Football Manager predicts the Champions League final: Juventus vs Real Madrid

The most hotly anticipated match of the season, the Champions League final between Juventus and Real Madrid, is fast approaching and we’ve fired up Football Manager 2017 to see if we can gain an insight into how the match might unfold.

The first concern is going to be with the squads. Neither team is struggling too much with injuries. Real Madrid have fitness concerns for Dani Carvajal and Gareth Bale and while both are back in training, neither are fully match fit. For Juventus the only notable player missing is long-term absentee Marko Pjaca.

Nonetheless even with a fully fit squad there are choices to be made in terms of formation and line up, especially for Juventus. Against Monaco they lined up with three at the back with Barzagli under orders to keep Mbappe quiet, which he did a fantastic job of. This allows Alves to push forward as a wing-back. However they may be inclined to bring Alves back and play 4 at the back to try and cope with Madrid’s attacking threat, especially given that a certain Cristiano Ronaldo will be looking to influence down that left hand side.

The Real Madrid side on the other hand is unlikely to change. While there are question marks over the fitness of Carvajal and Bale, their roles can be filled by Danilo and Isco without affecting Madrid’s natural system.

With all this in mind, we left it up to Football Manager to decide how to approach the game, with a clean bill of health to both squads and Bale and Carvajal lacking in match fitness, this is how the teams lined up:



In the Madrid dug out Zidane has opted to risk both Carvajal and Bale while Varane gets the nod to partner Ramos in the centre of defence. Isco and Danilo are obviously on the bench should either player struggle to see out the match, other than that it’s business as usual for the Los Blancos.

It’s the Juventus line up which is more interesting, manager Massimiliano Allegri has opted to set up his side up somewhat more defensively, with 4 at the back, including Alves at right back, and three in midfield. Of course Higuain, Mandzukic and Dybala lead the line up front.

01:53: Real Madrid started brightly picking up the opening goal in just two minutes as Ronaldo was gifted too much space down the left hand side before slotting the ball below Buffon from close range.

https://streamable.com/cbpwk

04:20: Real Madrid are all over Juventus as Benzema smashes the ball against the post from a Marcelo cross.

https://streamable.com/dbmy1

18:22: This time it’s Juventus who hit the post, Higuain finds himself out wide and delivers a ball which is headed against the woodwork by Mandzukic. Juventus still trail 1-0.

https://streamable.com/nnqm6

23:30: It’s Marcelo again on the left causing problems and providing for Benzema, but he shoots straight at Buffon who turns it round the post. A good chance wasted.

https://streamable.com/iijot

24:09: From the resulting corner Juventus break and Pjanic plays a great through ball to Mandzukic who’s one on one with the keeper, but he fluffs his lines in trying to chip it over Navas, as the keeper catches the ball and clutches it gratefully to his chest.

https://streamable.com/iygcd

38:35: Real Madrid on the attack down the left again, where they’re causing Juventus all kinds of problems. Ronaldo delivers the ball to Benzema who hits the post AGAIN on the half volley. Real Madrid could be well clear by now if not for the woodwork.

https://streamable.com/r3uey

55:00: The second half is quiet in terms of chances as Real Madrid try to kill the game much to the frustration of Juventus.

72:23: Substitute James Rodriquez whips in a corner, which is flicked on by Varane and tapped home by Ronaldo, almost on the goal-line. Varane would like to have claimed it, but it doesn’t matter, Madrid are in front and look set to lift the trophy.

https://streamable.com/lk5sm

76:10: GAME ON! Dybala slips through Cuadrado as the Real Madrid defence is caught out of position. Cuadrado, who came on for Mandzukic, is one on one with Navas and easily slots it past the Real Madrid keeper and into the bottom right hand corner.

https://streamable.com/4bxyw

82:38: As Juventus throw men forward in search of an equaliser they’re caught on the break, Madrid take the time and fashion an opening as Ronaldo plays through Modric, only for the Croatian international to scuff his left footed half volley well wide. That could have decided it, but there’s still ten minutes left.

https://streamable.com/09s50

86:00 Juventus are down to ten men, Sami Khedira picks up an injury and can't continue but Juve have already used all their subs. They've got their work cut out for them now.

93:04: The game peters out as Real Madrid look to kill the game off. The game ends with Juventus struggling to get the ball out of their own half, with Madrid repeatedly knocking the ball out for a throw deep in their opponents half.

And Real Madrid are European Champions once again!

Social Media

On social media the Real Madrid fans celebrate their victory while the Juventus fans try to figure out who was to blame for the defeat.



What do you think? Will Real Madrid dominate and run out easy winners? Where the teams selected by the AI managers accurate? We'll have to wait until the final whistle to find out, but for now, leave your thoughts and predictions in comments!