2014 Champions League Final – Betting Preview
For the first time in Champions League history two teams from the same city will meet in the final, as Real Madrid face city rivals Atletico Madrid in Lisbon.
Sportingly Better picks out the best Champions League betting tips ahead of the 2014 Champions League final, as Real Madrid take on Atletico Madrid.
Champions League Betting Tips
Real Madrd (2.00) v Atletico Madrid (4.20); Draw (3.50)
Real Madrid will be looking to win their 10th European title on Saturday, after comfortably beating last year’s winners Bayern Munich in the semi-finals.
Los Blancos will be without midfield lynchpin Xabi Alonso through suspension, but crucially forwards Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo have both been declared fit.
Real Madrid Probable XI
Casillas, Carvajal, Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo, Modric, Illarramendi, Di Maria, Ronaldo, Bale, Benzema
Portugeuse favourite Cristiano Ronaldo returns to Lisbon having fired a record 16 goals for los Merengues during the this year’s edition of the Champions League and the former Manchester United player remains an attractive price of 2.10 to score anytime.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side have bulldozed their way through the competition and carry the best attacking record going into the final with 37 goals from just 12 games and the pace and power of Ronaldo, Bale and Karim Benzema; especially on the break will have to be closely watched by Diego Simeone’s pressing unit.
The favourites in the Champions League betting have picked up five clean sheets in the tournament along the way, a trend that their more defensively renowned opponents could only equal in the competition this year.
Opponents Atletico Madrid are anxiously awaiting the fitness of star striker Diego Costa, who has scored eight goals for the club in this year’s competition, but any news of the Spain international’s injury will likely have a big swing on the match betting odds.
The Spanish champions will see club captain Gabi return from suspension, in what is otherwise a fully-fit squad for title-winning manager Diego Simeone.
Atletico Madrid Probable XI
Courtois, Juanfran, Miranda, Godin, Luis, Turan, Tiago, Gabi, Koke, Villa, Costa
Atletico Madrid were 1-0 victors at the Bernabeu in La Liga earlier in the season, but whilst their draw at the Vicente Calderon perhaps should have been more, their 5-0 aggregate defeat in the cup will perhaps see backers of los Rojiblancos use plenty of caution in the ante-post markets.
The underdogs do however carry the best defensive record in the competition, conceding just six times in 12 Champions League matches, with under 2.5 goals available to back at just 1.66.
Real Madrid have won nine of their 12 European finals and this year’s Champions League top scorers look well priced against the Spanish champions, particularly if star striker Diego Costa is not ready for Lisbon’s showpiece on Saturday.
Recommended Football Tips
Real Madrid to win @2.00
Cristiano Ronaldo to score anytime @2.10
Author Credit: Jonathan Day
Image Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cafe56/
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