As Juventus and Real Madrid prepare to clash in Cardiff tomorrow in a Champions League final littered with some of the best stars in Europe, we asked some of our to name a combined XI.
Martyn Ziegler, chief sports reporter
(4-2-3-1): G Buffon (Juventus) — D Alves (Juventus), G Chiellini (Juventus), S Ramos (Real Madrid), A Sandro (Juventus) — L Modric (Real Madrid), T Kroos (Real Madrid) — G Bale (Real Madrid), P Dybala (Juventus), C Ronaldo (Real Madrid) — G Higuain (Juventus)
Six from Juventus and five from Real Madrid — which is why I have a feeling when it is all over the Old Lady will be singing. This could be the night where Paulo Dybala stakes his claim to be recognised as one of the best five players in the world.
Alyson Rudd
(3-5-2): G Buffon (Juventus) — S Ramos (Real Madrid), L Bonucci (Juventus), R Varane (Real Madrid) — D Alves (Juventus), T Kroos (Real Madrid), M Pjanic (Juventus), L Modric (Real Madrid), Marcelo (Real Madrid) — P Dybala (Juventus), C Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
I assumed I would simply pick the Juventus defence and work from there but on a player by player basis it is ridiculous to leave out Raphaël Varane and Sergio Ramos. Varane is too fast to ignore and Ramos would be the combined eleven leader who has the added value of being a reliable goalscorer at key moments. Leonardo Bonucci brings experience and a calm demeanour.
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Marcelo does not play as a wing back but ought to and Dani Alves has made sure Barcelona have missed him. Toni Kroos, Miralem Pjanic and Luka Modric are there by virtue of their relentless class and Dybala’s youth is irresistible. I am not a fan of the Cristiano Ronaldo persona but his output is incredible.
Paul Hirst
(4-3-3): G Buffon (Juventus) — D Alves (Juventus), G Chiellini (Juventus), L Bonucci (Juventus), Marcelo (Real Madrid) — L Modric (Real Madrid), M Pjanic (Juventus), T Kroos (Real Madrid) — G Bale (Real Madrid), C Ronaldo (Real Madrid), P Dybala (Juventus)
He may not have had the greatest of seasons and he may not be fully fit, but for Gareth Bale to miss out on a final in his home city would be a big shame, so he makes the cut ahead of Karim Benzema and Isco. Juventus’s defence is a much stronger and cohesive unit than Real Madrid’s, so they get the pick of the back line and Gianluigi Buffon beats Keylor Navas every day of the week for me.
I’m a big fan of Alves even though he is in the twilight of his career. I’ll never understand why Barcelona let him go. Kroos and Modric are two of the more understated members of the Madrid team, but that should not take away from the fact that they are two of the best creative players in the world, so they make the cut while Pjanic deserves his place after an impressive debut season at Juventus.
James Gheerbrant
(3-4-2-1): G Buffon; S Ramos (Real Madrid), L Bonucci, G Chiellini; D Alves, L Modric (Real Madrid), T Kroos (Real Madrid), Marcelo (Real Madrid); Isco (Real Madrid), P Dybala; C Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
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Ramos, that reliable talisman and scorer of important goals, is an upgrade on Andrea Barzagli in Juve’s back three (which, given his experience at full back and ability to step upfield, I think would suit him well). Alves and Marcelo are the best in the world in the full-back positions, despite the claims of Juve’s Alex Sandro and Real’s Dani Carvajal. Likewise the tandem of Modric and Kroos in central midfield.
I’m a huge admirer of the underrated duo of Claudio Marchisio and Mario Mandzukic, but can’t find space for them here. The form of Isco and Dybala this season can’t be ignored, and up top, it has to be the incomparable Ronaldo.