Club football’s biggest match, the Champions League Final is set for Sunday morning (AEST) from the Allianz Arena in Munich.
We are set for a battle between the dominant force in the French Ligue 1 with Paris Saint-Germain taking on Serie A runners up Inter Milan in a clash between clubs desperate for success on the continental stage.
This will be the first Champions League Final to be played in Germany in a decade, with Barcelona defeating Juventus at the Olympiastadion in Germany.
However it has been 13 long years since the spectacular Allianz Arena in Munich has hosted this fixture, with Chelsea emerging victorious in a dramatic penalty shootout over Bayern in 2023.
For PSG they will be hoping that this is the year they finally claim that elusive piece of silverware that they have gone close to winning many times over the last 20 years.
Perhaps no memory will have been more heartbreaking than the 2020 final at an empty Estadio da Luz in Portugal, where PSG fell to Bayern 1-0, which was their lone appearance on this stage.
Inter Milan has a slightly more decorated history in European football, with three Champions League/European Cup victories in 1964, 1965 and most recently 2010.
Just two years ago they were in the final and gave Manchester City all they could handle before falling 1-0.
Our full preview and breakdown for the 2025 Champions League final can be found below with the best bets for the match.
Paths to the Final
It’s fair to say that the first season of the new Champions League format produced some different approaches as teams worked out the best way to navigate the eight rounds and variety of opponents.
Both Inter and PSG qualified directly for the main draw as champions of their respective domestic competitions, avoiding the awkward qualifying phase.
Inter, somewhat unsurprisingly built their campaign on a resolute defence and finding ways to stifle opponents, opening their campaign with a draw and four wins, keeping a clean sheet in every match.
Their lone concession came on Matchday 6 with a 1-0 loss away to Leverkusen before two more clean sheet victories secured fourth place overall.
That was enough to book a spot directly in the Round of 16, where they were drawn to face Feyenoord and a 4-1 aggregate win sent them through to the Quarter Finals.
They had their work cut out for them against Bayern there, winning the first leg 2-1 before holding on for a 2-2 draw in the second to advance to face Barcelona.
In this tie, Inter’s defensive resolve was thrown out the window, playing out a pair of 3-3 draws that included a 93rd minute equaliser in the second leg to send the tie to extra time.
Davide Frattesi was the hero in extra time, scoring the goal that would book Inter Milan’s return to the Champions League Final.
PSG had a slightly tougher time in this competition, winning their first match against Girona, before one point from their next four fixtures left them in real danger of missing out on the knockout phase.
Wins over RB Salzburg, Man City and Stuttgart were enough to secure 15th place overall in the league, but it did mean they had to navigate the knockout playoffs.
It was there they flexed their muscle, dominating Brest 10-0 on aggregate in an all-French tie and their reward for that was a date with Premier League champions-elect at the time, Liverpool.
After both sides won their away legs 1-0, the match went to penalties at Anfield, where Gianluigi Donnarumma stood tall, denying the Reds twice from the spot and sealing the upset win.
A dominant 3-1 win in the Quarter Final first leg over Aston Villa and a 2-0 lead half an hour into the second leg should have had them in cruise control, but three Villa goals set up a nervy finish that PSG were able to navigate.
A third successive English opponent awaited in the Semi Final and the much hyped tie with Arsenal never really lived up to expectations.
From the outset it was clear that PSG were the better team and the battling Gunners could not find a way through the PSG defence and Donnarumma, with the French club winning 3-1 on aggregate.
Best Bets
Total Goals
For all of the hype surrounding the Champions League Final, the last few years have really failed to deliver on the drama.
Ever since Liverpool and Tottenham kicked off this dour trend of risk-averse finals, the under has been the best betting play.
Four of the last six finals have finished 1-0 and the other two matches ended at 2-0 including Real Madrid’s win over Dortmund last year.
The last time both teams scored in a Champions League final was 2018 between Liverpool and Real Madrid and that trend does not look like breaking anytime soon.
With so much on the line, both sides will be happy to sit back, bide their time and wait for a mistake.
Unfortunately, an early goal may not be enough to salvage this contest with both clubs so adept defensively, they may not get broken down if they do go up early and invite pressure for 80+ minutes.
Under 2.5 Goals @ $1.80
Both Teams to Score (No) @ $2.00
Player Markets
Before we delve into these player markets, it’s worth noting that these player bets are coming with a very low level of confidence given the way this match is expected to play out.
But there can be some value found on the shots market rather than forcing a goalscorer bet.
Lautaro Martinez has nine goals from 767 minutes played in the competition and is in third place overall.
If Inter Milan are going to generate something in open play, he is the man to attempt to finish the chance.
Meanwhile for PSG, it is a bit of a long shot but Achraf Hakimi is one of those fullbacks that seems more than capable of popping up in the box and trying to poke home from close range.
His overlapping ability creates a real threat down that right flank and there is always the chance a mishit cross is accidentally directed towards goal.
Lautaro Martinez 2+ Shots on Target @ $2.70
Achraf Haikimi 1+ Shot on Target @ $2.10
Match Winner
It has been over 30 years since a French club was crowned champions of Europe, and PSG will head into this match as favourites.
Despite lacking a certain star power compared some of their squads that fell short in previous years, this might be the best team that PSG have fielded in the Champions League.
