Champions League final best bets: Real to forge first-half lead

The Champions League final may be a one-off game like no other in European club football, but this year the continental showpiece pits two rivals together who know exactly how many ice cubes the other has in their sangria.

It’s the first time in the long and illustrious history of the European Cup that two clubs from the very same city have drawn battle lines in the finale, as Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid clash in the derby to overshadow all that came before.

So, for these two embittered rivals – who’ve met no fewer than 13 times in the last four seasons – we’ve done our El Derby Madrileno homework to help punters turn a profit from this stellar inter-city tussle.

Real Madrid to win the first half @ 3/2

High-pressure derbies can often produce cagey affairs, but luckily for the neutrals not so when the Spanish capital’s heavyweights take the gloves off.

There has not been a single goalless draw in the last 23 editions in competitive meetings, while incredibly, not one of those matches has been devoid of at least one goal by half-time.

Favourites Real have been in front in the last three meetings this season and in five of the last seven.

First-half – total goals 2 @ 31/10

Another pattern which cannot be ignored is the number of times (eight in the last 15 meetings) that the exact amount of goals has equalled two.

Real Madrid leading 2-0 is a prominent theme, though this also covers the 1-1 before the oranges are handed out, which has occurred twice in the last six meetings also.

Over 2.5 total goals @ 11/10

As we previously alluded to this contest is not shy of goals historically, much like Real’s blockbuster Clasico clashes with their other nearest and dearest, Barcelona.

Seven of the last 10 Madrid derbies have witnessed the 2.5-goals line getting breached.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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