Real Survive Early Atletico Onslaught (Just)
After a slow start, Real found themselves two goals down after just 20 minutes and neutrals believed that Diego Simeone’s men could follow Barcelona’s example and come back from the dead. Unfortunately for Atletico, Real just about managed to weather the storm and an Isco goal just before the half-time interval ended any chance of a famous comeback.
Los Blancos cannot afford to take their foot off the gas in the final; Juventus have the talent to punish Zinedine Zidane’s side. As of May 11th, Real are slight favourites to lift the trophy in Cardiff – with 888sport going 17/20 on the 11-time champions to emerge victorious.
No Pogba, No Problem for Juventus
When Paul Pogba re-joined Manchester United for a world record fee of £89 million last summer, many believed that Juventus would struggle to inspire confidence against the best teams in Europe. However, Massimiliano Allegri has reshaped his side and the Italian giants are now arguably better than they were twelve months ago.
The Pogba money helped to finance a mammoth bid for Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain and the Argentina striker has been phenomenal since moving to Turin. The Juventus forward has bagged 32 goals in 50 appearances this campaign and he will be quietly confident of getting his name on the scoresheet at the Millennium Stadium.
Zidane Blessed With Stupidly Strong Squad
Do Real Madrid have the strongest squad in Europe? Potentially. With the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Isco in attacking areas, Real are capable of overpowering their opponents and Juventus will need to be at their brilliant best to keep tabs on all of Madrid’s superstars upfront.
Zidane knows that both Gareth Bale and Pepe, two of their most important players, are set to return in the near future and the Frenchman will have a selection headache on whether to mix things up or stick with the same side that defeated Atletico. Disrupting the balance of the squad too much could be detrimental to their aspirations...
Allegri Knows... Defence Wins Championships
The key to success in sport? A solid defensive unit. In Leonardo Bonucci, Andrea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini, Juventus have one of the strongest and most reliable backlines in European football. Prior to Kylian Mbappe’s strike on Tuesday night, Juve hadn’t conceded a goal in 689 minutes of Champions League football; an incredible statistic.
The Italian side, on the verge of securing a sixth successive Serie A title, aren’t defensive in their approach but Allegri does have them well drilled. With three centre backs, Juve have plenty of support if Dani Alves and Alex Sandro decide to venture forward. Allegri has a successful formula going on at Juventus Stadium and they will take some stopping.
Potential To Be One Of THE Great Finals
On paper, this has all the makings of a fantastic contest and goals could be on the cards. Had Atletico advanced, we might have been in for a real war of attrition and a stalemate but Real should go all out for the win and, in theory, we may be treated to an open game. An exciting final would certainly go down well with neutral supporters...
Both sides are capable of going for the jugular and it could be a memorable affair, especially if we get an early goal. With a plethora of attacking talent on show, an entertaining contest looks likely and extra time is a definite option. So mark the date down on your calendar now; this is a game you won’t want to miss.
