Juventus head coach Massimiliano Allegri, left, and his Real Madrid counterpart Zinedine Zidane. File photo: Getty ImagesCardiff: Spanish football giants Real Madrid will hope to become the first team in history to win the Champions League in successive seasons while Juventus will expect their watertight defense to stand tall against their vaunted rivals when the two sides meet in the final at the Millennium Stadium here on Saturday.
The two sides who have won their respective domestic leagues -- the Spanish La Liga (Real Madrid) and Italian Serie A (Juventus) -- have been in rampaging form going into the final and on Saturday it will be a battle between Real's attack and Juve's defense.
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As far as Real's record is concerned, Arrigo Sacchi's AC Milan side were the last to be crowned European champions for a second year running in 1990, but since the competition morphed into the Champions League that feat has proved beyond even the most expensively assembled teams.
It will also be homecoming for Real's Welsh winger Gareth Bale who, if deemed fit to play, will strut his stuff in front of his own people.
Cristiano Ronaldo, whose lust for goals has taken Real to within touching distance of a 12th European title after they took their 11th a year ago by beating Atletico Madrid, will be at the centerstage yet again.
Crowned La Liga champions for the first time since 2012 last week, Real are the favorites after banging in 32 goals in 12 games in the competition this season.
Ronaldo has scored 10 of them, and two more in the final would see him move above Barcelona's Lionel Messi to top this season's Champions League scoring chart.
"Too much humility isn't good. We have to prove our character and who is the best," Ronaldo was quoted as saying as he eyed a third Champions League crown with Real. He has previously won the Champions League with Manchester United in 2008.
"The final is won by scoring goals. I have the feeling that we are going to play a great game and we are going to win," Ronaldo said.
Impeccable defense
Coming to Juve, the Serie A title winners have been unbeaten in Europe this season and are going to their second final in three years having conceded only three goals.
While the Italian outfit have the likes of Paulo Dybala, Mario Mandzukic and Gonzalo Higuain in attack, it is their backline that has caused a lot of trouble to top teams, most recently FC Barcelona to whom they lost in the 2015 Champions League final.
Barcelona defender Gerard Pique described their defense as a "mountain" after their quarterfinal loss.
This will perhaps be Juve legendary goalkeeper and skipper Gianluigi Buffon's last shot at a Champions League winners' medal to add to his glittering array of silverware after twice suffering heartache in the final.
At the age of 39 Buffon, a 2006 World Cup-winner with Italy for whom he still is the first-choice keeper, will want to end his club's 21-year wait for the title.
Real coach Zinedine Zidane, once a Champions League runner-up with Juve, contriving to break the hearts of those who once idolized him, will have to take a call whether Bale or Isco would play, but the latter looks to be ahead as Bale is yet to fully recover from the ankle ligament injury he incurred in November.
Overall, a mouthwatering contest awaits football fans as two in-form teams who have been consistent throughout the season lock horns for the most wanted crown in European club football.
