Real Madrid - Juventus, Champions League 2015: Match Review

We all knew what results Madrid needed going into this match to progress to meet rivals FC Barcelona in a Clasico Champions League final and spurred on by an enthusiastic crowd they went for it right away.

Less than a minute in and Marcelo found Gareth Bale with a cross that Bale headed just high. Top, top start. A bit of frantic end-to-end play followed with nerves obviously high from both sides inside a pressure cooker Santiago Bernabeu. Karim Benzema found himself on the end of a cross in the fifth minute which he deftly controlled and rifled but his shot went just high and wide. In the 10th minute, Cristiano Ronaldo was taken down Leonardo Bonucci in familiar Ronaldo territory within distance of goal. Despite his free kick woes, the Madrid talisman took aim and delivered a kick which just skimmed the top of the net and left Gianluigi Buffon sweating just a little bit. Three minutes later Arturo Vidal found himself just outside the box and fired a snap shot which was quickly saved by Iker Casillas. Back and forth both ways. A number of chances followed for Madrid, from Benzema to Isco to a Bale thunderbolt from distance but still nothing could bring down the Juve wall.

Then a breakthrough in the 21st minute as Chiellini brought down James Rodriguez in the box and a penalty awarded to Madrid which Ronaldo converted as cooly as the other side of the pillow. His tenth goal in Champions League semifinals (five more than the next player) and his 307th for Real Madrid, leveling him with Alfredo Di Stefano for second in the club's history. Game on.

Play wobbled back and forth following for both sides following the goal with Juventus still looking composed and finding ways into Madrid's box. Madrid responded with a sublime counterattack but couldn't finish as Ronaldo selflessly passed instead of firing on goal and workhorse Arturo Vidal prevented a clear opportunity on goal. Aside from a yellow picked up by Isco, little notable happened over the next few minutes. Then Madrid turned up the heat just a few minutes prior to halftime but, much to their chagrin, couldn't put away their chances. That being said, 1-0 at halftime with most of the chances going Madrid's way was just what the hosts would've hoped for.

The second half started off a bit subdued, both on the pitch and in the stands. Then in the 54th minute, a mistake from Marcelo led to a clear look on goal from Juve but Casillas bolted out of the net in time to clear the ball out of bounds. But, in a fit of poetic irony, Alvaro Morata came up huge again in the 57th minute and bolted a shot into the back of the net following some dodgy clearances from Madrid in their box. Morata had all day to shoot and he made it count. Advantage Juve.

Madrid picked up the pace with Bale almost pulling off a wondergoal in the 62nd minute, but still no breakthrough. Madrid kept pushing, though looking dodgy at the back, with Rodriguez coming close as well in the 67th minute but again, no goals. Juve got a golden chance in the 69th minute as Marchisio barreled down on goal but Casillas stood tall with one of the biggest saves he's made all season. Bale had another chance on goal on a tall header but it was just a bit too high for him to make solid contact with it. A call for a penalty soon after followed as Chicharito was taken down in the box but the ref didn't bite.

Javier Hernandez came on for Benzema in the 66th minute and was his usual energetic self but couldn't make an impact. A series of chances followed for Madrid but none of the quality as they relied on too many crosses and shots from distance. Juve stood firm and reinforced their defensive wall to great effect. Pogba got another great look on goal in the 87th minute but Casillas stood tall again to deny Juve from sticking the dagger in. Sloppy passing, no clear movements into the box and that was that. 1-1 draw, 3-2 aggregate victory for Juventus.

Overall, a disappointing finish to a season in which many had dreams of six trophies fill their heads. Madrid took home two, but neither the ones that most fans truly wanted. Now we wait to see what happens but one thing is for sure: this is going to be a busy summer.