Disappointed Buffon says Real Madrid dominated 2nd half, deserved to win

The better team won.

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon was understandably disappointed after losing the third Champions League final of his otherwise-glittering career on Saturday, but admitted Real Madrid was the worthy victor after a dominant second-half performance.

Related: 5 reasons why Real Madrid won the Champions League

Los Blancos blitzed Juve, scoring three times after the interval en route to a 4-1 win and third Champions League title in four seasons.

"It's a big disappointment, because we thought that we'd done everything necessary to play this final and finally win it," Buffon told Mediaset Premium, via ESPN FC, after the contest in Cardiff, Wales.

"We had an excellent first half, where we caused Real Madrid huge problems, so it leaves you open-mouthed in shock that incidents never go our way. That's disappointing. Evidently in order to win a trophy like this, you need to be stronger than adversity.

"I thought it was a great approach in the first half, not giving Madrid any more advantages, and we ran really hard. Perhaps we ran a bit too hard and didn't make the most of that advantage on the field. That's disappointing."

Related - Heartbreak, again: The wait goes on for tearful Buffon

Buffon continued, saying: "Real Madrid deserved to win in the second half. They showed their class and the attitude needed to play in this kind of game."