Juventus 2 Real Madrid 1: Five things we learnt, including Iker Casillas is past it and Carlos Tevez remains effective

Xabi Alonso was sorely missed, Gareth Bale struggles in this side and Arturo Vidal has still got it

1. Casillas past his peak

Three years ago, goalkeepers Iker Casillas and Gianluigi Buffon faced each other in the Euro 2012 final in Kiev, each at the peak of a long and successful career. Since then, Buffon has somehow managed to maintain the same level, winning three more Serie A titles and staying as important as ever to his club, even at the age of 37.

Casillas, however, has not. He simply is not the player he once was, as he showed in his faltering performances for Spain at last summer’s World Cup. When Jose Mourinho benched Casillas, it felt political, but with his poor form since, Mourinho has been vindicated. Last night, again, Casillas was shaky, prone to being put under pressure, unable to keep Carlos Tevez’s early shot away from Alvaro Morata.

2. Tevez still very effective

Carlos Tevez could have slunk back to South America when he left Manchester City in 2013 but this final chapter of his European career could be the most significant. He played with all his useful ferocity, spirit and drive last night, on his biggest stage since the 2009 Champions League final in Rome.

Tevez made the first goal, when his shot was palmed straight to Morata, and then scored the second, a penalty which he converted after his own solo 50-yard run. It was a complete performance in which Tevez imposed himself on elite opposition and put himself on his way to a third Champions League final. Displays like this are why Tevez should be remembered not as one of the most talented players of the last 10 years, but certainly one of the most effective.

3. Alonso was sorely missed

It was difficult not to wonder last night, as Juventus teased away at the vacant space in front of Real Madrid’s defence, what happened to the man who used to patrol that zone for the Spanish giants. Xabi Alonso, of course, will be lining up for Bayern Munich against Barcelona this evening but he was sorely missed in Turin by Carlo Ancelotti’s side. Both Juventus goals came from Tevez turning and attacking that space, and with no Alonso, Real had Toni Kroos and Sergio Ramos paired there in their 4-4-2. Kroos does not like defending and Ramos is not a midfielder, and the results were predictable. Diego Simeone, the Atletico Madrid coach, commented last season that “Madrid’s balance is Alonso’s balance” and yet they let that balance leave, as they did with Claude Makelele in 2013.

4. Bale struggles in this side

This was the sort of night that Gareth Bale joined Real Madrid for and yet it was the sort of night which suggests why even now he is not fully settled and valued at the world’s biggest club. Playing a supporting role in a front-line with Cristiano Ronaldo, he was barely in most of the game, struggling to get involved, play a decisive pass or get on the end of one. Of course Bale worked hard, especially when Juventus had the ball, but it was hardly the performance of an £85million player.

But for as long as he plays with these team-mates, he will not be main man. He must know that if he were to come back to the Premier League, he would be again.

5. Vidal has still got it

If Arturo Vidal has not fully recovered from his knee surgery one year ago – which is the fear that may have held back a Premier League move last season – he did not look like it here. There was no Paul Pogba in midfield for Juve so Vidal provided the spark and power in midfield. Vidal, along with Claudio Marchisio, ran rings around Toni Kroos – who may not have the legs to play in a midfield two – and Sergio Ramos.

Vidal, on his day, is one of the most complete midfielders in the world. He has run so hard for Juventus and Chile over the years, and on last night’s evidence he can still do it.