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SQUAD
The
Madrid's sheer will to win has shone through again as their combination of mental toughness and exceptional individual talent has brought them back to Europe's biggest stage.
Navas
1
Keylor
GOALKEEPER
POSITION
D.O.B
15/12/1986
NATIONALITY
35/0
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE APPS/ GOALS
COSTA RICAN
ALL TIME
2017/18
10/0
The Costa Rican continues to perform wonders between the posts for Madrid, helping clinch their final berth with a string of saves against FC Bayern München in the semi-finals. His crucial stops in a tense second leg showcased the agility and reflexes of a goalkeeper who has been first choice since Iker Casillas’s 2015 departure.
Carvajal
2
Dani
DEFENDER
POSITION
D.O.B
11/01/1992
NATIONALITY
41/1
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE APPS/ GOALS
SPANISH
ALL TIME
2017/18
7/0
The foraging right-back remains a valuable asset at both ends of the pitch for Madrid, having served up assists in both the quarter and semi-finals of this season’s competition. Originally hailing from the outskirts of Madrid, he missed six weeks due to a heart problem in the autumn but is now primed for his fourth European Cup final.
Varane
5
Raphaël
DEFENDER
POSITION
D.O.B
25/04/1993
NATIONALITY
61/2
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE APPS/ GOALS
FRENCH
ALL TIME
2017/18
10/0
Still only 25, the pacy, powerful and elegant French international has been a fixture at the heart of Madrid’s defence since 2014. Varane moved to the Santiago Bernabéu aged only 18 following a single season as a professional with RC Lens, despite having cut short a phone call from Zinédine Zidane because he was revising for exams.
Hernández
15
Theo
DEFENDER
POSITION
D.O.B
06/10/1997
NATIONALITY
3/0
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE APPS/ GOALS
FRENCH
ALL TIME
2017/18
3/0
Although born in Marseille, Hernández has spent most of his life in Spain and was just ten when he joined Club Atlético de Madrid – where his older brother Lucas still plays. Both siblings are defenders, like their father Jean-François Hernández, with Theo a quick and powerful left-back who scored for Deportivo Alavés in the 2017 Copa del Rey final before signing for Madrid.
Modrić
10
Luka
MIDFIELDER
POSITION
D.O.B
09/09/1985
NATIONALITY
69/5
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE APPS/ GOALS
CROATIAN
ALL TIME
2017/18
10/1
Inheriting the No10 shirt after James Rodríguez left for Bayern last summer, the dynamic midfielder won the Golden Ball at the 2017 FIFA Club World Cup after driving Madrid to victory. Able to regain possession and set the tempo with his slick passing, the former Tottenham player scored his first UEFA Champions League goal in two years against APOEL.
Asensio
20
Marco
MIDFIELDER
POSITION
D.O.B
21/01/1996
NATIONALITY
19/4
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE APPS/ GOALS
SPANISH
ALL TIME
2017/18
11/1
The Spanish international capped a superb breakthrough season last year by registering in the UEFA Champions League final – having begun by scoring on his Madrid debut in the UEFA Super Cup. Mostly used as a substitute this term, he has nevertheless made key contributions, not least with his goal to secure the 2-1 win at Bayern in the semi-final first leg.
Ceballos
24
Dani
MIDFIELDER
POSITION
D.O.B
07/08/1996
NATIONALITY
4/0
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE APPS/ GOALS
SPANISH
ALL TIME
2017/18
4/0
Player of the Tournament for his contribution in Spain’s run to the 2017 UEFA European U21 Championship final, Ceballos signed for Madrid from Real Betis Balompié soon afterwards, with many tipping him as a long-term replacement for Modrić. The midfielder scored twice on his maiden Liga start against Alavés and is pushing for a more prominent role.
Bale
11
Gareth
FORWARD
POSITION
D.O.B
16/07/1989
NATIONALITY
53/15
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE APPS/ GOALS
WELSH
ALL TIME
2017/18
6/1
Bale scored in the 2014 UEFA Champions League decider and the final shoot-out two years later, before returning from injury to feature in last season’s showpiece in his native Cardiff. Less to the fore this term, he still provides searing pace, exceptional control and an eye for the spectacular, including a stunning goal against FC Barcelona this month.
Casilla
13
Kiko
GOALKEEPER
POSITION
D.O.B
02/10/1986
NATIONALITY
5/0
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE APPS/ GOALS
SPANISH
ALL TIME
2017/18
2/0
Navas’s deputy since his return to Madrid in 2015, Casilla has made two UEFA Champions League outings this term, keeping a clean sheet in the 6-0 victory away to APOEL FC after the 3-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur FC. Capped by Spain in 2014, the aerially dominant custodian made over 100 appearances for RCD Espanyol after leaving Madrid’s B team in 2007.
