Real Madrid, Juve set Cardiff on fire

The 2016-17 Uefa Champions League final pits the season’s top scorers, holders Real Madrid, against a Juventus side, who have conceded just three goals en route to Cardiff.

Both clubs have plenty of recent final experience to draw from. Defending champions Madrid – bidding to become the first team to retain the trophy in the Uefa Champions League era – are in a third final in four years, having beaten city rivals Club Atlético de Madrid in both 2014 and 2016; Juventus, meanwhile, lost to FC Barcelona in the 2015 showpiece.

This match is a repeat of the 1998 final in Amsterdam, won 1-0 by Real Madrid against a Juventus side featuring current Merengues coach Zinédine Zidane. That gave the Spaniards the seventh of their record 11 European Cups.

Juve have won the trophy twice, in 1985 and 1996, but have lost in the final six times – more than any other club.
Juventus have won nine and drawn three of their 12 games in this season’s competition, and are seeking to become the first team to lift the trophy unbeaten since Manchester United FC in 2007-08. United were the sixth club to win the Uefa Champions League without losing a match.

Madrid and Juve will both be competing in their sixth Uefa Champions League final, equalling AC Milan’s record.

Madrid have won all five of their Uefa Champions League finals, a record number of wins, while Juve have lost the fixture more times than any other club – four. Indeed, their only victory was on penalties – against AFC Ajax in 1996.

Real Madrid have won a record 11 European Cups, and have triumphed in their last five finals. Overall their final record is W11 L3, while this is a ninth European Cup final appearance for Juventus, who have lost their last four. Overall their record is W2 L6:

The 2015 defeat by Barcelona in Berlin was Juve’s sixth final reversal – setting an unwanted new record. They had previously been level with FC Bayern München and SL Benfica on five final losses.
Gianluigi Buffon is the sole survivor of Juventus’ 2003 final appearance in their 2016-17 squad.