Better Champions League Final Bets

Juventus or Real Madrid: Who should you back? 

By Matt Pitt

Juventus last won the UEFA Champions League back in 1995-96 when the defeated Ajax Amsterdam 4-2 on penalties after drawing 1-1. Twenty-one years have since passed and Juventus haven’t managed to lift the trophy, but this could be their best chance to do so despite having to get past Real Madrid.

While Juventus have a wealth of attacking talent such as Gonzalo Higuain, Paulo Dybala and Mario Madzukic, it is their defensive qualities that make them stand out. Juventus only conceded three goals in 12 Champions League games this season and if you don’t allow the opposition to score then you can’t lose a game.

Juventus progressed from the Group Stage having won four and drawing two of their six games. They then showed what they are capable of during the knockout stages when they beat Barcelona 3-0 at home before holding the Spanish giants to a 0-0 draw at the Camp Nou. Juventus then beat French champions Monaco 4-1 over two legs to book their place in the final.

Bovada price a Juventus victory at -105 and Real Madrid at -125 showing there is not much between these two teams. I’ll be opting to back Juventus because I can see them holding back the Real front line, frustrating their opponents and then sneaking a goal to clinch the title. 

Although I fancy Juventus to win the Champions League, nobody in their right mind would ever write off Real Madrid. Having won only their second La Liga domestic title in five seasons last week, Real will be oozing confidence. Real managed to score 106 goals in 38 La Liga games and have banged in an additional 32 in 12 Champions League games. They have, however, conceded 54 goals during the same timeframe so they do give away plenty of chances at the back.

Madrid have faced Juventus 18 times in their history, winning eight, losing eight and drawing twice. The last time they locked horns was in 2014-15 when the game finished 1-1 in Madrid and 2-1 to Juventus in Turin.

 

Four of the last eight games between the two have had three goals or more and I can see that happening again. I’ve already said that Juventus are incredible at defending, but I cannot see them stopping Cristiano Ronaldo or Gareth Bale for the full 90 minutes. Ronaldo only needs one goals to draw level with the competition’s top scorer Lionel Messi and we all know Ronaldo loves the big stage.

 

Ronaldo is +170 to beat Messi in the race for the Golden Boot, which I don’t think he’ll manage to do, but the +120 on Ronaldo scoring during the final looks like a shrewd bet.

So, if I believe Ronaldo will score but Juventus will win, that surely means both teams will score. Bovada price this at -115 and a wager on a 2-1 Juventus victory will see you receive betting odds of +950.

It should be an amazing soccer match, one with two teams with contrasting styles. 

Pick: Juventus to win 2-1 at +950

Category : Betting Picks

Tag : Champions League final betting , Cristiano Ronaldo , Gonzalo Higuain , juventus , Lionel Messi , real madrid , uefa champions league

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