The Champions League Final is one of the most anticipated matches on the international sporting calendar and it concludes what has been a truly remarkable season of European club football.
Real Madrid are clear favourites to lift the Champions League for a record-equalling 11th time, but it has been a far from ideal preparation for the global giants and they face an Atletico Madrid side full of confidence following their defeat of Bayern Munich in the semi-finals.
Can Real Madrid land their first piece of silverware for the season or will Atletico upset their cross-town rivals? I have analysed the make-up of both teams to come up with the best betting plays for the 2016 Champions League Final.
How They Got There
Real Madrid progressed from a group that included Paris Saint-Germain, Skakhtar Donetsk and Malmo without losing a game before they swept past Roma in the round of 16.
Wolfsburg took Real Madrid to the brink of elimination in the quarter-finals, but they progressed thanks to a Cristiano Ronaldo hat trick and they were too strong for Manchester City in the semi-finals.
Atletico Madrid topped their group which included Benfica, Galatasaray and Astana to progress to the knockout stages, but they required a penalty shootout to eliminate PSV Eindhoven after two scoreless games.
Atletico were not expected to progress past the quarter-finals stage of the tournament, but a stellar defensive effort saw them score a huge upset win over Barcelona and they recorded another boilover against Bayern Munich in the semi-finals.
Recent Meetings
This will be the third meeting between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid this season.
The two sides played out a 1-1 draw when they met in October last year, but a typically impressive defensive effort from Atletico Madrid saw them register a 1-0 win over their rivals in February.
There is no doubt that Atletico Madrid have had the wood on Real Madrid in recent years and Real have not won a derby in La Liga since 2013, but Real beat Atletico in 2014 Champions League Final and eliminated them in the semi-finals last year.
Atletico have never beaten Real in European Football and Real Madrid have also won the past four Champions League Finals that they have played in.
Analysis
The 2014 Champions League Final between these two teams featured just one goal in 92 metres before Real Madrid ran away with the game in extra time and I expect a similar game this weekend.
Atletico Madrid have been absolutely enormous defensively during the Champions League to date and they have frustrated both Barcelona and Bayern Munich – the only two sides in the world that possess as many offensive weapons as Real Madrid.
In saying that, Real Madrid have been just as impressive defensively and they have kept ten clean sheets in their 12 Champions League games, with Manchester City never really looking like scoring in 180 minutes of football.
The key man for Real Madrid – as always – is Cristiano Ronaldo and he could prove to be the difference maker in this final after playing a part in 74 percent of the goals scored by his side during the tournament to date.
He limped out of training yesterday, but he is expected to be fit to play in the final and if he does he is good enough to produce the key moment that Real Madrid will need to win this final.
I have Real Madrid market at around the $2.15 mark and there is definite value at their current price of $2.40, while the $6.50 available for a Real Madrid to win 1-0 is worth a bet.
Recommended Bet: Real Madrid To Win @ $2.40 and Real Madrid To Win 1-0 @ $6.50