While the likes of Neymar, Lionel Messi and Kyllian Mbappe would easily boost the video game ratings of this side, the chemistry between the players has elevated this group to another level.
Admittedly they still have some phenomenal players with the aforementioned Hakimi, as well as Ousmane Dembele in the mix too.
But will it be enough to break down a strong and resolute Inter Milan side that contains more than a few familiar faces to Premier League fans.
And in a situation like this one, you have to back the side that has the stronger defence.
Simone Inzaghi has the tactical nous to stifle PSG and his attackers can find a way to goal.
It might not be the prettiest of displays but Inter is the value play in this market to lift the trophy.
Inter Milan to Lift the Trophy @ $2.20
2024
Sunday morning brings us the showpiece event, the grand finale of the European club football season as the 2023/24 Champions League Final comes to us from Wembley Stadium.
There is no shortage of intrigue surrounding this Final with German side Borussia Dortmund landing in the underdog role as they take on Spanish giants and the most successful club in European football, Real Madrid.
It has been a long time since the Champions League Final was last held in London with the last decider being played at the venue in 2013 between Dortmund and Bayern Munich, which was won by the latter.
All up this will be the eighth European final at Wembley and the third since it’s rebuild in the early 2000’s.
Neither Borussia Dortmund or Real Madrid have ever won a Champions League or European Cup Final on English soil, however that will change this weekend.
Read on for our full breakdown and best bets for the 2024 Champions League Final.
For Borussia Dortmund, this is a chance to end what has been a rough domestic season on the highest of notes.
Their Bundesliga campaign began with a nine-match unbeaten run before hitting the wall in November, with one win from seven in the lead up to Christmas.
As they were never really able to keep pace with the runaway Bayer Leverkusen, their season was over at that point and finished 27 points adrift.
Their quest for the DFB Pokal came to an end in the Round of 16 during that dreary December with a 2-0 loss at Stuttgart.
As for Real Madrid, the Spanish powerhouse club lost just one game on the way to another La Liga title, their 36th all up, finishing 10 points clear of Barcelona.
It was not all smooth sailing however as they were knocked out of the Copa Del Rey in the Round of 16 in extra time by local rivals Atletico.
Now with a chance to pick up another European trophy, Real will relish the position of favourites heading into the 2024 Champions League Final.
Paths to the Final
Dortmund would have been cursing their poor luck when the Group Stage draw came out, landing in the same pool as PSG, AC Milan and Newcastle.
However they emerged out of that group in top spot, thanks in large part to their strong performances on the road, winning in Italy and England, which set up a Round of 16 tie with PSV.
Following a draw in the Netherlands, Dortmund went ahead early in the second leg courtesy of Jadon Sancho before Marco Reus iced the tie in second half stoppage time.
Up next was the imposing Atletico Madrid, with the Spanish giants claiming the first leg 2-1, but an 81st minute goal by Sebastian Haller gave Dortmund hope heading back to Germany.
The second leg was a wild back and forth match with Dortmund up 2-0 before halftime before Atletico levelled the match after just over an hour.
Two quick fire goals in the 71st and 74th minute gave the advantage back to Dortmund and they were able to hold on for a 5-4 aggregate victory.
While the Quarter Final was wildly back and forth, the effort to defeat the star studded PSG in the Semi Final was arguably more impressive, winning 1-0 home and away.
Real’s quest for a 15th European Cup/Champions League title began with a relatively routine passage through the Group Stage, winning all six games before edging past RB Leipzig in the Round of 16 after a 1-0 win in Germany and a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu.
It was the Quarter Final tie against Manchester City that produced the most drama of the entire knockout stage, with an entertaining 3-3 draw in Spain setting up a tense second leg.
Rodrygo’s 12th minute goal looked like it might have been enough for Real to advance, but Kevin De Bruyne sent the tie to extra time with his strike 14 minutes from time and there was no further break through to come, sending the match to penalties.
Real’s third choice keeper Andriy Lunin came up with a pair of massive saves in the shootout to help Madrid get past the champions of England.
If that was not enough drama then the Semi Final provided the perfect topper for Real, following a 2-2 draw in Germany that saw Vinicius net an 83rd minute equaliser from the spot.
Then in Madrid, Alfonso Davies gave Bayern the lead in the 68th minute and it looked like it might not happen for Los Blancos, however Joselu came through in the clutch with goals in the 88th and 91st minute leaving the Bernabeu in raptures and Bayern disconsolate.
It’s fair to say that the two clubs have contrasting histories in European competition, with Real hoisting a record 14 top tier European titles including five in the last decade.
Comparatively, Dortmund have just the one Champions League title to their name, winning the 1997 final 3-1 over Juventus, with just the one trip to the Final since then in 2013, where they fell to Bayern Munich.
Best Bets
Total Goals
It feels like this narrative comes up every season, but the numbers are there to back it up, Champions League Finals usually are not the most open and attacking games.
Each of the last four have finished with a 1-0 scoreline and the one prior to that in 2019 saw Liverpool win 2-0 over Tottenham.
It does make backing Under 2.5 Goals ($2.10) a very appealing prospect, however it is tough to see both teams keeping a clean sheet.
Both Teams to Score has hit in Real’s last five Champions League ties and nine of their 12 fixtures this season.
