a one game final, Juve's defence. to win and we need to under- an important step but it is not we need belief in our ability and As far as Real's record is stand when will be the moments enough," he said. play better than Real," Allegri concerned, Arrigo Sacchi's AC to attack and when to defend," "We have to win and we said. Milan side were the last to be Allegri told a news conference must be tough, technically and "Yes, Juve have played eight crowned European champions yesterday. tactically. We aren't here to visit finals and lost six but that just for a second year running in "We have to have the belief Cardiff - we came here to win shows that in a final anything 1990, but since the competition that we can bring that Cup home and take that trophy back home. can happen," added the former morphed into the Champions and we have to be fiendish to "In 2015 we got to the final AC Milan coach. League that feat has proved beyond even the most expen- sively assembled teams. EUFA Champions HOW THEY REACHED It will also be homecoming League Final for Real's Welsh winger Gareth Buffon eyes THE FINAL Bale who, if deemed fit to play, Real Madrid hoping to will strut his stuff in front of his become the first team JUVENTUS (ITA) own people. in history to win the final 'fairytale' Centre stage, as he so often Champions League in GROUP H is, will be Cristiano Ronaldo, successive seasons. Juventus (Qualified) whose lust for goals has taken Sevilla (Qualified) Real to within touching distance Legendary Juventus Cardiff of a 12th European title after goalkeeper and AFP ROUND OF 16 they took their 11th a year ago Porto 0 Juventus 2 skipper Gianluigi by beating Atletico Madrid. eteran Juventus goalkeeper Juventus 1 Porto 0 Buffon takes his last Crowned La Liga champi- Gianluigi Buffon says today's Juventus won 3-0 on aggregate ons for the first time since 2012 shot at a Champions Champions League final League medal to add V last week, Real are the favour- against Real Madrid will have "spe- QUARTER-FINALS ites after banging in 32 goals in to his glittering array cial" personal significance as he Juventus 3 Barcelona 0 12 games in the competition this of silverware. approaches the end of his storied Barcelona 0 Juventus 0 season.Ronaldo has scored 10 career. Juventus won 3-0 on aggregate of them, and two more in the This will perhaps be Juve A world champion with Italy in final would see him move above legendary goalkeeper and skip- 2006 and eight-time Serie A win- SEMI-FINALS Barcelona's Lionel Messi to top per Gianluigi Buffon's last shot ner with Juventus, Buffon finished Monaco 0 Juventus 2 this season's Champions League at a Champions League medal on the losing side in his two previ- Juventus 2 Monaco 1 scoring chart. to add to his glittering array of ous Champions League finals in Juventus won 4-1 on aggregate "Too much humility isn't silverware after twice suffering 2003 and 2015. good. We have to prove our char- heartache in the final. Now 39, he may never get a bet- acter and who is the best," At the age of 39 Buffon, a ter opportunity to claim Europe's REAL MADRID (ESP) Ronaldo was quoted as saying as 2006 World Cup winner with biggest prize and he concedes it is a GROUP F he eyed a third Champions Italy for whom he still is the source of extra motivation. Borussia Dortmund (Qualified) League crown with Real. He has first-choice keeper, will want to "Probably the emotions I might Real Madrid (Qualified) previously won the Champions end his club's 21-year wait for feel might be different to any other League with Man United in 2008. the elusive title. guy who's younger, like Dani (Alves)," ROUND OF 16 Coming to Juve, the Serie A Real coach Zinedine Zidane, said Buffon, gesturing to his team- Real Madrid 3 Napoli 1 title winners have been once a Champions League run- mate, who was sitting beside him at Napoli 1 Real Madrid 3 unbeaten in Europe this season ner-up with Juve, contriving to Friday's pre-game press conference Real Madrid won 6-2 on and are going to their second break the hearts of those who in Cardiff. aggregate final in three years having con- once idolised him, will have to "Dani has already won this com- ceded only three goals. take a call whether Bale or Isco petition and he has four or five years QUARTER-FINALS While the Italian outfit have would play but the latter looks ahead in his career. I have to rule out Bayern Munich 1 Real Madrid 2 the likes of Paulo Dybala, Mario to be ahead as Bale is yet to fully this possibility, so yes, it will be much Real Madrid 4 Bayern Munich 2 Mandzukic and Gonzalo Higuain recover from the ankle ligament more special for me. (after extra time) in attack, it is their backline that injury he incurred in "I still feel like a young boy, even Real Madrid won 6-3 on Juventus' Italian goalkeeper has caused a lot of trouble to top November. though I'm 39 years old. Tomorrow's aggregate Gianluigi Buffon takes part teams, most recently FC Barce- Overall, a mouthwatering match is very important to me. lona to whom they lost in the contest awaits football fans as in a training session at The "People think about my very long SEMI-FINALS 2015 Champions League final. two in-form teams who have Principality Stadium in Cardiff career. I've played for Juventus for Real Madrid 3 Atletico Madrid 0 Barcelona defender Gerard been consistent throughout the yesterday, on the eve of the many, many years. I've got back Atletico Madrid 2 Real Madrid 1 Pique described their defence season lock horns for the most UEFA Champions League final more than I gave. It would be the Real Madrid won 4-2 on as a "mountain" after their quar- wanted crown in European club against Real Madrid. perfect finale and people like aggregate ter-final loss. football. fairytales." Champions Trophy: Pride and prejudice as India, Pakistan clash New Delhi "Don't win the Champions played a bilateral series since excited. It is something like in a tough group also includ- there's no surprise because of AFP Trophy, but just beat Pakistan 2012-2013. England-Australia. Nobody ing Sri Lanka and South Africa. videos and all, but yes playing and we will give you a grand The turbulent history wants to lose to the other," But Pakistan have won two (against) new bowlers you ndia have far more at stake welcome back home," Indian places great pressure on Kohli Chauhan, now sports minister of their three Champions Tro- don't know what magic deliv- in tomorrow's Champions fan Aman Sood said yesterday, in Sunday's clash. A victory is in India's northern Uttar phy showdowns against India, ery they have," Gavaskar said ITrophy match against arch- summing up the high-stakes vital not just for diplomatic Pradesh state, said. ratcheting up the pressure on at the Aaj Tak Salaam cricket rivals Pakistan than launching contest. point-scoring but potentially "Every player wants to do the tournament's defending convention in London. their title defence -- even if Their few encounters are securing a berth in the semi his best against Pakistan and champions.