It's no surprise that Real Madrid is favored in the upcoming Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund, what will be surprising is if your hard earned money isn't riding on them.
You ask why? Let's peek at the facts, shall we?
Between the posts, Madrid boasts the likes of Andriy Lunin and Kepa Arrizabalaga, both who've been instrumental in the tournament with fantastic save records and above average ratings. Now, Dortmund ain’t no slouch either; Gregor Kobel and Alexander Meyer both sporting impressive numbers this season, with ratings over 7.5 each.
Real's shining stars, Jude Bellingham and Vinícius Júnior, have been piling on the goals and defying defences tournament-wide, each bragging a rating of 7.6 or higher. Midfield maestro Kroos, although not finding the net, has an absurdly accurate passing percentage while Rodrygo is an all-round threat with his impressive goal tally and passing rate. Observational wisdom: Tchouaméni and Alaba fall in 'Today’s Injured Players' list and they're missed, but with a team so stacked, even I with my limited 'ball control' could give a go!
Dortmund bells ring a different tune. The likes of Bensebaini and Hummels do a stellar job at the back, while Julian Brandt and Niclas Füllkrug have been their top performers in the final third. That being said, Dortmund's sleeping giant, Bensebaini, sits out today with an injury, but don't take that as a sign of weakness!
The numbers folks, they don't lie. Real Madrid has had a flawless tournament record of 6 wins. Dortmund lands a bit short with 3 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss. Recent results paint a similar picture; Real hasn't tasted defeat in their last 5 games, while Dortmund lost a match against Atlético Madrid.
Jot this down listeners, Dortmund isn't being taken lightly here. Their defensive duo of Meyer and Kobel have the ability to save the day, pun absolutely intended! But given Real's proven goal scorers and their fantastically flawless tournament record even with missing key players, it seems like the Madrid machine has the edge.
Time for the infamous Albert's Prediction, drumroll please...
Albert's Prediction: Real Madrid by 2