In a gripping final , Real took the lead when Ronaldo finished off a flowing counter -
attack ( 20 ) but Juventus hit back seven minutes later through a skilful overhead kick from Mario Mandzukic that will go down in history as one the greatest goals in Champions League history .
Casemiro fired Zinedine Zidane ’ s side into the lead on 61 minutes and Ronaldo – who now has 600 goals for club and country – struck again three minutes later , before Marco Asensio wrapped up a convincing victory in stoppage time to seal a historic 12 th European major title for Real.
Juve, who had substitute Juan Cuadrado sent off for two yellow cards late on , have now suffered a fifth straight defeat in the showpiece European final ( 1997 , 1998 , 2003 , 2015 , 2017 ) but victory for the La Liga giants means they have become the first side to defend the Champions League since its revamp in 1992 .
This fixture matched up a well -drilled Juventus defence that had conceded just three goals in this season ’s competition against a ruthless Real attacking outfit that scored in all of their 12 Champions League matches this season .
Gareth Bale was deemed only fit enough for a place on the bench as Zidane made just one change from their La Liga win on the final day of the season , Dani Carvajal starting over Danilo at right- back .
Massimiliano Allegri’ s side showed no signs of nerves as they tested Keylor Navas with two early efforts inside six minutes with Gonzalo Higuain , who had never scored in a major final , and Miralem Pjanic firing efforts that were dealt with by Navas.
Juventus looked comfortable while Real were struggling to put their stamp on the game . That all changed on 20 minutes when a clinical finish from a familiar source swung the final in their favour.
Ronaldo had netted three goals in four competitive matches at the Principality Stadium — all with Manchester United — and added another to that tally with a crisp strike following a flowing counter -attack down the right flank.
Carvajal cut the ball back into his path and the record-breaking striker fired a low effort into the bottom corner that took a slight deflection off Leonardo Bonucci .
But Juve drew level seven minutes later through Mandzukic , and it was one to remember . Higuain knocked the ball to his teammate, who had his back to goal , about 15 yards out. After taking a touch, he cleverly hooked an effort towards the far corner which looped into the top corner .
Juventus continued to play the better football, although they failed to test Navas with any meaningful efforts . Both teams were threatening to cancel each other out and the game needed a spark .
It came from an unlikely source on 61 minutes .
Casemiro , known for tough tackling and breaking up play rather than match- winning goals, smacked an effort at goal from 25 yards and though it was not particularly well struck , the direction of the ball completely changed when it struck the heel of Sami Khedira . The spin deceived Buffon and the ball ended up swerving into the bottom corner .
Juve would have been forgiven for thinking that it may not be their night but things got a whole lot worse three minutes later .
Mandzukic was too slow to react a pass deep inside his own half and Modric made a clever run down the right flank, digging a cross out from the byline that allowed Ronaldo to nip in at the near post and flick past Buffon .
That completely deflated Allegri’ s men and Cuadrado summed up their frustrations by picking up two needless yellow cards within five minutes of being sent on .
Bale was introduced for the closing stages to give some of the locals a glimpse of their hero , but it was another substitute , Asensio , that grabbed the fourth goal after some brilliant work by Marcelo , Zidane ’s side becoming the first side to retain the trophy for 27 years .
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