Dortmund’s best chance of winning is going to be holding Real out with a well organised and disciplined performance, while finding a goal on the counter, but they have not been the most defensively sound team either.
PSG had a plethora of chances in both Semi Final matches but were unable to convert, a narrative that is very rarely able to be applied to Real.
I’m looking for Real to stretch the match and turn it into an open fixture, similar to their 2017 triumph over Juventus in Cardiff.
Both Teams to Score @ $1.73
Goalscorers
What makes Real such a frustrating opponent in their current setup is that there is no one clear threat to stop.
Vinicius, Rodrygo and Joselu have all scored five goals in the Champions League while Jude Bellingham has chipped in with four.
In all competitions that group has combined for 81 goals in all competitions and if Dortmund opt to try and shut one down, the others will be able to take advantage of that.
As for which players to back in the goal scorer market, two stand out above the others firstly with Jude Bellingham playing on English soil and Vinicius has been the go to player in big moments before, including scoring the winner two years ago against Liverpool.
As for Dortmund, there are only four players with multiple Champions League goals this season and Niclas Fullkrug leads the way with three.
In a match like this, he is going to have a long night against Real’s defence but with the go ahead goal in the Quarter Final against Atletico and the winning goal against PSG in the first leg, he can shine on the big stage.
Vinicius Anytime Goalscorer @ $2.10
Jude Bellingham Anytime Goalscorer @ $2.15
Niclas Fullkrug Anytime Goalscorer @ $3.75
Match Result
Dortmund will no doubt put up a fight but there is a pretty clear gulf in class between these sides and once Real gets going, it feels like there is only one plausible outcome for how this match is going to finish.
Not only am I expecting Real to win the match, they are likely to do it in a relatively convincing fashion, running away with the match late on.
Once they get their second goal Dortmund will have to come out of their shell and that is where Real will be at their most dangerous, which will lead to the score blowing out.
I’ll be backing Real to win by at least a two goal margin as we have our biggest margin of victory in a Champions League Final since that night in Wales in 2017.
Real Madrid to Win -1 Goal @ $2.60
2023
An eventful, drawn out and dramatic 2022/2023 European club season will draw to a close in the early hours of Sunday morning (AEST) with the Champions League Final in Istanbul.
It will also bring to a close three years of postponements for the Turkish hosts, with the Ataturk Olympic Stadium originally slated to host the 2020 decider before the forced relocation of it and the 2021 Champions League Final due to the pandemic.
This will be the second Champions League Final that the venue has hosted following Liverpool’s eventful win over AC Milan on penalties in 2005.
We’ve got our full breakdown of the 2023 Champions League Final between Manchester City and Inter Milan below so read on for our team previews and best bets.
Manchester City is on the verge of becoming the second English team and tenth club overall to win the treble of a league title, league cup and continental trophy.
They have already won the Premier League and added an FA Cup over local rivals Manchester United last weekend, who were the most recent English side to complete the treble in 1999.
Inter completed a treble of their own under Jose Mourinho in 2010, while this season has seen them win the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italia while finishing third in Serie A.
Competition History
Ever since their club was bought out by their current owners in 2009, the primary goal of the City Football Group has been to win a Champions League title and this may be their best opportunity yet.
Now mainstays in Europe’s elite club competition, City have played in every group stage since 2011/2012 and made the knockout phase in 10 straight seasons.
They have made the final once in that time, losing 1-0 to Chelsea in the 2021 Champions League Final in their best performance in this tournament to date.
However victory would not provide their first piece of European silverware with City’s lone continental triumph coming in the 1970 Cup Winners’ Cup.
Inter’s history in Europe’s top flight is slightly more decorated with the blue half of Milan celebrating three titles from five appearances in the finals.
That included back to back titles in 1964 and 1965, becoming just the third club at the time and one of six clubs all up to win consecutive European titles.
Their most recent victory came in 2010 when they defeated Bayern Munich 2-0 with a brace from Diego Milito.
Following a six season Champions League absence in the middle of the decade after that win, Inter have competed in the last five Champions League tournaments and this is their best performance of that run.
How They Got Here
It’s fair to say that these clubs have followed very different paths to Istanbul.
City ran away with Group G. winning four and drawing two of their matches, finishing five points clear of Borussia Dortmund.
During the knockout stages, City had minimal stress progressing through despite some tough opposition in that time.
They belted RB Leipzig 8-1 on aggregate before eliminating Bayern Munich 4-1, setting up a blockbuster Semi Final against Real Madrid.
City held out for a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu before absolutely demolishing the reigning European champions at the Etihad, winning the second leg 4-0 and booking their second Champions League Final appearance in three years.
Inter was forced to scrap all throughout the their Group C campaign, finishing second behind Bayern but impressively ahead of Barcelona.
In the Round of 16 they ground out a 1-0 aggregate win over FC Porto before advancing past Benfica to book a Semi Final date with local rivals AC Milan.
Over two gripping legs at the San Siro, Inter flexed their muscle winning the first leg 2-0 before recording a 1-0 victory to seal their progression in convincing fashion.
Betting Plays
Total Goals
If you love to follow historical trends and want the good news, the last three Champions League Finals have gone down to the wire and been decided by a one goal margin.
The bad news only matters if you like to bet the over with those matches all being decided by a 1-0 scoreline.
