CARDIFF, Wales — The prospect of Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale, back in his homeland’s capital to put Juventus to the sword in Saturday’s Champions League final, was the perfect script.
But while the top club competition in international soccer has a habit of providing alluring story lines, the romance on Saturday is likely to come from elsewhere. The mundane impact of injury means Bale is likely to start on the bench for the Spanish champion.
So, for those neutrals who love a feel-good story, perhaps it could come from the other side.
Gianluigi Buffon, 39 and widely viewed as the finest goalkeeper of his generation, has what could be the last chance to add the medal that has eluded him throughout his outstanding career.