The “Old Lady” Battles the Madrid Giants: Who Will Conquer Europe?

After putting Barcelona to the sword, Juventus got paired with AS Monaco in the semi-final. The French, a free-scoring side, were up against a certain Italian side whose goalkeeper had refused to concede a goal since the knockout phase began.

The game ended 4-1 on aggregate, in favor of the Italians. Even though their wall had finally been breached, that didn’t stop their march to the final in Cardiff, Wales.

What about Real?

Madrid, unlike Juve, scored at least a goal in every single game of their 2016/2017 Champions League campaign. What they lacked in terms of stopping the goals from going in, they made up for by consistently scoring.

They’ve managed to score 32 goals in 12 UCL games this season (an average of over 2.5 goals per game) while they conceded 17 (an average of a goal every game).

The final of one of the most prestigious football tournaments in the world will be between Juventus and Real Madrid; a final the world can’t wait to watch.

For the Italians, the treble is at stake, after winning the Italian Serie A and the Coppa Italia. For the Juventus fans, their eyes are set on celebrating the capture of a trophy that has eluded them since they last won it in 1996.

And they will be banking on names like P. Dybala and G. Higuain to get the goals, while hoping L. Bonucci and club legend Gigi Buffon will work hard to shut the Spaniards out and keep a clean sheet.

But, to completely shut out a side that has averaged 2.5 goals over the course of this UCL campaign will almost be “Mission Impossible.” Names like C. Ronaldo, Benzema and co will throw everything they have at the Italian wall till it gives in.

While the jury is still out on who will win this year’s Champions League trophy, there’s the little issue of which player will get the better of his opposite number.

On one end, Madrid’s Sergio Ramos-led defense will have to deal with an Italian attack consisting Higuain (a one-time Madridista), Dybala and Mandzukic. At the other end of the green, the “BBC” (Bale and C. Ronaldo — provided Bale is fit enough) will be a handful for Bonucci, Buffon, and Alves.

In the middle of the park —  depending on which player is used, names like Modric, Kroos, Casemiro, Marchisio, Pjanic will all jostle to exert their authority and dictate the pace of the game.

For the neutrals, this is a spectacle they can’t wait to behold. One of Europe’s best scoring sides up against the best defensive side so far in the UCL this season. Real Madrid vs Juventus: A game that may be decided by the first goal or a first half win or –weirder yet — the first corner or via penalties.

However the game chooses to pan out, the world can’t wait to behold this clash; the clash of Europe’s titans.

Who do you think will win the trophy? Juventus? Real Madrid? Leave a comment and let the world know where your allegiance lies.

P.S.: Have you heard about the NairaBet FanFest? It’s a yearly event of NairaBet, where thousands of fans get to watch the Champions League Final live on a huge, giant screen, alongside Nigerian superstar artists (DJ Jimmy Jatt, LIL KESH, Skuki, Sheliroy, etc are coming this year). These artists will be performing and entertaining us all evening.

Don’t miss this moment of football, music, networking, and overall fun. It’s going to be Champions League final unusual! Get more details here: http://fanfest2017.com/

Tags: champions league, champions league final, juventus, real madrid, ucl, ucl final, ucl final 2017