Backing the under has hit in the last four finals if you include Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Tottenham in 2019 and it sure looks like the way to go for this one.
While there is no questioning the attacking prowess on both sides, especially City’s, both have incredibly strong defences and will be incredibly tough to break down.
Both clubs have conceded just three goals in their six knockout matches with City keeping three clean sheets, all at home, while Inter have kept opponents scoreless on five occasions.
With the market weighted towards the overs play, you can back a low scoring game at a price and look for some cover in the goalscorer markets.
Under 2.5 Goals @ $2.05
Goalscorers
Nobody should be at all surprised to see City’s Norwegian cyborg Erling Haaland at the top of the goalscorer market and at a ridiculously short price.
With a record of 52 goals from 52 games in all competitions, including 12 in 10 during the Champions League, he is always going to be the centre of attention.
However he was kept quiet (by his standard) in the FA Cup Final and it was teammate Ilkay Gundogan who guided them to the trophy with a brace in that game.
If you read our FA Cup Final Preview last week, you would know that in games like this one there is a case to be made for the secondary goalscorers to step up with the main outlets getting so much attention.
The downside of taking that approach with a team like City is that there are so many options for Pep Guardiola to call on.
Which is why the value play here is backing Kevin De Bruyne since he is going to not only start, but play a key role in the match barring injury.
While his tally for the season is just 10 goals, an unofficial recall of the ones he did score suggests plenty came in big moments.
Backing a goalscorer for Inter (if you feel obliged to) is a slightly more straightforward proposition.
The combination of former City man Edin Dzeko and Argentine World Cup winner Lautaro Martinez have been tasked with leading the line in the Champions League with
The Bosnia and Herzegovina striker Inter’s leading continental goalscorer this campaign with four.
Plus if he does score against his former club, it becomes infinitely more amusing if his goal is what prevents City winning the treble.
He has the size and experience to cause plenty of havoc, especially at set pieces and if Inter are going to score, it will be on the break with Dzeko at the point of the attack.
Kevin De Bruyne Anytime Goalscorer @ $4.00
Edin Dzeko Anytime Goalscorer @ $4.50
Match Result
It would be remiss to completely write off Inter’s chances in this match, after all, they have finished their season on a tear winning nine of their last ten, with their only loss coming to Napoli.
They can score when required and when they have to play ugly they are more than capable of doing so.
But it is a big leap to take, going from expecting them to be competitive and give City some problems to thinking they will be capable of knocking off this juggernaut.
City may never have a better chance to claim their maiden Champions League title than this match after enjoying a season where just about everything fell in to place for them in the last few months.
It seems like we going to see the match unfold in a way that will suit the Italians with clear cut chances few and far between, but if one side is going to create a moment of magic to split the game wide open, it’s going to be City.
Manchester City to Win to Nil (90 Minutes) @ $ 2.35
SGM: City to Win (90 Minutes), Erling Haaland First Goalscorer, Under 3.5 Goals @ $5.63
2022
The 2021/2022 European club season draws to a close with the biggest game of them all, the Champions League Final.
Just like four years ago, it will be Liverpool taking on Spanish giants Real Madrid with the Reds out for revenge after that 3-1 defeat in Kyiv.
It will be the third straight season the Champions League Final has been relocated after this was originally scheduled in St Petersburg before it was moved to Saint-Denis in late February.
On a different note, it will be the first time since Liverpool’s triumph in 2019 over Tottenham at the Wanda Metropolitano that the Champions League Final will be played in front of a full stadium, with the 2020 and 2021 deciders having zero and 14,000 fans in attendance respectively.
We’ve got our full breakdown of the 2022 Champions League Final between Liverpool and Real Madrid and we have our team previews and best bets below.
Chasing their third trophy of the season having won both English domestic cups while also pushing Manchester City to the final day in the Premier League, claiming the club’s seventh Champions League would cap a remarkable season.
As for Real Madrid, Champions League success is a part of their storied history with 13 titles and having dominated the competition over the last decade, they will be desperate to add another trophy to their cabinet at the Bernabeu.
How They Got Here
Drawn in a tough group with Atletico Madrid, Porto and A.C. Milan, Liverpool brushed aside their competition with ease, winning all six matches and comfortably advancing in first place.
In the Round of 16, Liverpool survived a fast finishing Inter Milan 2-1 on aggregate before defeating Benfica 6-4 on aggregate in the Quarter Finals.
After claiming the first leg of the Semi Final tie with Villarreal 2-0, it looked like Liverpool would be cruising to the Champions League Final, but a frantic rally in the second half meant they had to go deep into their reserves to get by 3-2 on the night and 5-2 on aggregate.
Real Madrid have done it the hard way with just a one goal margin in each of their three ties.
They turned around a 1-0 deficit in the second leg against Paris Saint Germain before a wild Quarter Final against Chelsea needed extra time to separate the two sides after the two legs finished 3-1 to the home side.
As if that wasn’t dramatic enough, their Semi Final against Manchester City will go down as an all time classic Champions League tie.
After an eventful first leg finished 4-3 to City at the Etihad, Madrid needed a late miracle to turn over a deficit.
Trailing 1-0 on the night, Rodrygo scored a brace in the 90th and 91st minute to send the game to extra time where Karim Benzema scored a penalty in extra time to send Madrid to their first final in four years.
