Sports Blog 02/06/2017: UEFA Champions League Final Preview – Juventus vs Real Madrid, Saturday 3rd June 2017

Can Juventus prevent Real Madrid becoming the first club to win back-to-back Champions League finals since Milan in 1990?

Not only is Saturday’s trip to Cardiff Madrid’s 3rd European final in 4 seasons, its Zinedine Zidane’s second appearance as manager in the space of just 18 months in charge. The former French star has worked wonders since taking charge at the Bernabeu, leading the Galacticos to their first La Liga title since 2011/12.



Madrid have looked largely unruffled in their Champions League campaign. Though they finished 2nd in their group to Borussia Dortmund after drawing half their games, they went on to smash Napoli 6-2 in the last 16. A quarter-final against Bayern Munich was then forced to extra-time, but that only ended up giving Cristiano Ronaldo – who sits at a Super Mega PGM of 32-37 – the opportunity for a 2nd leg hat-trick. Finally they faced their old foes Atletico in the semis, going on to break Diego Simeone’s heart for the umpteenth time as Los Rojiblancos once again crumbled in the face of their European boogeymen.

The thing is Juventus’ UCL campaign has arguably been even more impressive. After conceding just twice in the group stages the Italian champions went on to let in just one solitary goal in the knockouts – all this despite facing Barcelona in the quarters and Monaco in the semis, aka the 2 top scoring sides in Europe’s domestic leagues this season.

Not only that, after winning a 6th consecutive Serie A title and a 3rd consecutive Coppa Italia, Juve are actually chasing their first ever treble (and a goddamn Champions League medal for Gianluigi Buffon!) They also aren’t too shabby upfront; Gonzalo Higuain nabbed 32 goals in all competitions to head to Wales with a Super Mega PGM of 24-29.

This final does sort of boil down to a rampant Spanish attack – Real were the 3rd most prolific side on the continent after Barca and Monaco – against a traditionally frosty Italian backline. Unsurprisingly, our Spreadex traders are expecting a close battle, offering a Real Madrid/Juventus Goal Supremacy spread of 0-0.2 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.2-2.4.