Juventus v Real Madrid: Value lies with Juve and Buffon to deny Ronaldo
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Juventus and Real Madrid will contest the Champions League Final this weekend, and it’s set-up to be one of the most intriguing showpieces in years.
Can Zinedine Zidane’s free-scoring Real find a way through Max Allegri’s resolute Juventus at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium?
The odds suggest it won’t be easy.
The reigning champions – bidding to become the first side ever to retain the Champions League – are slight favourites to win in 90 minutes 17/10.
They’re 4/5 to lift the famous trophy, while Juventus are 19/10 in 90 minutes and 10/11 to win the cup.
And victory would see 39-year-old legend Gigi Buffon finally land the title his talent so richly deserves, having twice been runner-up.
Buffon has been a key reason why the Old Lady have been incredibly tough to break down. They’ve conceded just three goals in the entire tournament, while Real have let in a sloppy 17.
Barcelona couldn’t find a way past Juventus in 180 minutes, while the free-scoring talents of Monaco could only muster one in the same period.
Real Madrid will have just 90 minutes, 120 at the most.
We must remember too, that not only are Juve rock-tight at the back, they boast Gonzalo Higuain and Paulo Dybala up front.
And it’s that combination of defence and attack which has us leaning towards Juventus becoming Champions League winners for the first time in 21 years.
The pick of the bets looks to be Juventus to win and under 3.5 goals, which stands at 12/5.
Higuain is the Old Lady’s top scorer in the competition with five goals, and you can get 4/1 on the Argentine opening the scoring in Cardiff, or 13/8 anytime.
Cristiano Ronaldo is the favourite – understandably – in those markets however. The Portuguese ace is level with Lionel Messi this season on 11 Champions League goals.
But against this staunchest of Italian defences who are so intent on ending their 21-year drought, this might not be Ronnie’s night.
Click here for all our Champions League Final markets.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