Head to Head History
This will be the third time Liverpool and Real Madrid have met in the final of a European cup tournament with the Reds claiming the 1981 title with Alan Kennedy’s 82nd minute goal.
The 2018 decider was much more dramatic affair with Mo Salah injured early and Loris Karius’s errors consigning Liverpool to a 3-1 defeat thanks to Gareth Bale’s second half brace.
That was not the most recent contest between the two sides with them meeting in the Quarter Finals of last year’s Champions League.
In front of empty stadiums, Real Madrid won the first leg 3-1 in Spain and held Liverpool to a scoreless draw at Anfield to advance from that tie.
Betting Plays
Total Goals
Now for the important stuff from this Champions League Final Preview, what are the best bets in the market.
Recent history points towards a low scoring, arm wrestle of the final with the last three deciders finishing 2-0, 1-0 and 1-0.
However Both Teams to Score had hit in the eight finals prior to that run and we could see a return to that trend thanks to the bevy of attacking talent on offer.
Liverpool’s defence has shown a few cracks throughout the season and can be breached while Real Madrid also played in their share of shootouts.
It’s not going to be for a lack of skill from the defenders or goalkeepers, but just the sheer relentless pressure from the respective forwards has me leaning towards backing a high scoring contest.
If you’re a neutral then surely you’re hoping this game delivers on the drama.
Back Both Teams to Score and Over 2.5 Goals @ $1.95
Goalscorers
It is no surprise to see the two superstar attackers on top of the goalscorer markets with Karim Benzema and Mo Salah the shortest priced options.
With both players at over $2.00 to score at anytime in the market, you could be forgiven for taking the safe value option of both of those players.
After all Benzema has scored 15 Champions League goals this season, while Salah has found the back of the net eight times in this competition.
There is value to be found a bit further down the market for both clubs.
Luis Diaz has been a remarkable addition to an already potent forward line for Liverpool, scoring four goals in this competition and could be an impact player for Jurgen Klopp as Real will have more pressing issues to deal with.
Meanwhile for Real, it’s tough to look beyond the hero of the Semi Final turnaround with Rodrygo looking well over the odds for someone who has contributed as much as he has of late.
Back Luis Diaz Anytime Goalscorer @ $3.30
Back Rodrygo Anytime Goalscorer @ $5.00
Match Result
In just about every way, you can talk yourself into Real Madrid or Liverpool being crowned champions of Europe in this game.
Whether it’s an arm wrestle that goes to penalties, or a back and forth encounter with goals being scored at a rate we cannot keep up with.
For that reason, it’s tough to justify why Liverpool are such clear favourites over a side they have not beaten since 1981.
Even though they will be motivated to end what has been a successful season on a high note, Real won’t care about history or who deserves what and they have a damn good squad to top it off.
If it goes to penalties you have to like Liverpool given they have won both of their trophies via the spot, but I cannot see Real letting it get that far and think it will be European crown number 14 for Los Blancos.
Back Real Madrid to Lift the Trophy @ $2.45
UCL FINAL SGM: Real Madrid to Win (90 Minutes), Salah & Benzema Anytime Goalscorers, Over 3.5 Goals @ $25.80
2021
The final club match of the 2021 European season sees an all English edition of the Champions League Final.
Both sides have already secured their place in next season’s premiere club tournament however there is plenty on the line when these sides face off in Lisbon.
It will be the second straight season that the Champions League Final has been played in Portugal with match moved from the original venue of the Ataturk Olympic Stadium due to the COVID situation in Turkey.
We have done a full breakdown of the 2021 Champions League Final and have our previews and best bets below.
Chelsea will be taking part in its third Champions League Final having lost the first all English decider to Manchester United on penalties in 2008 before defeating Bayern Munich at their home ground on penalties in 2012.
As for Manchester City, this is the last remaining hole in their trophy cabinet having won every English title on offer since the City Football Group took over the club in 2008.
Regardless of the final score, this is their best ever performance in the UEFA Champions League and should they win, it will be their first European trophy in over 50 years, taking out the UEFA Cup Winners Cup in 1970.
How They Got Here
City cruised through their group, taking 16 points from their six matches, conceding just one goal which came in their first fixture.
They dispatched Borussia Monchengladbach in the Round of 16 before another German opponent awaited them in the Quarter Finals, defeating Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in both the home and away legs.
Last season’s defeated finalists Paris Saint Germain were the last remaining hurdle before the final with Riyad Mahrez giving City the advantage.
The Algerian scored three of his side’s four goals over the two legs in their 4-1 aggregate victory, sending them to their first Champions League Final.
As for Chelsea, they were also able to top their group after finishing undefeated and conceding just two goals in that time.
Their 4-0 win over Sevilla on Matchday 5 gave them the advantage over the Spanish club who finished just one point behind them in the group.
It’s fair to say that Chelsea received no favours in the Round of 16 Draw with La Liga champions elect Atletico Madrid their opponent there.
They managed to grind out a 3-0 aggregate victory before surviving against a gallant Porto side 2-1 on aggregate in the Quarter Finals.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the entire Champions League knockout phase was not that Chelsea defeated Real Madrid, but the relative ease with which they did so.
The Blues were firmly in the ascendency taking the tie 3-1 on aggregate after a 2-0 second leg victory at Stamford Bridge to advance to their third Champions League Final.