Vallejo
3
Jesús
DEFENDER
POSITION
D.O.B
05/01/1997
NATIONALITY
1/0
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE APPS/ GOALS
SPANISH
ALL TIME
2017/18
1/0
Quick, solid and mentally strong, Vallejo was promoted to the first team this season after an impressive campaign on loan at Eintracht Frankfurt last term, where he appeared in the German Cup final. The former Real Zaragoza centre-back got his maiden taste of the UEFA Champions League in the quarter-final second leg against Juventus, playing all 90 minutes.
Nacho
6
DEFENDER
POSITION
D.O.B
18/01/1990
NATIONALITY
26/2
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE APPS/ GOALS
SPANISH
ALL TIME
2017/18
7/1
Born and bred in Madrid and part of the club’s set-up since he was 11, Nacho has appeared across the defence this season after breaking through with 28 Liga outings last term. He also struck his first UEFA Champions League goal in two years against APOEL – and plundered a first ever double against RC Deportivo La Coruña in January.
Hakimi
19
Achraf
DEFENDER
POSITION
D.O.B
04/11/1998
NATIONALITY
2/0
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE APPS/ GOALS
MOROCCAN
ALL TIME
2017/18
2/0
Promoted to the first team following Danilo’s exit last summer, the academy graduate has already caught the eye, impressing on his UEFA Champions League debut in the 1-1 group stage draw with Tottenham. A pacy and hard-running right-back, he became the first Moroccan player to score for Madrid in a Liga fixture against Sevilla last December.
Casemiro
14
MIDFIELDER
POSITION
D.O.B
23/02/1992
NATIONALITY
45/4
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE APPS/ GOALS
BRAZILIAN
ALL TIME
2017/18
Nominally the most defensive midfielder in Madrid’s starting line-up, the tenacious Brazilian international also has an eye for goal, having scored against Paris in the round of 16 after finding the net against Juventus in last season’s final. In his day job, he provides the midfield ballast that allows Modrić and Kroos to express themselves higher up the pitch.
Isco
22
MIDFIELDER
POSITION
D.O.B
21/04/1992
NATIONALITY
60/7
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE APPS/ GOALS
SPANISH
ALL TIME
2017/18
10/0
A starter in the 2017 UEFA Champions League final, this cultured, imaginative attacking midfielder has played an integral role during Madrid’s return to the showpiece. He delivered an assist for Cristiano Ronaldo in the 3-0 quarter-final win at Juventus, though his season highlight to date was perhaps his maiden hat-trick during Spain’s 6-1 defeat of Argentina in March.
Ronaldo
7
Cristiano
FORWARD
POSITION
D.O.B
05/02/1985
NATIONALITY
152/120
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE APPS/ GOALS
PORTUGUESE
ALL TIME
2017/18
12/15
Another record-breaking campaign for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner. The leading marksman in European Cup history scored in 11 consecutive UEFA Champions League matches with a penalty against Juventus in the quarter-finals. He offers quality as well as sheer quantity of goals, his acrobatic overhead kick against the same opponents drawing gasps around the world.
Vázquez
17
Lucas
FORWARD
POSITION
D.O.B
01/07/1991
NATIONALITY
27/2
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE APPS/ GOALS
SPANISH
ALL TIME
2017/18
10/1
The lively winger has been in excellent form since the start of the year, providing assists in each knockout round of the UEFA Champions League while ensuring that this will go down as his highest-scoring season yet. Noted for his threatening crosses, the academy product – who spent 2014/15 at Espanyol – has also been asked to play at right-back this term.
Zidane
30
Luca
GOALKEEPER
POSITION
D.O.B
13/05/1998
NATIONALITY
0/0
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE APPS/ GOALS
FRENCH
ALL TIME
2017/18
0/0
The son of Madrid coach Zinédine, Luca continues to climb through the ranks and has featured on the bench in the Liga this season. A former UEFA Youth League mainstay, he has also shone for France, saving three penalties in the semi-final shoot-out with Belgium at the 2015 UEFA European Under-17 Championship before going on to lift the trophy.
Ramos
4
Sergio
DEFENDER
POSITION
D.O.B
30/03/1986
NATIONALITY
113/11
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE APPS/ GOALS
SPANISH
ALL TIME
2017/18
10/1
Madrid’s totemic captain and leader solidifies his place in the pantheon with every passing year, and in April entered the club’s all-time top-ten list for games played. The rugged, technically strong centre-back has won it all since joining from home-town club Sevilla FC in 2005, not forgetting his goals in two separate UEFA Champions League finals.
