UEFA Champions League final: Guide for beginners
Saturday, June 3, 2017
Article summary
Not seen any of the UEFA Champions League and coming late to the party? Keen to impress family and friends with unexpected knowledge? Have no fear – help is at hand.
Article top media content
Article body
What's happening?
The UEFA Champions League final, of course. European powerhouses Juventus and Real Madrid – the holders are looking to become the first team ever to retain the title – are meeting at the National Stadium of Wales in the showpiece event of the European football calendar.
What should I expect?
Grizzled defence versus free-flowing attack, so some would have you believe. That's a boiled-down version, certainly, but there's no arguing with the stats – this is the competition's most miserly back line against its most prolific forward line. However things do pan out, this is an occasion dripping in prestige – two sets of footballing royalty wrestling for one crown.
Who should I watch out for?
Where to start? This is a who's who of superstars, but none are bigger than Cristiano Ronaldo. The 32-year-old is eyeing a fourth UEFA Champions League title – a third in four seasons – and needs just one goal to draw level with Lionel Messi to top score in the competition for the fifth season in a row. To do so, he'll have to find his way past Gianluigi Buffon, no less. The Bianconeri's very own Benjamin Button is looking to lift the trophy for the first time; if he does, aged 39, he'll surpass Paolo Maldini as the competition's oldest ever winner.
What time does it all kick-off?
Kick-off is Saturday at 20:45CEST (11:45 Los Angeles, 14:45 New York, 15:45 Sao Paulo, 19:45 in Cardiff/Lagos; Thursday 00:15 New Dehli, 02:45 Manila, 04:45 Sydney).
Is it decided on the night?
It will be. If it's level after 90 minutes then there will be extra time (15 minutes each way) and then, if it's still all-square, there will be penalties. Now, UEFA is this summer trialling a new shoot-out format but any spot kicks here will take the traditional route: coin toss to decide who goes first and then take it in turns.
What prize is on offer?
In essence, a trophy hastily completed by a Swiss man in 1967 because he had a strict deadline: his impending marriage and honeymoon to Los Angeles. It is affectionately known as Ol' Big Ears, a reference to the fact that, unlike the hard-to-handle (i.e. it's got no handles) UEFA Europa League trophy, it's no problem carrying it around. The winners will receive it on the pitch and also bag a UEFA Super Cup date with Manchester United on 8 August.
Facts to casually slip into conversation
Cristiano Ronaldo has 103 UEFA Champions League goals to his name, which means he has outscored all but 22 whole clubs in the competition's 25-season history.
It pays to come early to the party: In previous UEFA Champions League finals, 17 of the 23 teams that scored first went on to lift the trophy.