Past Matches
This will be the fourth meeting between Chelsea and Manchester City this season with Thomas Tuchel’s side holding a 2-1 aggregate advantage.
City won the Premier League meeting at Stamford Bridge 3-1 in January thanks to goals from Ilkay Gundogan, Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne.
It was one of the final matches that Frank Lampard was in charge of Chelsea before he was replaced with German boss Thomas Tuchel.
He brought about a sense of resiliency in Chelsea guiding the club by Chelsea 1-0 in the FA Cup Semi Final and 2-1 at the Etihad on May 9 (AEST).
Betting Plays
Total Goals
Both City and Chelsea have built their success this season on resolute defensive efforts, prioritising a clean sheet above all else.
The markets for this game are favouring a low scoring contest however both sides have let their defensive resilience drop in the closing stages of the season.
Chelsea has not kept a clean sheet since their Champions League Semi Final win over Real Madrid, a streak of five matches.
City got their season back on track on the weekend with a 5-0 victory in their final Premier League match, however they allowed seven goals in the three matches before that.
While the last two Champions League Finals have finished 2-0 and 1-0, the eight prior to that saw both teams score and this match should see that trend returned.
There is just too much attacking talent on display to expect both teams to produce a clean sheet here and I’ll start off the action by taking both teams to score.
Back Both Teams to Score @ $2.05
Goalscorers
It has been 18 years since we had a scoreless Champions League Final and there have been just two since the 1990-1991 season.
Without trying to jinx it, surely someone is going to score in the 2021 Champions League Final, the question is who?
Neither side relies on an out and out primary goalscorer with seven City players scoring at least 10 goals this season and midfielder Ilkay Gundogan leading the way with 17 goals this season.
Only three Chelsea players have reached double digits with Timo Werner and Tammy Abraham the most productive players, registering 12 goals apiece, and a further seven players have scored at least five.
I’ll back one player from each side and there is value in the market with both teams offering up several options.
For City I’ll stick with the hot hand and back Riyad Mahrez to follow on from his efforts against PSG while on Chelsea’s side, I have to take Timo Werner at his current price.
The German has endured a hot and cold debut season in England but could end on a high note but scoring in their biggest game of the season.
Back Riyad Mahrez Anytime Goal Scorer @ $3.30
Back Timo Werner Anytime Goal Scorer @ $4.50
Match Result
It’s indisputable that Chelsea has the mental edge going into this match, having defeated City twice in the last six weeks already.
For that reason alone, the London side are phenomenal value to win in 90 minutes ($4.50) or just to lift the trophy ($2.75).
What is stopping me from pulling the trigger however is the fact that this has been City’s primary objective and they will put everything they have into this match.
Chelsea will not go down swinging however and I fully expect them to make life tough on Guardiola’s side, making them earn every inch on the pitch.
In the end the value on the Premier League champions to lift the trophy is just too good to back, especially if they can score early and force Chelsea to chase the match.
We could be in for an all time classic Champions League Final on Sunday morning and I’ll back City to emerge victorious by a score of 4-2.
That correct score is paying $81 and as tempting as it is to recommend that, there is more than enough value in the 90 minute result doubles market taking City to win and score a few goals in the process.
SGM: City to Win, Both Teams to Score and Over 3.5 Goals @ $8.43
2020
The 2020 Champions League Final brings a curtain down on one of the most bizarre seasons of European Football ever.
With the bulk of the knockout phase relocated to Portugal, Europe’s best sides have found ways to step up and deliver here.
Now Paris Saint Germain and Bayern Munich, two sides with very different histories, will compete for the title of Champions of Europe on Monday morning.
PSG are the definition of modern football, a star laden team, backed by private wealth looking to cap their rise up Europe’s hierarchy with the ultimate crown.
Bayern on the other hand are already entrenched in footballing royalty, the dominant force in Germany, they will be looking for their sixth European title and first since 2013.
Read on to see who we are backing in one of the premiere footballing occasions on the calendar.
Before we get into the major market, we should take a look at some of the other betting options as we look to finish the season on a winning note.
Both of these teams are lead by top line strikers so don’t be surprised if this one turns into a shootout, especially given the chances both sides have given up over the last couple of weeks.
Neither side will mind conceding one or two goals as they will be more than confident in their own attacking prowess to win in a high scoring affair.
Back Over 3.5 Goals @ $1.96
Then you have to also take a look at who will score the goals and there is no point in looking at anyone other than Bayern’s marksman Robert Lewandowski.
He has scored in all three of Bayern’s Champions League fixtures since the resumption and will want to atone for his lone Champions League Final appearance in 2013 for Borussia Dortmund where he was kept quiet by Bayern’s backline.
Even at this short of a price it’s worth backing him in since if Bayern are going to score, he is their main outlet.
Back Robert Lewandowski Anytime Goalscorer @ $1.62
Now for the big one, deciding which side to back to win this match.
Do you go for the bling or the history?
There is no doubt that there is an unfair amount of talent on both sides, including PSG having possibly the two best players in the world right now in Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.
But it’s hard to look past Bayern here, they are a far more complete team and are on the verge of completing a historic perfect Champions League campaign.
When the French and Germans face off in just about anything you stick to the hard and fast rule: Back the Germans.
