When Real Madrid and Juventus square off on Saturday in the Champions League final, fans will watch two of the most successful clubs in European football history vie for yet another trophy.
Since crowning its first champion in 1956, the Champions League (known as the European Cup until 1992) winners circle has proved to be exclusive, with only 22 clubs claiming the 61 titles.
Ten teams have won once, so the remaining 51 are divided among 12 clubs.
The Champions League final is imminent. Our long nightmare is nearly over, and another long nightmare (the offseason) will soon begin. You'll want to start planning your Saturday now. Don't get caught unprepared like some kind of jackwagon. Here's how to watch the Champions League final.
Match Information
Who: Juventus and Real Madrid
When: Saturday, June 3 at 2:45 p.m. EST
Where: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
TV
FOX
Fox Deportes
BT Sport 2
Streaming
This week, most people will be reading, talking and writing about Francesco Totti, who has now retired after playing his final game for Roma. But while everyone’s focused on Totti, let’s consider the rest of the season, indulging in one of the favorite pastimes of the calcio connoisseur: going over every detail of the previous 38 matches and putting people and teams in ranked lists.
There will be plenty of time to dissect Totti’s career in the future. Right now, we need to think about who has really impressed us this season and (more importantly) who has failed to impress.
Well, that’s that then. Football made a good run at it, but it's over now. Francesco Totti has played in his final professional match, and while it went exactly as Roma had hoped sporting-wise (they achieved direct qualification to next season’s Champions League), it was easily the worst day in the club’s history.
Francesco Totti's lap of honour pic.twitter.com/YhL4SqG1Yz
Juventus and Bologna wrapped up their Serie A campaigns with a meaningless match featuring the champions-elect and the side in 15th. For a match with absolutely nothing riding on it, this game still had its moments.
The first was provided by Bologna midfielder Saphir Taider. The Algerian international opened the scoring in the 52nd minute with this sensational effort from distance.
Ronaldinho could’ve been sent off hundreds of times in his career for unsporting behavior. Blessed with otherworldly control and technique, the Brazilian would frequently contort the rules of the game for his own benefit. It wasn’t fair, nobody else could or can do it now, but he got away with it because he was a god. As we all know, life has two great questions: 1.) Is there a heaven? 2.) How did Ronaldinho get this good?