STAR PREVIEW: Juventus v Real Madrid
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Star Sports odds narrowly favour Real Madrid but surely the Champions League Final in Cardiff tonight is a coin flip?
The two giants of Italy and Spain are closely matched on their head to head record. From 18 previous encounters Juventus and Real Madrid have eight wins each and two draws. See what I mean about the coin flip?
The ‘Old Lady’ are second to none defensively (conceded only one goal in six knock out ties), are unbeaten in the whole tournament and could easily frustrate the holders Real Madrid who like to attack.
Real Madrid have scored in every single one of their 12 games in the Champions League this season (32 goals, most prolific attack) but have also kept only one clean sheet, against Atlético Madrid in the semi-final first leg (3-0).
Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has opted to start the in-form Isco with Gareth Bale on the bench.
Bale has not played since 23 April but is fit, while Isco has scored five goals in his last eight games.
Juventus v Real Madrid
UEFA Champions League Final
19:45 BT Sport Showcase HD / BT Sport 2 / BT Sport 2 HD / BT Sport 4K UHD
HEAD TO HEAD RECORD
(Maximum 10 matches)
May 2015 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Real Madrid 1-1 Juventus
May 2015 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Juventus 2-1 Real Madrid
Nov 2013 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Juventus 2-2 Real Madrid
Oct 2013 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Real Madrid 2-1 Juventus
Nov 2008 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Real Madrid 0-2 Juventus
Oct 2008 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Juventus 2-1 Real Madrid
Mar 2005 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Juventus 2-0 Real Madrid
Feb 2005 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Real Madrid 1-0 Juventus
May 2015 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Juventus 3-1 Real Madrid
May 2003 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Real Madrid 2-1 Juventus
STARTING XI
Juventus
1 Buffon
15 Barzagli
19 Bonucci
3 Chiellini
12 Alex Sandro
5 Pjanic
6 Khedira
23 Dani Alves
21 Dybala
17 Mandzukic
9 Higuaín
Real Madrid
1 Navas
2 Carvajal
5 Varane
4 Ramos
12 Marcelo
8 Kroos
14 Casemiro
19 Modric
22 Isco
9 Benzema
7 Ronaldo
Desperately hard to choose but I have a belief that Italian football in general might be just a bit better than the Spanish variety this season and in the coin-flip am happy to be backing Juventus at 2/1 with Star Sports.
RECOMMENDED BETS (scale of 1-100 points)
BACK JUVENTUS 12 points at around 2/1 with Star Sports
PROFIT/LOSS SINCE JAN 1 2017: -66.07 points