Ronaldo back to break new ground at Champions League final
CARDIFF, Wales: When Cristiano Ronaldo runs onto the field at the Millennium Stadium, he’ll being trying to break new ground on some familiar territory.
In the Champions League era, which started in 1992-93, no team has ever managed to defend its title. Madrid will get that chance on Saturday against Juventus, and Ronaldo will be leading the way.
The 32-year-old Portugal winger will be playing in the Champions League final for the fifth time in nine years. He has won twice already with Madrid, and once with Manchester United.
The conditions this time will be a little different. The match will be played under a roof for the first time because of fears of a drone attack. But Ronaldo even has experience with that.
The world player of the year was a regular visitor to the stadium in Cardiff during his Manchester United career. At that time, with Wembley Stadium under construction, English soccer played its big matches in Wales. One of those matches, however, won’t be a pleasant memory.
The 2005 FA Cup final, which was played under cover, is the only one of Ronaldo’s four visits with United that he didn’t score and the team didn’t win.
It was a rare setback in a career that continues to deliver, even as he has had to increasingly accept being on the sidelines to stay fresh for the big occasions. It’s hard to argue because Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane’s squad rotation system has netted Madrid the Spanish league title and yet another Champions League final.
“Obviously what I want the most is to play more freely up front,” Ronaldo said, “and that is the opportunity Zinedine Zidane has been giving me as a No. 9. I play freely. I play on the wing, down the middle. I play whenever I think I should.”
Ronaldo, however, is unlikely to find much freedom against Juventus, a team with one of the best defenses in soccer. In 12 European games this season, Juventus has only conceded three goals and is looking to become the first undefeated champion since Manchester United in 2008.
At the heart of that Juventus defense is a guy looking to become the oldest Champions League winner: 39-year-old goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. A European title is the one major prize to elude the Italian in an illustrious career that has seen him lose two Champions League finals.
The club is also craving another European title. Juventus won the last of its two titles in 1996, while Madrid has won five since then to increase its record to 11 in the competition.