Live on ITV: Sat 19.45: We have three selections ahead of this weekend’s Champions League final including Messi to be MOTM (5/2, BetVictor).
Juventus were hugely impressive as they deservedly got the better of Real Madrid over two legs in the Champions League semi-final but bookies don’t seem to have been swayed by the performance of the Italian champions in the last four and as a result they’re as high as 12/5 at Ladbrokes to go on and lift the trophy in Berlin on Saturday.
In part of course, this is because the Bianconeri come up against a tremendous Barcelona outfit that eased to a 5-3 aggregate success over Bayern Munich in the last round and as the Catalans giants always looked like they could score at will in that contest, they come in as William Hill’s 4/11 favourites to be crowned European champions for the fifth time; the first time since 2011.
Luis Enrique’s charges are also strongly fancied to prevail across the 90 minutes, bet365 rating them at 8/13 while Juve are BetVictor’s 5/1 underdogs to register a success in normal time and it’s 3/1 (Stan James) for the mouth watering clash to require extra time.
Bet365 post 9/2 against a score draw, betway cater for those punters feeling a bit more ambitious by quoting a 1-1 scoreline at 7/1 and as the bookmakers have arguably underestimated Massimiliano Allegri’s men a touch, there’s likely to be money for them at 10/3 in Skybet’s ‘Draw No Bet’ market.
Barcelona’s attacking prowess however, makes them impossible to oppose and although their opponents have the capacity to frustrate Luis Enrique’s troops, as well as give them plenty to think about at the other end, the Spanish champions get the nod.
Nevertheless, it should be a close encounter so Stan James’s 5/2 for Barca to nick it by a one-goal margin is one of the best bets at the Olympiastadion, where BetVictor offer 8/1 about a 2-1 victory for the Catalans side and it’s 7/2 courtesy of Winner.com for them to emerge triumphant following a level first period.
It will surprise nobody to learn that Lionel Messi is Paddy Power’s 7/2 jolly to break the deadlock. The Argentine maestro, who is the competition’s joint top scorer with ten, was instrumental as his team saw off Bayern in the semis and he has to be fancied to make an impact in this one.
Stan James make Messi a tasty 21/20 to notch at any time, he’s 9/2 (William Hill) to strike at least twice and BetVictor go 5/2 about the Barca man claiming the Man of the Match award; odds that have tumbled since his tremendous performance in last weekend’s Copa del Rey final.
Recommended Bets:
Barcelona to win 2-1 – 8/1 (BetVictor)
Barcelona to beat Juventus by one – 5/2 (Stan James)
Lionel Messi to be be man of the match – 5/2 (BetVictor)
Compare all Champions League odds and bet at the best prices.