Marcelo
12
DEFENDER
POSITION
D.O.B
12/05/1988
NATIONALITY
88/8
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE APPS/ GOALS
BRAZILIAN
ALL TIME
2017/18
10/3
Among the finest left-backs in the world for several years, Marcelo has seemed to hit a new peak during the current campaign. The Brazil defender wreaked havoc down his flank in the knockout rounds, finding the net against Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus and Bayern to bring up his highest-ever goal tally in a UEFA Champions League season.
Kroos
8
Toni
MIDFIELDER
POSITION
D.O.B
04/01/1990
NATIONALITY
88/7
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE APPS/ GOALS
GERMAN
ALL TIME
2017/18
11/0
The 2014 FIFA World Cup winner made history in Cardiff last June when he became the first German player to lift the trophy three times in the UEFA Champions League era. A gifted passer and fine reader of the game, the versatile Kroos remains a central figure in the Madrid midfield in his fourth season since joining from Bayern.
Llorente
18
Marcos
MIDFIELDER
POSITION
D.O.B
30/01/1995
NATIONALITY
1/0
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE APPS/ GOALS
SPANISH
ALL TIME
2017/18
1/0
Llorente has the club in his blood. The son of former Madrid winger Francisco Llorente Gento, he is also the grandson of European Cup winner Ramón Grosso and the great-nephew of club legend Paco Gento. The 23-year-old, a defensive midfielder, made his UEFA Champions League debut against Borussia Dortmund after spending last season on loan at Alavés.
Kovačić
23
Mateo
MIDFIELDER
POSITION
D.O.B
06/05/1994
NATIONALITY
33/3
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE APPS/ GOALS
CROATIAN
ALL TIME
2017/18
7/0
Likened to a “raging bull” by Giovanni Trapattoni, the all-round talent started out as an attacking midfielder during his youth at GNK Dinamo Zagreb before converting to a deep-lying playmaker’s role at FC Internazionale Milano, ahead of his Madrid move in 2015. He has had to wait patiently for chances this term but offers drive and dribbling ability when called upon.
Benzema
9
Karim
FORWARD
POSITION
D.O.B
19/12/1987
NATIONALITY
103/55
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE APPS/ GOALS
FRENCH
ALL TIME
2017/18
8/4
The Frenchman had impressed more as a provider this term until his crucial double in the semi-final decider with Bayern sealed Madrid’s spot in the final. The former Olympique Lyonnais striker has now climbed up to seventh on the list of Madrid’s all-time record marksmen, and also contested his 100th UEFA Champions League game in the round of 16.
Mayoral
21
Borja
FORWARD
POSITION
D.O.B
05/04/1997
NATIONALITY
4/1
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE APPS/ GOALS
SPANISH
ALL TIME
2017/18
4/1
A predatory finisher who cites Raúl González and Benzema as his idols, Mayoral is always on the lookout for a rebound or loose ball. Top scorer at the 2015 UEFA European U19 Championship, he made his UEFA Champions League debut in September after spending last season on loan at VfL Wolfsburg, opening his account against Dortmund on matchday six.
GAME PLAN
Unafraid to shake things up, Zinédine Zidane has brought a flexible approach at the Bernabéu this season
Pulling the strings during the run to the final, Zinédine Zidane underlined his reputation as a coach able to find solutions to the tactical questions posed by Europe’s top teams.
The holders kicked off their title defence with their usual 4-3-3 formation, but the Frenchman has rung the changes since the start of the knockout phase. Flexible with both his team’s system and their style of play, Zidane has tailored his approach for certain opponents and successfully adapted his tactics in games.
In general, Zidane’s recent preference has been for a 4-4-2 diamond set-up, with Isco playing just behind the strike duo of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema. The midfielder has been pivotal in a system Madrid used to great effect during their campaign last year.
Zidane has switched to a flatter midfield four or even a 4-2-3-1 when required, introducing Marco Asensio, Lucas Vázquez and Gareth Bale to provide width and support the full-backs. It worked wonders during Madrid’s 3-1 comeback victory against Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16 first leg, and helped them weather the storm as Juventus threatened an upset at the Santiago Bernabéu in the quarter-finals.
Pace out wide also allowed Madrid to expose FC Bayern München on the break in their semi-final opener, with full-backs Marcelo and Dani Carvajal playing critical roles. They have flourished as an attacking force in the knockout rounds, while playing their part in a back four marshalled expertly by captain Sergio Ramos.
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