' CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL THREAD... ' REAL MADRID V JUVENTUS

" REAL MADRID V JUVENTUS "


Allegri injury scare ahead of Juve's Champions League final clash with Madrid


The Italian coach picked up a muscular problem during a benefit game, but will be on the sidelines at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday


Massimiliano Allegri has offered Juventus their first injury scare ahead of a Champions League final clash with Real Madrid.

The Serie A champions will face the newly-crowned La Liga title holders at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium on Saturday.

Both sides have been put through their paces on the training field ahead of the game, but are hoping to avoid any untimely loss of talent.

Juve’s playing staff have suffered no knocks as yet, but their manager did pick up a muscular injury during ‘La Partita del Cuore’, a benefit sporting event.


He left the field holding his right thigh and told Rai1: “Is this a joke? Absolutely no, I was having fun and I was injured, it's just muscular.

“You can try to challenge everything ... but not age!”

Allegri was a reliable midfielder during his playing days, making over 370 appearances for the likes of Pescara, Cagliari, Perugia and Napoli.

He is, however, now 49 years of age and more accustomed to donning a suit on the touchline than a jersey on the field.

Allegri has shown himself to be particularly successful in a coaching capacity, with a Serie A title at Milan followed by seven major trophies in Turin and a second Champions League final appearance.

Gareth Bale admits Saturday's final against the Bianconeri may come too soon for him, concerned that an ankle ligament injury suffered in November which required surgery is now hampering his hopes of starting in Cardiff.

"I am not 100%: I haven't played for six or seven weeks: I obviously had my operation which still really hasn't recovered," Bale said, The Guardian report. "If I'm called upon to start, I will start obviously. But to last 90 minutes: I haven't played a lot of football this year since my operation, so that would be difficult.

"Isco has been playing fantastically well for us, at the end of the season, so whatever the manager decides I will [accept it]. Whether he or I start, we'll both be cheering each other on."


See topic: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=184998

UEFA Champions League final 2017 venue and tickets information
By James Eagles For Mailonline


Your guide to Cardiff stadium that will have roof shut and is being renamed (again!)


UEFA Champions League final 2017: All the latest news and more


Real Madrid play Juventus in the Champions League final on Saturday night
The European giants will go head-to-head at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff
Madrid will look to become the first team to defend Champions League crown
Here is all you need to know about the Champions League final stadium


Real Madrid's quest to become the first team to defend the Champions League title concludes on Saturday night in Cardiff against Juventus.

However, Zinedine Zidane's side will come up against a Juventus outfit that remain unbeaten ahead of the highly anticipated final.

The Principality Stadium will host the mouth-watering clash but what do you need to know about the spectacular ground?


Where is it?

Unusually, the stadium is located right in the heart of the city, a short distance from Cardiff Central train station. The National Theatre Wales is just a ten minute walk away, with the National Museum Cardiff a further five minutes away via the Millennium Walk.

Cardiff Castle, the city's main cultural attraction is similarly a stone's throw away.

The Champions Festival that includes a star-studded Ultimate Champions Match is located in Cardiff Bay, around two-and-a-half miles away.


When was the stadium opened?

Initially built for the 1999 Rugby World Cup, the stadium opened on 26 June 1999 when Wales played South Africa in a rugby union match, replacing the National Stadium.


How long did it take to build?

Ground was broken in 1997, so around two years. Built on the site of the old National Stadium, the overall construction cost stood at £121 million.


Why has the name changed for the Final?

Principality Building Society currently hold the naming rights (it was changed from the Millennium Stadium on January 1, 2016 to the Principality Stadium), having signed a 10-year deal with the owners, the Welsh Rugby Union board, at the start of 2016. However, due to UEFA regulations on non-tournament sponsors, the stadium will be referred to as the National Stadium for Saturday's Final.


Who plays there?

The main tenants are the Welsh rugby union team but the national football team did play most of their home games here from 2000 all the way up to 2011. They now use the city's other main stadium - the Cardiff City Stadium for their home matches.


What is the capacity?

The ground boasts a total capacity of 74,500, which doesn't change for football, rugby or entertainment.

The Welsh ground holds a capacity of 74,500, which doesn't change for different events +7
The Welsh ground holds a capacity of 74,500, which doesn't change for different events


What other events take place there?

The stadium has seen the 2013 Rugby League World Cup and two Rugby World Cups in 1999 and 2015 alongside all Wales home matches, various major football matches, including six FA and League Cup Finals between 2001 and 2006 as well as 11 Olympic matches in 2012.

Furthermore, the stadium has hosted three boxing nights, including two title fights for home hero Joe Calzaghe as well as motorsport events such as the 2005 Rally of Wales - the event saw the first indoor stage in the World Rally Championship's history.

