From the very start, Juventus had a hunger that wasn’t reflected by their opponents and within nine minutes they were in the lead. A lovely pass down the right from Juventus defender Stephan Lichsteiner found Tevez in space and when his cross shot was palmed out by Casillas, Real old boy Morata shovelled the ball in from a couple of yards.
At this point, Real looked rather lost and for a while they continued in that vein. Having begun with a 4-2-4 formation, Carlo Ancelotti’s team were being overrun in the centre of the field. Only when Bale was instructed to drop off Ronaldo a little did things improve.
By that time, Juventus could have stretched their lead. Tevez struck a couple of low shots wide and every time black and white shirts eased in to the attacking third of the field Real immediately looked uncomfortable.
The second goal didn’t come, however, and rather inevitably Real imposed themselves. Ronaldo dragged once shot wide after being released by Isco while Toni Kroos worried Gianluigi Buffon with a fizzing low shot.
By the time the equaliser came, in the 26th minute, Real were well in the contest. James Rodriguez advanced down the right, lifted the ball over Buffon and Ronaldo nodded it in from a yard.
It was simple and it felt pivotal, especially when Rodriguez headed an Isco cross against the bar just before the break.
Tevez, though, was to change things all on his own and, after his goal, Real offered little. Indeed, had substitute Fernando Llorente shown the same poise with two late chances, Juventus’ lead would have been a little larger.
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