Emotional farewell as Buffon calls it a day
Gianluigi Buffon bade an emotional farewell to Juventus as the veteran goalkeeper marked his 640th and last Serie A appearance with another victory.
Buffon, who announced on Thursday he would be ending his 17-year spell with the Turin giants, helped the champions finish the season with a 2-1 win over relegated Hellas Verona. Juventus had already wrapped up a seventh straight title, so this game was an opportunity to pay tribute to their departing captain.
And he was already off the pitch by the time Verona got their consolation goal after efforts from Daniele Rugani and Miralem Pjanic had put the hosts in charge.
He left the pitch for the final time as a Juventus player after being substituted in the 63rd minute, embracing teammates, staff and opponents alike as he made his way to the touchline. There were plenty of tears in the crowd as Juve supporters said goodbye to one of the finest goalkeepers the gamehaseverseen.
The tears had been there at the start too. Buffon was accompanied by his three sons as he led out the team at the Allianz Stadium and greeted emotional Juve supporters in the crowd ahead of kick-off, the fans eager to say their own goodbyes to their departing idol. Banners saluting the 40-year-old were scattered throughout the stadium, including a huge picture of the goalkeeper.
Niko Kovac left Eintracht Frankfurt the perfect parting gift with victory against his future employers Bayern Munich in the Dfb-pokal final.
Kovac delivered the cup, and with it European football next season, in his final game in charge before replacing Jupp Heynckes as Bayern boss this summer as Frankfurt won 3-1 in Berlin. Ante Rebic scored either side of Robert Lewandowski’s equaliser.
With Bayern pressing for an equaliser, Frankfurt launched a counter-attack and substitute Mijat Gacinovic raced clear of two opponents to roll the ball into an empty net. In La Liga, Real Madrid squandered a two-goal lead at Villarreal.
Gareth Bale put Madrid in front after 11 minutes, and Cristiano Ronaldo made it 2-0 on 32 minutes.
Roger Martinez pulled one back for the hosts on 70 minutes and, with five minutes remaining, Samu Castillejo struck to win a point for the Yellow Submarine – which means Real finish third in the table behind champions Juventus and Atletico Madrid.