When covering the Juventus media day ahead of the Cardiff final last season there was a tangible sense of optimism in the ranks of all connected with the club.
MASSIMILIANO ALLEGRI JESUS ALVAREZ ORIHUELA (DIARIO AS)
Over-confident
It was clear that Allegri's players felt that the time was theirs and lifting the Champions League would be a fitting finale closing an excellent season for the Bianconeri winning the Serie A title and eliminating FC Barcelona on their way to the Cardiff final. This excess confidence ultimately proved to be their undoing as the men in black and white withered in the second half of the final as Madrid ran riot winning 4-1 on the night. "We were over-confident, and that was our biggest error" admitted goalkeeper Gigi Buffon.
Juventus supporters cheer during the UEFA Champions League round of sixteen first leg football match between Juventus and Tottenham Hotspur at The Allianz Stadium in Turin on February 13, 2018. MIGUEL MEDINA (AFP)
Map to the final
Everything points to Juve having learnt their lesson from Cardiff with Allegri aware that his team will need maximum concentration in the 180 minutes of football to eliminate Real Madrid. This need for focus was something he reiterated time and time again in his pre-match press conference at the Allianz Stadium and affirmed that this tie will be won or lost by the side with the most positive mentality. Juventus are a formidable opponent over a two legged tie and have only lost once in the past four years over a home and away basis when Bayern Munich proved too strong in 2016. Allegri and his side know thew route to finals by heart at this point and the key to the tie will be Madrid's ability to remember theirs.
