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UCL Odds: Nothing Separating Juve, Real Madrid In Final

Don Aguero

by Don Aguero in Soccer News

Updated Jan 17, 2018 · 9:39 AM PST

Ronaldo sets up for a free kick
By Jan Solo [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Flickr

Juventus (+200) vs Real Madrid (+175), Draw (+225)

You’d be hard-pressed to find a find a tighter Champions League final than this.

There’s very little separating Juventus and Real Madrid as they head to Cardiff this Saturday, June 3rd, to conclude an action-packed 2016-17 Champions League season. Both closed the season by winning their domestic leagues, and Juve have a shot for the elusive Italian treble.

The two European giants have become finals regulars in recent editions of the Champions League. Real Madrid have won two of the last three, clinching a win from city rivals Atletico Madrid both times. And Juve were outclassed by Barcelona in 2014-15, losing 3-1.

Juventus avenged their loss this year with one of the most spectacular displays of the season. The Italian side trounced Barca 3-0 in the first leg of the quarterfinals and went on to shut them out 0-0 in the second. It was both an attacking and defensive masterclass by Massimiliano Allegri.

 

 

Real Madrid have also had an impressive run, beating Bayern Munich both at home and away in the quarterfinals, and then denying Atletico for the third consecutive year in the semis. Real Madrid led La Liga for the majority of the season and, for a while, it seemed their place on top would go uncontested. A late-season slump put Barcelona within striking distance, but in the end, Los Blancos were able to clinch the top spot.

In terms of injuries, Juve doesn’t have much to worry about. Aside from Marko Pjaca, Allegri has the full strength of his squad to draw from. It’ll be interesting to see whether he opts for a three or four-man backline against Madrid. Both have worked well for him this season.

Zinedine Zidane may have to make do without Daniel Carvajal on Saturday, but Real is hardly short of world-class defenders. Gareth Bale will probably be match-ready, which puts Zidane in a difficult position. Does he start his most expensive player or will he continue to play Isco?

Isco has been spectacular in Bale’s absence, and Real Madrid has performed quite well this season without the Welshman. It’s an enviable problem faced only by star-studded teams: which world-class player do we start?

It’s undeniable that Real Madrid have one of the best (if not the best) starting line-up in the world. But I can’t help but prefer Juventus right now. With the talent and experience of Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini holding down the back line; Alex Sandro and Dani Alves tearing down the flanks; and an unbelievable attacking trio in Gonzalo Higuain, Paulo Dybala, and Mario Mandzukic, it’s hard to pick against them.

It’s not an easy decision, but I have to go with Juventus, especially with the slightly better payout.

Pick: Juventus (+200)

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