Juventus vs Real Madrid: Five things we learned

Gareth Bale was handed a central attacking role by Carlo Ancelotti, but the Wales winger failed to impress against Juventus.

The 25-year-old, making his first start for almost a month following an injury lay-off, has struggled for form in recent weeks and he was once again on the periphery in Turin.

He is certainly not the player who was so crucial for Real this time last season and, with interest growing from Premier League clubs, perhaps the Madrid sparkle is beginning to fade for the £85m man.

Ronaldo and Tevez highlight Premier League's decline

Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez once terrorised Champions League defences together while wearing the red of Manchester United.

• Juventus vs Real Madrid: as it happened

Gareth Bale also enjoyed memorable nights in this competition with Tottenham, with Maicon and Inter Milan still scarred by that night at White Hart Lane.

But all three, who shared the pitch in Turin, have now left the Premier League behind to play at the top level of the Champions League and it dents the reputation of English football that the very best players have left to climb the ladder overseas.

Champions League has missed Juventus

With just two victories in seven European Cup finals, Juventus are Europe’s great under-achievers, but Italy’s biggest club reached three successive finals in the 1990s and were the most feared team on the continent.

To conquer Europe, you first had to conquer Juventus, and their return to the latter stages of the Champions League this season proves Juve are on the rise again and the competition is stronger for their resurgence.

The raucous atmosphere inside the Juventus Stadium highlighted just what the Champions League has been missing.

Morata proves Real sometimes get it wrong

Few players leave Real Madrid and go on to better things elsewhere, with Ángel Di María and Mesut Özil living proof that a Bernabéu cast-off can sometimes turn out as damaged goods.

Juventus forward Álvaro Morata left Real in a £15m transfer last summer, but the 22-year-old was determined to show what the European champions had lost with an outstanding performance in Turin.

His first-half goal was a big moment, but Morata’s work-rate, desire and pace suggested that Real’s loss is Juventus’s gain.

Vidal's knee not so bad then

Manchester United spent months deliberating a move for Arturo Vidal last summer, but nagging concerns about the state of the Juventus midfielder’s knee ultimately scuppered any prospect of a deal.

This was the Chilean’s 43rd appearance of the season for Juve, however, and his box-to-box energy and power were a driving force in the Italian champions’ performance.

Vidal was everywhere, winning tackles, making interceptions and delivering astute passes.

On this evidence, United should have broken the bank to sign the 27-year-old.