Real Madrid and Juventus face off in the final of this year’s Champions League on Saturday night, in what could be a historic night in Cardiff.
The Spanish giants will become the first to defend the Champions League trophy, having won it last season, but face tough opposition in the Italian champions. Zidane’s side will also be looking to end their season with another trophy, following on from winning La Liga in May.
Juventus meanwhile are reigning Serie A champions and defended their title this season, despite losing a significant number of players last summer. Their defence is their main strength and their captained by legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. Buffon is yet to win the Champions League and it remains the only trophy missing from a glittering career. Now aged 39, this could be his final opportunity and he’ll have to keep a potent Real Madrid offense at bay for the duration of the game.
Juventus vs. Real Madrid Predictions
It’s one of the best attacks in the competition against one of the best defences, but Juventus are far more than just a defensive side. They’re devastating on the break and could catch Real Madrid out early. Madrid can lack concentration in defence at crucial times and that could come back to haunt them.
Juventus vs. Real Madrid Betting Tips
- Juventus to win: 39/20
- Draw: 43/20
- Real Madrid to win: 17/10
- 1-1 after 90 minutes: 5/1
- Paulo Dybala to score first: 13/2
Head to Head
- This is the 19th encounter between Juventus and Real Madrid, all in the European Cup/Champions League, making this the second-most played fixture in the history of Europe’s premier club competition after Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid (24).
- The head-to-head record between Juventus and Real Madrid is perfectly balanced, with eight wins each and two draws. However, their only meeting in the final saw Real Madrid win 1-0 in 1998, thanks to a Pedrag Mijatovic goal.
- Real Madrid have reached the European Cup/Champions League final for the 15th time, four more than any other club (AC Milan, 11). They’ve won 11 of the previous 14, a 79% success rate.
- This is Real Madrid’s third European Cup/Champions League final in four seasons, a feat they hadn’t accomplished since the early days of the competition (5 in a row from 1956 to 1960).
- Real Madrid will attempt to become the first team since AC Milan (1989, 1990) to win back-to-back European Cup/Champions League trophies.
- Juventus are the only unbeaten team in this season’s Champions League (W9 D3).
- With five goals this season, Gonzalo Higuain is enjoying his most prolific Champions League campaign.
- Dani Alves has scored more goals (10) and delivered more assists (25) than any other full-back in the Champions League since his debut in 2007/08.
- Real Madrid have kept only one clean sheet in 12 Champions League games this season.
- 14 of Real Madrid’s last 15 Champions League goals have been scored from the 42nd minute onwards.
- Cristiano Ronaldo has reached the 10-goal mark for the sixth consecutive Champions League campaign; no other player has done it on more than two consecutive seasons (Messi, Van Nistelrooy).
- If he plays, Gianluigi Buffon will be the second oldest player to feature in a European Cup/Champions League final (39 years and 4 months) after Edwin van der Sar (40 years and 6 months). The Italian goalkeeper has lost his last two finals, both with Juventus (2003 and 2015).
- Zinedine Zidane could win his second Champions League in only his second season as manager of a first team. He was in the Juventus side that lost against Real Madrid in the only previous Champions League final between both teams back in 1998.
Juventus Team News
Sami Khedira returned in Juventus’ final game of the season and Mario Mandzukic should also be fit to start.
Possible Juventus XI: Gianluigi Buffon, Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini, Dani Alves, Miralem Pjanic, Sami Khedira, Alex Sandro, Paulo Dybala, Mario Mandzukic, Gonzalo Higuain
Real Madrid Team News
Zidane faces a selection dilemma as to whether to pick Isco or Gareth Bale. Bale has suffered from injury all season with Isco performing well in his absence. Pepe has broken ribs, meaning that Raphael Varane will continue alongside Sergio Ramos in defence.
Possible Real Madrid XI: Keylor Navas, Dani Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane, Marcelo, Toni Kroos, Casemiro, Luka Modric, Isco, Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo