Ronaldo helps Real Madrid become 1st team to retain CL title

Real Madrid celebrate with the trophy after winning the UEFA Champions League Final at the National Stadium of Wales, Cardiff, June 3, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

Madrid had a lot to thank Keylor Navas for in the opening minutes. The goalkeeper blocked a header and strike from Gonzalo Higuain, and produced a one-handed save when Miralem Pjanic picked a gap through a crowd of defenders.

One of the first things Navas' counterpart, Gianluigi Buffon, had to do was pick the ball out of his net.

It was the culmination of a counterattack of breathtaking speed launched by Luka Modric and Toni Kroos. Karim Benzema picked up possession and passed to Ronaldo. The world player of the year knocked the ball across to Dani Carvajal on the right flank before drifting into the penalty area to receive it back and beat Buffon.

But within seven minutes, Ronaldo was shaking his head with a scowl after seeing an equalizer of individual brilliance.

Leonardo Bonucci's deep ball was brought down by Alex Sandro, who cut it back to Higuain in the penalty area. With his back to goal, Mandzukic received the chipped pass from Higuain and used his chest to control the ball before hooking it over his shoulder into the far top corner.

Mandzukic also scored at the last British final in 2013 as his Bayern Munich side beat Barcelona. But the magnificence evoked memories of another showpiece staged in the U.K. when Zidane volleyed into the top corner in Glasgow to help Madrid beat Bayer Leverkusen.

This time, Zidane was a spectator on the Madrid sideline.

The limelight had been stolen from Ronaldo. Could he match it? He tried, with an ambitious overhead kick that didn't each reach the goal before being blocked.

But it was a sign of Madrid slowly seizing control of the final on a stage it is so familiar with.

Domination was verified after the break when Madrid went back in front — through Casemiro's strike which deflected off Sami Khedira — and this time the lead was retained.

It owed much to Madrid controlling midfield, largely thanks to Modric, who set up Ronaldo's second. The Croatian timed his cutback to perfection in the 64th to allow Ronaldo to ghost in between Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini and slot in at the near post.

Juve's night took a turn for the worse when Juan Cuadrado was dismissed for a second booking in the 84th. And to compile their misery, Asensio beat Buffon again as the 39-year-old goalkeeper missed out on a first European title.

"(Madrid) showed their class and the attitude needed to play in this kind of game," Buffon said after losing a third final.

Associated Press