European giants Real Madrid and Juventus meet on Saturday night at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium in what should prove to be an historic and emotional Champions League final.

Real are looking to become the first ever team to successfully defend the trophy since its inception in 1992 and at the same time be crowned champions of Europe for a record 12th time. A win would also mean three titles in four seasons in the UCL.

In their way will be a defensively astute Juventus side themselves looking to win the title for the third time and avoid being runners-up yet again – Massimiliano Alegri’s side having already been the bridesmaids on a record sixoccasions over the trophy’s two formats.

Italian teams have won Europe’s top competition on 12 occasions and  Juventus will be desperate to add to that, aiding their country in trying to catch up to Spain who have won it 16 times which is a record. Although no team has defended their title since the competition became the Champions League, the last European champions to do so were Italian outfit AC Milan and their domestic rivals will be out to deny Real the same accolade.

Real Madrid will start favourites for the match, though Juve’s form in the competition has been outstanding and had some experts calling them as winners as far back as the round of 16 matches.

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JUVENTUS

Recent Form 

Since losing at Roma in mid-May, Juve finished the season in typically good form by winning their last 3 domestic games. Their reverse at Roma was their only defeat in their last 13 games and so they go into the final in great form.

Away from the Juventus Stadium their form looks a little less impressive, 15 games since the turn of the year resulting in 8 wins, 4 draws and 3 defeats in all competitions.

Juve’s 12 Champions League matches this season have brought 9 wins and 3 draws and to be fair, it would be extremely harsh on them should their only defeat be in the final itself. Incredibly, Juve’s only defeat away from home in the last three seasons of Champions League football came in the group stages at Sevilla in December 2015, a 1-0 defeat.

Team News 

Sami Khedira returned for the final Serie A game of the season and may be fit to start against his old side, while striker Mario Mandzukic should be OK to play. Mandzukic could play a supporting role to another former Real star, with Gonzalo Higuain set to feature once again. Former Barcelona full-back Dani Alves has been a revelation and fully deserves his place in the final against his former El Clasico rivals.

Paulo Dybala, Miralem Pjanic, Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci and superstar ‘keeper Gianluigi Buffon should all feature and are all top class players in their own right.

REAL MADRID

Recent Form 

Real are in good form generally and just about managed to scrape home to the La Liga title, a first for Zinedine Zidane. They do look vulnerable against the better teams though; their only failures to win over 90 minutes in the last 19 games being against Atletico Madrid (twice), Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

Much like their opposition, Real have lost three away games since the turn of the year, all by only a single goal at Sevilla, Valencia and Atletico Madrid.

Real’s 12 Champions League games this term have seen them win 7 (90 minutes), draw 3 and lose 2. Strictly speaking, Real have actually lost 2 of their last 3 games en route to the final and don’t look as solid a proposition on paper as their Italian counterparts.

Los Blancos’ away form in this season’s UCL is OK, if unspectacular. 6 games have resulted in 3 wins, 2 draws and a defeat. Something which catches my eye though is that have conceded goals in every Champions League game away from the Bernebeu this season, 10 goals in total across the 6 games.

Team News 

So often players face disappointments when apparently given home advantage, and that could be the case for Gareth Bale in Cardiff who is struggling for fitness. Isco could play in his absence, while broken ribs looks like ruling out tough defender Pepe. Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane may continue together at the back. Star men Ronaldo and Karim Benzema should start.

Toni Kroos and Luka Modric will provide support from deeper areas and while fully capable, are perhaps not up to the standard of the very best Real Madrid midfielders of the past. A lot will depend on how well the Juve defence can shackle Ronaldo.

Juventus - Real Madrid Head-To-Head 

There is nothing to choose between these two sides, each winning eight times and drawing twice. They met as recently as 2015 in the knockout stages, Juventus winning 3-2 on aggregate.

Last Matches Between Juventus and Real Madrid

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Summary

Juventus’ form in this competition us arguably better than Real’s and they are certainly a more solid looking team. The fact that Real have conceded 10 goals in 6 games away from their home ground in the Champions League would be a worry too, especially given Juve’s excellent defensive record. If the Italians score first, it could end this tie early.

For their part, Juventus have been brilliant in the competition away from home and so playing at Cardiff will not daunt them. Despite Barcelona not making the final and losing out to Real in the league, the spectre of the El Clasico rivalry still looms over this final with Khedira and Higuain looking to make a point against their former team, and ex-Barcelona man Dani Alves looking to cement his unofficial title of ‘player of the tournament’.

For me, Juventus look great value to win the tie in 90 minutes and they should be backed to do so. Watch out for offers on bet365.com too; usually they will match your pre-game bet with an in-play one.

Juventus - Real Madrid match facts to help with online betting

5Both teams have scored in the last 5 H2H matches in all competitions.

12Juventus are undefeated in their last 12 matches in UEFA Champions League.

14Real Madrid have scored at least one goal in their last 14 matches in UEFA Champions League.

12There have been over 2.5 goals scored in Real Madrid's last 12 matches in UEFA Champions League.

Juventus - Real Madrid Betting Tips 

Back Juventus win at 19/10 with bet365.com

Back Higuain to score any time at 7/5 with bet365.com

Back draw half-time / Juventus full-time at 11/2 with bet365.com

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