Real Madrid 1 Juventus 1 (Juventus win 3-2 on aggregate). What now for Gareth Bale? The Real Madrid winger was the target yet more abuse from the Bernabeu crowd as he fluffed two chances to save his side's season but failed as Real Madrid's defence of their Champions League crown came to an end against Italian side Juventus.
Bale's position in Madrid is looking increasingly fragile after a dire showing in the first leg and some less-than-helpful comments from his agent. But all that would have been forgotten if he had saved Los Blancos last night. His performance "could easily have been a heroic one", says the BBC, but "his failure to take the opportunity to turn around his underwhelming season leaves him more vulnerable than ever."
But this was not just about Bale, it was a desperately disappointing night for everyone at Real. Bidding to overturn the 2-1 deficit from last week's first leg in Italy, the reigning holders were also aiming to become the first side since AC Milan to retain the Champions League title. Plus there was the prospect of facing their old rivals Barcelona in the final.
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But Juventus silenced the Bernabeu to book their first appearance in Europe's showpiece final for 12 years, thanks to a crucial second-half goal from Real Madrid old boy Alvaro Morata.
Trailing 2-1 from the first leg, but with a precious away goal, all Real needed was a goal to set them on their way, and it duly came on 21 minutes when James Rodríguez ran on to Cristiano Ronaldo's through ball only to be felled in the area by Giorgio Chiellini. Referee Jonas Eriksson pointed to the spot and Ronaldo did the honours with the spot kick, blasting it straight down the middle for his 307th goal for Madrid, thereby equalling the tally of the great Alfredo Di Stefano.
Juventus could hardly have had complaints at going one down. They'd been under the cosh since the opening minutes with Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Bale both going close. The pressure continued after the goal with Gianluigi Buffon making two sharp saves from Benzema in the closing minutes of the first half.
The momentum began to shift after the break with Juventus's midfield of Paul Pogba, Andrea Pirlo, Marchisio and Arturo Vidal starting to service Alvaro Morata and Carlos Tevez up front. Real began to get fidgety, conscious no doubt that their lead was a slender one. All Juventus required was a goal and it came just before the hour mark when Morata was fouled by Sergio Ramos. Casillas cleared the free-kick with his fist but the ball was headed back into the danger zone by Pogba to Morata. His shot was within Casillas's reach but the Real keeper's wretched season continued as he grasped at thin air as the ball hit the back of the net.
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri altered the shape of his side to repel the inevitable Real onslaught, fielding a five-man defence for the final few minutes. Bale missed his chance to take the tie to extra-time but it wasn't his night, and nor was it Real's as Juventus held on for a memorable victory.
"We did our best," reflected Real coach Carlo Ancelotti, not a reaction likely to placate the Spanish fans who staggered shellshocked from the Bernabeu. "We lost the game in the first leg. Tonight we played at our best, we were unlucky we had lots of opportunities but we were unlucky."
Juventus will travel to Berlin on June 6 as underdogs, and their track record of two victories in their previous seven European Cup finals, doesn't bode well. Nonetheless Allegri was bullish in the aftermath of their semi-final success. "[It's] almost impossible to compete versus Barcelona now," he said, "but in one single game anything can happen and we will go there to win it."
