Champions League Finals – Messi Leads Odds to Score; Morata Has Value

There’s one game left in the 2014-15 edition of the UEFA Champions League as FC Barcelona and Juventus will clash this Saturday in the final at Berlin. Betting the winner of the game gets most of the action, but for those of you looking for other ways to have some (responsible) wagering fun, consider betting on who will do the scoring.

Basically, all you need to do is pick the player(s) you think will tally in the final. If they do, your ticket will cash!

Barcelona have one of the most potent and dynamic offenses ever assembled, so it’s no surprise that this prop is replete with Catalans at the top of the list. Let’s take a closer look.

Lionel Messi (10/11): Messi is the all-time leading scorer in the Champions League and also leads this year’s tournament with ten goals, including two against Bayern Munich in the semifinals. After a disappointing 2014 World Cup, he has looked like the “Little Wizard” of old over the past three months. Some credit manager Luis Enrique for bringing the joy back to Messi’s game; but, whatever the reason, he’s scoring at a good clip and is a deserving 10/11 favorite.

Lio also has a good track record in European finals; he scored in 2009 when Barcelona beat Manchester United 2-1 in Rome, and tallied again when Barca defeated United at Wembley in 2011.

Neymar (8/5): The Brazilian star Neymar has had a tremendous season even though Messi gets the bulk of the attention.  Neymar has nine Champions League goals this year and has become a master at taking advantage of the spaces created by Lionel.

This will be Neymar’s first UCL Final, but he showed he has big-game prowess by scoring twice in the 2013 Confederations Cup final with Brazil.

Luis Suarez (8/5): Like Neymar, Suarez hasn’t played in a Champions League final either. But he had a slew of massively important goals during his time with Liverpool last season and will not cower under the bright lights in Berlin.  Suarez has also been a part of two World Cup teams with Uruguay, helping his country reach the semifinals in 2010. It’s strange to say given who his teammates are, but he may be the purest scorer amongst the three Barca strikers.

Carlos Tevez (9/4): Tevez is the first Juve player to appear on the lis. The Italians come in as underdogs, but if they do manage to score, the Argentinian striker is the most likely candidate. He leads the team with seven goals in the Champions League, including crucial markers against Borussia Dortmund in the round of 16.

Tevez has played in one Champions League final, winning the title with Man. United on penalties back in 2008.

Alvaro Morata (4/1): Youngster Alvaro Morata is a longshot to score for Juventus. His game is simple but effective; a rangy striker with surprisingly nimble feet, he is capable of scoring with his head or his legs. He also has big-game credentials, scoring twice in the semifinals against Real Madrid.

Andrea Pirlo (15/2): Pirlo hasn’t played well over the last few months due to injuries, but he is the most experienced player on the Juventus roster. L‘architetto has played in three Champions League finals with AC Milan (winning two) but has yet to score. That said, he’ll be lining up over any penalty or free kick close to the box.

Safe Pick: Lio Messi.

Value pick: Alvaro Morata.

(Photo credit: Lluís from Sabadell (Barcelona), España (LFS_13398) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons. Photo has been cropped.)