Two-goal Ronaldo fires Real to 12th European title

Monday, 5 June 2017 01:04 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

IN-4 Reuters: Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Real Madrid beat Juventus 4-1 in a memorable Champions League final full of attacking verve and brilliant goals on Saturday as the Spaniards won the title for the third time in four years and 12th in all.

Portugal forward Ronaldo hit Real’s first and third goals to become only the second man to score in three European Cup finals and take his career goal tally to 600 for club and country.

Few of those will have matched Mario Mandzukic’s spectacular overhead equaliser for Juventus, which was eventually in vain for the Italian side who had the best of the first half before being swept aside in the second.

A long-range deflected effort by Casemiro and a neat finish by the irrepressible Ronaldo within four minutes effectively settled one of the most entertaining finals for years, with a late tap-in by substitute Marco Asensio adding the gloss.

The victory means Real are the first team to successfully defend the trophy in the Champions League era. AC Milan were the last team to retain Europe’s top prize when they triumphed in 1989 and 1990.

“It’s been a spectacular year, you couldn’t dream of anything better,” said Real coach Zinedine Zidane. “We won the (Spanish) league on the very last day. It’s very difficult to reach the Champions League final two years running, but we did that.”

“The first half was difficult, but in the second we were quickly superior. We pressed a lot more and physically we won the game there too, so I’m very happy.”

IN-4.1 Real Madrid celebrate with the trophy after winning the UEFA Champions League Final - Reuters

It was heartbreak again for Juve, however, who were seeking a treble after winning the Italian league and cup. They came away as losers for the seventh time in nine European Cup finals having also lost to Barcelona in 2015.

The Italians let in more goals on Saturday than the three they had conceded in the 12 games they played to reach the final as a much-vaunted Real attack versus Juve defence scenario went emphatically in Madrid’s favour. “Again, I’ve had an amazing season,” said Ronaldo. “Me and my teammates have done the double. The numbers don’t lie. I’m very happy – an amazing season, we’ve won trophies.

“This is one of the best moments of my career – I have the chance to say this every year.”