Juventus, led by goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, met Real Madrid, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, in the 2017 Champions League Final on Saturday, June 3, 2017 (6/3/17) at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.

Here's the AP recap:

CARDIFF, Wales (AP) -- Cristiano Ronaldo showcased his enduring lethal scoring qualities to ensure Real Madrid became the first Champions League holder to retain its title, netting twice in beating Juventus 4-1 on Saturday.

In an exceptional career in which he keeps rewriting the record books, Ronaldo is the first player in the 25 seasons of the Champions League era to score in three finals.

His first strike was canceled out by Mario Mandzukic's exquisite 27th-minute hook shot but it was the only high point for Juventus on a night when the Italian champion was outclassed in its quest for a first European title in 21 years.

Casemiro restored the Spanish champion's lead in the 61st, Ronaldo turned in his 600th career goal at the near post three minutes later, and Marco Asensio wrapped up a record-extending 12th title in the 90th.

On one night in the Welsh capital, Juventus conceded more goals than it had on the journey to the final, having let in only three in the previous three games.

Madrid's attacking brilliance proved just too hard for Juventus to contain as Zinedine Zidane won his second Champions League title in 18 months of top-flight management.

Until now, no team since AC Milan in 1989 and 1990, when the cup was only a knockout competition, had won back-to-back titles.

Madrid had a lot to thank Keylor Navas for in the opening minutes. The goalkeeper blocked a header and strike from Gonzalo Higuain, and produced a one-handed save when Miralem Pjanic picked a gap through a crowd of defenders.

One of the first things Navas' counterpart, Gianluigi Buffon, had to do was pick the ball out of his net.

It was the culmination of a counterattack of breathtaking speed launched by Luka Modric and Toni Kroos. Karim Benzema picked up possession and passed to Ronaldo. The world player of the year knocked the ball across to Dani Carvajal on the right flank before drifting into the penalty area to receive it back and beat Buffon.

But within seven minutes, Ronaldo was shaking his head with a scowl after seeing an equalizer of individual brilliance.

Leonardo Bonucci's deep ball was brought down by Alex Sandro, who cut it back to Higuain in the penalty area. With his back to goal, Mandzukic received the chipped pass from Higuain and used his chest to control the ball before hooking it over his shoulder into the far top corner.

Mandzukic also scored at the last British final in 2013 as his Bayern Munich side beat Barcelona. But the magnificence evoked memories of another showpiece staged in the U.K. when Zidane volleyed into the top corner in Glasgow to help Madrid beat Bayer Leverkusen.

This time, Zidane was a spectator on the Madrid sideline.

The limelight had been stolen from Ronaldo. Could he match it? He tried, with an ambitious overhead kick that didn't each reach the goal before being blocked.

But it was a sign of Madrid slowly seizing control of the final on a stage it is so familiar with.

Domination was verified after the break when Madrid went back in front -- through Casemiro's strike which deflected off Sami Khedira -- and this time the lead was retained.

It owed much to Madrid controlling midfield, largely thanks to Modric, who set up Ronaldo's second. The Croatian timed his cutback to perfection in the 64th to allow Ronaldo to ghost in between Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini and slot in at the near post.

Juve's night took a turn for the worse when Juan Cuadrado was dismissed for a second booking in the 84th. And to compile their misery, Asensio beat Buffon again as the 39-year-old goalkeeper missed out on a first European title.

Here's what you need to know:

Who: Juventus vs. Real Madrid

What: UEFA Champions League Final

When: Saturday, June 3, 2017

Where: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales

Time: 2:45 p.m. Eastern

TV: Fox and Fox Deportes

Livestream: Fox Sports Go, Fox Soccer 2Go

Completing a season when age has slowly caught up with him, Ronaldo will be trying to break new ground on familiar territory.

When the Real Madrid forward takes to the Millennium Stadium pitch to face Juventus on Saturday, it will be the fifth Champions League final in nine years for the three-time winner.

This time there's a chance to achieve something yet to be achieved in 25 seasons of the competition. If Madrid lifts the trophy for the record-extending 12th time, a team will finally have defended a Champions League title.

One thing is already certain to change on Saturday: The continent's showpiece will be contested under a closed roof, with Cardiff authorities guarding against the possibility of a drone attack.

It won't be a new experience for Ronaldo, though. He was a regular visitor to the Welsh national stadium during his Manchester United career while it staged English soccer's finals, although the only time he played under cover he lost. The 2005 FA Cup final was also the only one of Ronaldo's four visits with United that he didn't score and emerge victorious.

It was a rare setback in a career that continues to deliver, even as the 32-year-old forward has had to increasingly accept being on the sidelines to stay fresh for the big occasions. It's hard to argue because Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane's squad rotation system has netted Madrid the Spanish league title and yet another Champions League final.

"Obviously, what I want the most is to play more freely up front," Ronaldo said, "and that is the opportunity Zinedine Zidane has been giving me as a No. 9. I play freely. I play on the wing, down the middle. I play whenever I think I should."

Ronaldo, however, is unlikely to find much freedom against Juventus, a team with one of the best defenses in soccer. In 12 European games this season, Juventus has only conceded three goals and is looking to become the first undefeated champion since Manchester United in 2008.

At the heart of that Juventus defense is a guy looking to become the oldest Champions League winner: the 39-year-old Buffon. A European title is the one of the few major prizes to elude the Italian in an illustrious career that has seen him lose two Champions League finals.

"I'm a young boy, even though I'm 39 years old," Buffon said through a translator in Cardiff. "Many people think about my very long career ... I got more than I gave, but that would be the perfect finale and people like fairytales."

There haven't been many in Europe for some time at Juventus. The last of its two titles was won in 1996, while Madrid has won five since then.

Zidane, the once hot-headed playmaker whose last act of an illustrious on-field career was slamming his head into the chest of Italy defender Marco Materazzi during the 2006 World Cup final, has quickly establish himself as a diligent and intelligent coach.

"I already admired him as a player," Ronaldo said, "and now I admire him even more as a coach because he's a very positive person - a hard worker and very respectful towards the players."

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

Chris Ryan may be reached at cryan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisRyan_NJ. Find NJ.com Devils on Facebook.