APRIL 11, 2018: The writing is on the wall. Juventus arrive in Madrid, the home of the reigning European kings, with a three goal deficit to overcome from the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals. All signs, including a giant banner of a great white shark unfurled by the home fans at the Santiago Bernabeu, point to a comfortable evening for Real Madrid. Juventus have their backs to the wall, needing nothing short of a miracle to change the course of their approaching destiny, but the dogged Italian champions have not learnt to give up.
A breathless beginning
Guilty of starting games slowly in the past, Real aim to kick things off with intent. The first turnover of possession in the middle of the park goes the visitors’ way, and Douglas Costa drives upfield with some menace before playing in Sami Khedira on the right wing. Khedira, formerly of Real, wastes no time in surveying the familiar setting and floats an enticing cross towards the far post where the ever-ready Mario Mandzukic meets the ball, guiding a header on goal from five yards out. Just like that, it is 1-0 to Juventus. The road to recovery is underway even though Real have barely begun.
The old lady calls the shots
Shots are flying in at both ends, but neither side can find the requisite ruthlessness at the key moment. Real’s left channel is exposed once more, as Stephan Lichtsteiner curls in a cross and finds the reliable head of Mandzukic. The Croat repeats his finishing efficiency and Juventus are two goals to the good. The teams go in at half-time with everything to play for.
Close to the hour mark, Costa’s regulation cross is not collected cleanly by Navas whose clumsy handling presents the ball to an incredulous Blaise Matuidi, with an open goal at the latter’s mercy. Matuidi gleefully gobbles up a belated Easter present, and rewrites the record books on behalf of Juventus. The historic comeback is complete. A shell-shocked Real are down by three goals, and this enthralling tie is back in the balance.
A controversial climax
Right at the death with the game having entered stoppage time, Mehdi Benatia has been adjudged by referee Michael Oliver to have fouled Real’s Vazquez in the box, penalty to Real Madrid. Replays show that the decision is anything but definitive, but the only verdict that matters is the one announced by the English official.
To add insult to Juve’s injury, an incensed Buffon is sent off for protesting the penalty call. The celebrated calmness of the Italian unit has dissipated, as substitute shot-stopper Wojciech Szczesny comes on with a singular mission — save the spot-kick and take the match to extra time.
Cristiano Ronaldo has had a quiet game, and yet, here is his cue to write the next morning’s headlines. So often remembered for the spectacular, a true champion’s calling also involves delivering the ostensibly simple — slot a penalty into the back of the net from 12 yards. Should Ronaldo miss, Juve could capitalise on the shift in momentum to regain control; should he score, it is game over. With ice running through his veins, Ronaldo picks out the top-right corner of the net to deposit his kick, well beyond the desperate dive of Szczesny. Real Madrid have won the tie; Cristiano has, yet again, come up clutch.
An unprecedented hat-trick
Following the demise of Juventus at the death, Real proceed to clinch a third consecutive Champions League crown, the first team ever to do so in the revamped era of European football. For Juventus, the European dream continues to drift away, even after roping in the man who conquered them in 2018. Ronaldo’s switch to Juventus in the summer of 2018 proves insufficient a year later, as Juve bow out to Ajax, the same buccaneering bunch that ousted a Ronaldo-less Real from the Champions League’s first knockout round in 2019.
Irrespective of when and where the current edition of the Champions League resumes, the regal status of Real Madrid and Juventus are in no danger of being downgraded anytime soon. These two timeless institutions of the beautiful game will remain in contention for the top prize for the foreseeable future, during which- were the footballing gods to permit — a rematch of the 2018 showpiece may well be in order, further embellishing the compelling legacy of this illustrious rivalry.