Back Bayern Munich to Win (90 Minutes) @ $2.05
2019
For the first time since 2008 in Moscow, the Champions League Final will be contested by two English teams.
It will be the culmination of one of, if not the craziest Champions League tournaments in recent memory.
The knockout stages alone have had VAR controversy, massive comebacks, late goals and Cinderella stories which were ended in the cruellest of fashions.
In the end we are left with the second and fourth best Premier League teams competing for European club football’s ultimate prize.
Road to the Final
Miracles were the order of the day for both sides throughout the whole tournament, leaving the question of whether or not one or both sides have used up all their luck.
Let’s start with Liverpool, who set out to avenge last season’s defeat to Real Madrid but very nearly didn’t get out of the group stage.
They advanced thanks to a Matchday 6 win at home to Napoli and went through as runners up behind PSG.
That saw them drawn against Bayern Munich in the Round of 16 and after a scoreless draw at Anfield, a huge 3-1 win in Munich sent them through where they brushed Porto aside with a 6-1 aggregate.
Their semi final against Barcelona saw them go into the second leg at Anfield needing to overhaul a 3-0 deficit which produced one of those “magical European nights” their fans go on & on about.
Anyway, they won the night 4-0 and the tie 4-3 so here they are.
Now Tottenham, who needed a late goal on Matchday 6 to get out of a very tough group, Lucas Moura’s strike at the Nou Camp against an already qualified Barcelona sent Tottenham to the knockout stages ahead of Inter Milan.
After cruising past Borussia Dortmund in the Round of 16, things once again got crazy when they faced Manchester City.
While the first leg was a 1-0 victory, that could politely be described as an arm wrestle, the second leg produced one of those matches you couldn’t help but enjoy as a fan or neutral, all with Harry Kane missing through an injury picked up in the first leg.
A back and forth tie went down to the wire and with the tie level at 4-4 on aggregate, it looked like Raheem Sterling had won it for City in the 93rd minute, only for VAR to intervene and chalk it off, sending Spurs through on away goals to a semi final that might actually top that.
Ajax won the first leg at Tottenham’s new stadium 1-0 and managed to take a 2-0 lead by halftime.
Up stepped Lucas Moura (again) with a second half hat-trick, sealed with a 96th minute winner sending the (very small) contingent of away fans into raptures and ending Ajax’s fairytale run.
Total Goals Forecast
If there’s one thing to take away from both side’s path to the final, it’s that they love a bit of late drama, and scoring a few goals.
History also says there will be goals in this one as well, the both teams to score market has hit in the last eight Champions League Finals.
That market has also hit in the last four meetings between these sides, so it’s certainly worth backing to happen here.
As for how many goals, that generally comes down to how optimistic you are about the result.
Three of the last seven have finished 1-1 at the end of 90 minutes but I’m more interested in this following the pattern of the last few finals and seeing plenty of goals.
I’ll be putting a small bet on Over 3.5 Goals which has hit in three of the last four Finals and with the attackers on hand, could very well be in play again here.
Goalscorer Markets
If there are going to be goals in this game, someone has to score them and the obvious candidates for both sides are their leading strikers, Mohamed Salah and Harry Kane.
Salah is the main man for Liverpool but he has been sharing the scoring load with Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino with all three of those players scoring four times in the Champions League so far.
You can potentially eliminate Firmino as an option as he will likely be coming off the bench as he’s only just coming off an injury and may not even be used.
Then it just comes down to who you feel more comfortable backing here and after having to leave last year’s final early, I’ll back Salah to have a big impact on this one and open the scoring.
Over on the other side, it’s all about Harry Kane and his status for the Final.
By all accounts it sounds like he’s going to play so this is being written under the assumption he will take to the pitch with two working ankles.
Lucas Moura stepped up in his absence in a big way against Ajax but on this stage you have to back Kane to produce a moment of magic and get on the scoresheet.
Other Markets
As is the case with any major football final, you want to look through the markets to find some value and one of the popular ones is the red card market.
Here though, that’s not really looking like a great play considering no player has been sent off in a Champions League Final since Didier Drogba in the 116th minute of the 2008 final against Manchester United in Moscow.
Instead if you’re looking for a value play and think this match could be tough to split, put a little bit on the match to go to a shootout which, let’s be honest is totally in play, especially at $6.
Result
Alright, that’s plenty of talk but now let’s get down to business, who is going to win this game?
You really could make an argument for both sides but at the end of the day, this Liverpool side has been historically good, something that is easy to forget considering they lost the Premier League to a slightly more historic Manchester City side by one point.
Kane’s return should give Tottenham a real boost and both sides can score as many goals as they need to, but it’s just too hard to look past how good Liverpool have been this year so I’ll back them to win in normal time.
Back Liverpool to Win in 90 Minutes @ $1.91
2018
Liverpool return to Europe’s biggest club match for the first time in 11 years and face the two-time defending champions Real Madrid, who are going for their 13th Champions League trophy.
This will be the sixth meeting between these sides with the most recent fixture coming in the group stage of the 2014-2015 Champions League competition.
Madrid won 3-0 at Anfield in October and 1-0 at the Bernabeu however Liverpool won the knockout stages meeting in 2009 5-0 on aggregate.
Road to the Final
Liverpool began their road to Kyiv in mid-August with a 6-3 aggregate win over Hoffenheim in the Play-Off Round.
