Real Madrid vs Juventus
Few football games are bigger.
For the sports betting industry, few clashes are bigger.
Few betting odds are rarely studied as closely.
This is the biggest sporting event to have ever been staged in Wales and the single biggest sporting event in the world in 2017.
To put into context, a live global TV audience of 200 million is estimated – twice the TV audience of the Superbowl. It will be broadcast live in 200 countries.
It’s expected to generate an economic impact of £45 million to Cardiff and the wider region.
Cardiff is the smallest city, Wales the smallest country and Football Association of Wales the smallest host association to have hosted the Champions League final.
This city of 325,000 has barely enough flights to accommodate the amount of people that will be travelling to the city this weekend.
The Road to Cardiff ends here and it should be fascinating.
Both sides are chasing potentially historic trebles – it’s the Old Lady versus Mr Europe.
Mr Europe are favourites.
Indeed, Real Madrid have the chance to lift the Duodecima.
And the first port of inspiration will be the world’s top player who, more than anyone, has guided Real to the brink of history as they bid to become the first side to win back-to-back Champions League titles.
Ronaldo smashed five past Bayern Munchen to set up a semi-final with Atletico Madrid.
The first leg of the last four then saw the Portugal captain hit a hat-trick to reach 104 goals in the Champions League.
Now can the mercurial forward make it 105 and seal the dream double for Madristas?
Standing in their way are Juventus, the Italian club with a piece of their own history in their sights after they clinched a Serie A and Coppa Italia double.
Among the men tasked with keeping Ronaldo and co quiet will be veteran Gigi Buffon – can he finally become a champion of Europe at the age of 39? – and their man-marking linchpin Leonardo Bonucci.
But this contest is far from just attack versus defence. Everywhere you look there are individual tales.
Former Real Madrid heroes, Gonzalo Higuain and Sami Khedira, will be in the Juventus side and desperate to beat Los Blancos.
In turn, they will be hoping Alvaro Morata can help overcome his old club.
And of course, the biggest story of all centres on Zinedine Zidane as he tries to capture a second winner’s medal in a row against the club he graced from 1996-2001.
For Zidane joined Juventus from Bordeaux for a fee of around £3 million and spent five seasons in Turin until just after the turn of the century.
For those of a superstitious persuasion, Juventus will wear their famous black and white home shirt, just as they did when Real edged them out in 1998 final, an occasion in which Zidane was wearing a Juventus shirt.
Juventus have now won six straight Scudettos – three under Antonio Conte and three under Massimiliano Allegri –but the Italians have lost their last four finals: Borussia Dortmund in 1997, Real Madrid (1998), Milan (2003) and Barcelona (2015).
Who will triumph in Cardiff is anyone’s guess and it’s hard to see past Madrid and my 🌟🌟🌟 tip is 1X2 Real Madrid @ 2.56.
However, you could do worse than plumping for an Asian Handicap: 🌟🌟 for 0.00 Juventus @ 2.07.
All signs point to a memorable finale between two of Europe’s best.
Let the battle commence.
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
