The 2015-16 Champions League Final takes place this weekend and it will be two Spanish heavy weights fighting it out for the title. Continue reading for our Champions League Final Preview and Betting Tips.
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Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid (Sunday 4.45am AEST)
These two Spanish sides will face off in the Champions League final in a rematch of the 2014 championship title game. On that night it was Real Madrid who lifted the cup in a 4-1 victory but the score line doesn’t show how close the contest was. A last minute equaliser from Sergio Ramos sent the match into overtime and it was there that Real stamped their dominance on the match.
However, since then it has been Atletico Madrid that has had the upper hand against their crosstown rivals. In the last 10 matches Real has come out on top in just one match with Atletico being victorious on four occasions.
Aletico Madrid has reached the final on the back of their brilliant defence. Their style is to defend the match and prevent the other team from scoring and once they have managed to make their opposition turn the ball over they capitalise on the break. This game plan has worked brilliantly for the Spanish side as they have been able to defeat arguably the two best teams in the world on the way to the Champions League final and to prove it isn’t a fluke they did it over two legs. In the quarterfinals they defeated Spanish rivals and champions Barcelona and in the semi-finals they overcame the German champions Bayern Munich.
Atletico’s defence is so strong that they conceded just 18 goals throughout the full season in the La Liga and just seven goals in 12 Champions League games. Their defence forces teams wide and either makes them take long shots or cross the ball which falls to the advantage of their central defenders Godin and Filipe Luis who are terrific in the air.
Meanwhile Real Madrid’s defence has been far from dominant as they conceded 34 goals throughout the La Liga season but have only conceded five goals throughout their Champions League matches, however they did face arguably softer opposition than Atletico. Real Madrid’s tactics could fall into the hands of Atletico as they are likely to push forward in attack and look to capitalise on the pressure they will mount. If they aren’t able to take advantage of this and grab an early goal then they will become frustrated and ultimately could be caught out on the break.
If Real are going to have success in this match they will need to find commitment on the defensive end similar to the strive they will have pushing forward. They will need to ensure they aren’t too committed up front and aren’t caught out on a counter attack. However, we believe this will be the sides downfall as Atletico are stronger in the air, a better defensive unit and are capable of taking advantage of their limited opportunities created. Recent history also demonstrates the dominance Atletico have against their neighbours and we believe they will leave victorious.
TIP: Atletico Madrid @ $3.00 with Sportsbet
You can find the full champions league schedule here.
Take note: Any of the tips in this article are simply the author’s opinion, so bet at your own risk and always gamble responsibly. Also be sure to check out the Before You Bet Twitter Page for all our thoughts in the lead up to bets! Happy punting!