In terms of pop culture, the stadium has been used to film two episodes of Doctor Who and a scene in the 2007 film 28 Weeks Later. Additionally, various music concerts have been hosted here by the likes of Tina Turner, Robbie Williams, the Stereophonics, Eric Clapton and Justin Bieber.


What is the ticket allocation for the Champions League Final and what's the cost?

Only 66,000 tickets have been put on sale for Saturday's game for security reasons; 18,000 each for Real Madrid and Juventus fans as well as 5,500 for the general public, with the remaining 24,500 tickets going to corporate programmes and major officials.

The cheapest tickets were sold at £60 with the the most expensive sitting at £390 - £141 more than an adult season ticket at the Cardiff City Stadium for 2017/18.


Anything else?

Upon its construction, the stadium became just the third in Europe and the first outside the Netherlands (Amsterdam ArenA in Amsterdam and the GelreDome in Arnhem) to feature a retractable roof. Behind the AT&T Stadium in Texas, it's the second largest stadium in the world to have the feature.

The roof will be closed for the Final amid heightened security after last month's Manchester bomb attack. There were fears the stadium could be targeted for a drone attack with the roof open.


Best game?

It's hard to look past the 2006 FA Cup Final between Liverpool and West Ham United for the National Stadium's most enthralling afternoon - colloquially known as the 'Steven Gerrard Final'.

The scene of one of Gerrard's greatest games saw West Ham take a two goal lead through a Jamie Carragher own goal and Dean Ashton, before Djibril Cisse and Gerrard drew the Reds level. Despite Paul Konchesky's freak cross-cum-shot catching Pepe Reina unawares with 26 minutes to go, Gerrard produced a spectacular 35-yard half-volley in stoppage time to bring the game to extra-time. Liverpool triumphed 3-1 on penalties to take their seventh and most recent FA Cup title.

If Bale starts I'd like Madrid to win but if he's only on the bench or subbed on in the 70th min then I would like Juventus to win. Considering going town around 3 or 4 to get the atmosphere I assume there will be a lot of Spaniards and Italians without tickets

If Bale starts I'd like Madrid to win but if he's only on the bench or subbed on in the 70th min then I would like Juventus to win. Considering going town around 3 or 4 to get the atmosphere I assume there will be a lot of Spaniards and Italians without tickets

I'm open-minded on the result as I want Bale (a Cardiff boy) to win a third medal but I would be well chuffed for Buffon in the Juventus goal too!

My greatest wish is for a good final that puts football and our fantastic city in the shop window

If Bale starts I'd like Madrid to win but if he's only on the bench or subbed on in the 70th min then I would like Juventus to win. Considering going town around 3 or 4 to get the atmosphere I assume there will be a lot of Spaniards and Italians without tickets

I'm open-minded on the result as I want Bale (a Cardiff boy) to win a third medal but I would be well chuffed for Buffon in the Juventus goal too!

My greatest wish is for a good final that puts football and our fantastic city in the shop window

Very true. If I'm being greedy I'd love to have a 4-3 thriller or something along those lines Where people talk about "That night in Cardiff" for years.
I do think that the CL final will do wonders for our city though

Driving back from Gatwick this afternoon I saw the Juventus official bus on the motorway which made it seem that bit more real. Our fantastic city is going to be the world centrepiece on Saturday and I think it will be a brilliant final but as much as I want Bale to have his wish come true to play in his home city, I want Juve to win the match.

Can't look past Real Madrid. Their experience will tell.

Real Madrid for me, I'm luckily enough to have tickets for the event I can't wait now the atmosphere is going to be buzzing!!

Gareth Bale has been named in the Real Madrid squad for tomorrow night's Champions League final.

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Real Madrid for me, I'm luckily enough to have tickets for the event I can't wait now the atmosphere is going to be buzzing!!

I've always wondered about that. I'm sure it'll be an amazing experience and I would obviously love to go personally but with only 28,000 Juventus/Madrid fans in the official ends I assume most of the other 50,000 fans are gonna be neutrals or very rich one of occasioners and of course the 1000's of tickets that are given by UEFA to clients and other personel. That combo sounds like it would make a kind of flat atmosphere.
Maybe I'm totally wrong and like I said I'd love to be able to experience it myself
Enjoy the game

Real Madrid for me, I'm luckily enough to have tickets for the event I can't wait now the atmosphere is going to be buzzing!!

I've always wondered about that. I'm sure it'll be an amazing experience and I would obviously love to go personally but with only 28,000 Juventus/Madrid fans in the official ends I assume most of the other 50,000 fans are gonna be neutrals or very rich one of occasioners and of course the 1000's of tickets that are given by UEFA to clients and other personel. That combo sounds like it would make a kind of flat atmosphere.
Maybe I'm totally wrong and like I said I'd love to be able to experience it myself
Enjoy the game

i think that with that many supporters of each team they should be able to create a decent atmosphere.

There were about 150 Paris "ultras" at the women's game on Thursday and they made a hell of a racket!