Juventus will face off against Real Madrid for this year’s Champions League title in Cardiff with the Italian giants hoping to improve on a disappointing record at this stage of the competition.
Juventus have had few problems historically in reaching finals of the continent’s premier club competition – this will be their ninth since 1973 – but on only two occasions have actually won the trophy.
This is a surprisingly modest record for a club of this stature, one that has been able to field so many world class footballers over the years. To demonstrate that quality, I’ve taken a look back over the club’s finals history and put together a fantasy team featuring the greatest stars to have appeared for the Bianconeri. Players from every past final are represented in this gallery.
GK: Gianluigi Buffon
Played in the 2003 & 2015 Finals. A long-serving legend.
Image Source: Twitter
RB: Lilian Thuram
Played in 2003 Final. An exceptional full-back or central defender. Image Source: Twitter
LB: Antonio Cabrini
Played in the 1983 & 1985 Finals. A composed & elegant defender. Image Source: Twitter
CB: Ciro Ferrara
Played in 1996, 1997 & 2003 Finals. A defensive rock around which winning teams were built. Image Source: Twitter
SW: Gaetano Scirea
Played in the 1983 & 1985 Finals. A stylish, ball-playing defender in the classic Italian libero mould.
Image Source: Twitter
CM: Didier Deschamps
Played in the 1996, 1997 & 1998 Finals. An underrated player who tidily knitted together midfields. Image Source: Twitter
RM: Franco Causio
Played in the 1973 Final. Intelligent & skilful with a tough streak to his game.
Image Source: Twitter
LCM: Marco Tardelli
Played in 1983 & 1985 Finals. Powerhouse of a midfield general. Image Source: Twitter
CF: Michel Platini
Played in 1983 & 1985 Finals. An extravagantly gifted forward who could both create and score goals. Image Source: Pinterest
ST: Alessandro Del Piero
Played in 1996, 1997 & 1998 Finals. Classic Italian No.10 capable of finding the right pass in the busiest of opposition defences. Image Source: Twitter
ST: Zbigniew Boniek
Played in the 1983 & 1985 Finals. Intelligent player who flitted between midfield and attack finding spaces he could exploit effectively. Image Source: Twitter
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If you consider some of the wonderful players who didn’t quite make the cut – Zoff, Zidane, Vialli, Bettega, Bonini, Rossi, Davids, Pirlo – you can appreciate what a tough team this was to assemble.
Gianluigi Buffon is the only contemporary player to feature here, but if Juventus can go on to add a third title in Cardiff then other current stars like Bonucci, Chiellini, Higuain and Dybala will be pushing hard for inclusion on any future updated version of this team.
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