If It’s the Champions League Final, it Must Be Real Madrid

Another Low-Scoring Chess Match?

Each of the last four Champions League Finals have featured just one goal whilst Wednesday’s Europa Conference League Final would remain goalless until the 116th minute, when Ayoub El Kaabi sealed Olympiacos’ first-ever European trophy. It’s fair to say that European finals have trended towards low-scoring chess matches, and we’re backing this one to continue that trend.

As far as Real Madrid go, they have not lost a UEFA Champions League match this entire season, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t had to dig deep and suffer. Throughout this campaign, Real have been on the ropes and have had to deal with pressure.

They came away with a 1-0 win vs. Leipzig thanks to an Andriy Lunin masterclass in goal and a stellar solo goal from Brahim Diaz before drawing 1-1 whilst the quarterfinals would see them draw 3-3 and 1-1 to Manchester City and come away with a narrow victory on penalties. After drawing 2-2 to Bayern Munich, Real looked headed for a semifinals elimination, only to escape with a 2-1 victory courtesy of Joselu’s late brace.

With regards to Dortmund, they drew 1-1 to PSV Eindhoven and won 2-0 in the second leg, following that up with a 2-1 loss and a come-from-behind 4-2 victory against Atletico Madrid before taking care of business with back-to-back 1-0 wins vs. Paris Saint-Germain. Neither team is particularly accustomed to blowing out the opponent, but both teams have the composure and defensive organization to hold their own and ride out the waves of pressure.

Whilst Real boast the best defense (26 goals conceded) in La Liga by a margin of 11, BVB are no slouches at the back, either. Gregor Kobel has emerged as one of the finest goalkeepers in Europe this season, racking up six clean sheets (the most in the competition), whilst Nico Schlotterbeck and Mats Hummels have been a rock-solid duo and should be able to hold their own against a Real side that does not play with a recognized center forward.

We’re expecting Carlo Ancelotti and Edin Terzic to keep their cards close to their chests, and we’re expecting a low-scoring affair at Wembley. If you’re planning to bet on soccer, bet on Under 2.5 goals at +120.

Champions League Prop: Vinicius Anytime Scorer (+150)

We’ve already established that goals will come at a premium, but which player is capable of stepping up and providing the goals at Wembley? After picking up the La Liga Player of the Season award, Jude Bellingham could be set for a big performance against his former club as he returns to his native country. Meanwhile, Toni Kroos and Marco Reus will be looking to close out their careers at Real and BVB with a vital goal. However, if there’s one player who’s likely to chip in with a major performance, it’s Vinicius Junior.

With Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo no longer dominating European football, Vinicius Junior is staking a claim for the best player in the sport. He continues to be a thorn in the side of the best defenses in Europe, a player who is capable of twisting his opponent inside out, kicking his acceleration into second gear and eating up space on the counter, and fashioning a chance out of nothing.

Whilst he’s only 23, he’s already scored a winner in a Champions League Final and emerged as a regular performer at the game’s biggest stage. He’s been there and done that, and he has the confidence and skills to make a huge difference at Wembley.

If there’s anyone who’s capable of rising to the occasion, it’s Vinicius, and we’re backing him to come up big against BVB in our European soccer props.

The odds in this chart are posted on the time of publication of the article. They are subject to change without previous notice.

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