Bale: Madrid Can Get Better

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Cristiano Ronaldo capped his greatest year by helping Real Madrid become the first Champions League holder to retain its title, showcasing his enduring lethal scoring qualities in a 4-1 victory over Juventus on Saturday.

He added after seeing Ronaldo, Casemiro and Marco Asensio find the target: "I think definitely we had instruction from mister [Zidane], and what he said that we need to be more aggressive, to not allow Juve to keep the ball easily like they did in first half after our goal. We are winning trophies and I am happy".

Manchester United secured their place in the Champions League next season thanks to a 2-0 win against Dutch giants Ajax in the Europa League final.

They also successfully defended the Champions League title they won last season, becoming the first team to do so since UEFA changed the competition in 1992.

Balague wrote on Twitter: "ZZ: "it was important Bale was with us, good he came on". The French coach trusted his whole roster and played away from the Bernabeu without key players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Toni Kroos or Karim Benzema many times.

"Throughout our history, Madrid are the team that has won the most". It is a long season but I am motivated. "At one point it didn't seem like I was going to make it to the final but I've worked tirelessly at home and this is the reward you get for all the hard work you put in".

Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric has explained how Zinedine Zidane identified a weakness in the Juventus defence that was key to their Champions League triumph.

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So when he was dropped by Azhar Ali in the slips off Mohammad Amir in the third over, huge cheers erupted around the arena. Fellow opener Azhar survived run out chances on 15 and 29.They made India pay for the let-off and misses.

Although the first-half appeared the two teams were equally matched, the second half proved a different story as Juventus had no answer for a dominating Madrid squad.

Florentino Perez built the best squad in the history of the club.

The second of those defeats was against Real 1998 before he joined them in 2001 for his last six seasons as a player.

Ronaldo's 20th-minute opener was cancelled out by a stupendous Mario Mandzukic goal, the Croatian chesting down Gonzalo Higuain's volleyed lay-off and arcing a sublime volley over Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas.

Real captain Ramos had been booked in the first half and risked getting sent off for the 23rd time in his career with a wild lunge on Cuadrado in the 86th minute.

"No, I don't think Juventus have reached the end of a cycle at all", he said.

Ronaldo is the hot favourite to win the annual award for the best player in the world for a fifth time that would see him equal Barcelona rival Lionel Messi's record as Real also beat out Barca to win La Liga.

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