CARDIFF, Wales - Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon magnanimously conceded Real Madrid's superior ability had made the difference after his side crashed to a 4-1 defeat in Saturday's Champions League final in Cardiff.

"We are disappointed," goalkeeper Buffon told the website of European governing body UEFA.

"We played very well in the first half. We thought we had enough to win the game. I cannot explain why we played like we did in the second half.