They finished on top of Group H with three wins and three draws, scoring 23 goals including a 7-0 win over Maribor.
Throughout the knockout stages they built their success with big first leg wins and holding on in the return contest.
In the Round of 16 they won 5-0 over Porto before a scoreless draw in the second leg.
Their quarter final triumph was built on a 3-0 win over Manchester City at Anfield in the first leg.
It was nervy in the semi-final after going into the second leg with a 5-2 advantage. Roma almost pulled off a miraculous comeback winning the second leg 4-2 but it was Liverpool who held on to advance 7-6 on aggregate.
Real Madrid finished second in Group H just behind Tottenham with four wins, a draw and a loss from their games.
Their one loss coming at Wembley against Spurs and perhaps providing a blueprint for an English side to upset Los Blancos.
Their knockout path has been imposing starting off with Paris Saint-Germain, who were dismissed by a 5-2 aggregate score before facing off against Juventus.
Cristiano Ronaldo produced a goal to remember in the first leg as Real won 3-0 but Juve roared back in the second leg to level it up at 3-3 before a controversial penalty sent Real through.
In the semi-final they had to get past German heavyweights Bayern Munich which they did winning the first leg 2-1 and holding on for a 2-2 draw in the second contest.
Expect Some Goals
One thing that has stood out from both sides in the tournament so far is their propensity to both score and concede goals in bunches.
Real have scored 13 goals in their six games so far and have given up eight while Liverpool scored 17 and have given up seven, including conceding in each of their last three games.
Liverpool have done a fantastic job setting up to score early then hitting teams on the counter and will want to get that first goal.
Real will feel as though they can match however many goals Liverpool scores and they will need at least two in this game.
Three of the last four Champions League Finals have featured four or more goals so that is a good market to get on here with the attacking talent on show.
Back Over 3.5 Goals @ $2.20
It has been a remarkable effort from Liverpool to get this far, proving that on any given day they are capable of matching it with some of the biggest sides in the world.
Even so Real Madrid are a step up from that level.
Real has too many attacking options and will be able to keep Liverpool at an arms length throughout the game and be able to put it away in the final 10 minutes.
Back Real Madrid to Win in 90 Minutes @ $2.15
2017
The 2017 Champions League Final will be held at Millennium Stadium in Wales on Sunday morning and we are in for a truly fascinating game of football between Real Madrid and Juventus.
Real Madrid have the chance to become the first side since Milan in 1989/1990 to defend their Champions League title, but standing in their way is an incredibly well-organised Juventus side.
Will Gianluigi Buffon finally win a maiden Champions League title or will Real Madrid salute again? We have analysed both teams and our complete 2017 Champions League Final tips can be found below.
How They Got There
Real Madrid did not have a flawless run through the group stages and they finished in second position behind Borussia Dortmund after drawing with Dortmund twice and Legia Warsaw once.
They comfortably saw off Napoli in the round of 16 and got the job done against Bayern Munich in extra-time in the quarter-finals before they stamped their authority on local rivals Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the semi-finals.
Juventus finished on top of a tough group that also included Sevilla and Lyon before they were too tough for Porto in the round of 16.
They stamped themselves as leading contenders when they beat Barcelona 3-0 in the quarter-finals and they had no problems against Monaco in the semi-finals.
Recent Meetings
Real Madrid and Juventus have been regular foes in Europe dating back to 1962 and both sides currently hold eight wins apiece over the other, while there has been just the two draws.
Real Madrid took four points from their two clashes with Juventus in the group stages of the Champions League in 2013/2014, but Juventus beat Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals a year later.
Betting
There really is not a great deal between these two teams and that is shown in the 2017 UEFA Champions League Final betting market.
Real Madrid are currently narrow favourites at a quote of $2.70 from Juventus at $2.90 and the draw at $3.10.
Real Madrid are $1.83 to lift the trophy and there is $2 for Juventus to claim their first Champions League title since 1996.
Analysis
This will be an intriguing tactical battle between arguably the best attacking and best defensive sides in Europe.
Real Madrid have scored goals for fun during the Champions League to date, but breaking down this Juventus defensive unit will be much easier said than done.
Massimiliano Alegri has constructed a Juventus outfit that is fairly fluid – they played quiet differently against Barcelona and AS Monaco – but maintaining their shape is crucial and this is one of the many reasons they are so tough to break down.
While Juventus are lauded for their defensive ability, scoring goals is not an issue and the likes of Higuain, Mandzukic, Dani Alves and Dybala are all more than capable of troubling the Real Madrid back four.
Cristiano Ronaldo is obviously the star, but the key man for Real Madrid during the Champions League final will be defensive midfielder Casemiro.
He is a ball-winning machine that plays a crucial role often covering up for his attacking minded wing-backs.
One big advantage for Real Madrid is that their side is packed full of big-game players that are capable of producing a golden moment when it is needed the most.
Ronaldo looked a touch sluggish against Bayern Munich and still finished the game with a hat trick.
I expect both teams to make a fairly conservative start to the game and sit fairly deep, which could lead to the braver manager being rewarded.
Whichever way you look at it this is an incredibly open final and the only betting play that really does stand out is the $3.10 on offer for the draw.
Back The Draw @ $3.10
2016
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