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Real Madrid vs Juventus: TV channel, free stream, kick-off time, odds & match preview

Real Madrid have the chance to become the first team to successfully defend the Champions League in its current format when they face Juventus in Saturday's final.

The Spanish and Italians champions will clash at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, in what promises to be one of the most engaging finals of recent years.

EXCLUSIVE: Real Madrid goal offer

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Bianconeri fans will hope to see Gianluigi Buffon with a Champions League winner's medal around his neck for the first time, while Cristiano Ronaldo can strengthen his Ballon d'Or bid by adding to the astonishing total of eight goals he scored in the quarter and semi-finals.

Game Real Madrid vs Juventus
Date Saturday, June 3
Time 19:45 GMT, 14:45 ET

TV CHANNEL & LIVE STREAM


Massimiliano Allegri Juventus Champions LeagueGetty Images

In the UK, the match will be available to watch live and for free on BT Sport Showcase as well as BT Sport 2. It will also be streamed for free on the BT Sport app and YouTube and can be watched in virtual reality on YouTube and the BT Sport VR app.

UK TV channelOnline stream
BT Sport 2 / ShowcaseBT Sport app / YouTube

In the US, the match will be available to watch live on television on the FOX network and by stream via Fox Soccer 2Go. Like BT, Fox will also be offering the match in virtual reality through the Fox Sports VR app.

US TV channelOnline stream
FOXFox Soccer 2Go

SQUADS & TEAM NEWS


PositionReal Madrid players
Goalkeepers Navas, Casilla, Yanez
Defenders Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Varane, Nacho, Marcelo, Coentrao, Danilo
Midfielders Kroos, James, Casemiro, Kovacic, Modric, Asensio, Isco, Zidane
Forwards Ronaldo, Benzema, Bale, Vazquez, Morata, Mariano

Gareth Bale has trained and is fit to play some part but has admitted he may not be able to last 90 minutes, meaning Isco is likely to start at the top of a midfield diamond.

Otherwise Madrid are at full strength, with Dani Carvajal ready to go after a hamstring problem. Pepe and Fabio Coentrao have travelled but are unlikely to feature, while Zinedine Zidane's son Enzo has also made the trip.

Potential starting XI: Navas; Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo; Casemiro; Modric, Kroos; Isco; Benzema, Ronaldo.

PositionJuventus players
Goalkeepers Buffon, Neto, Audero
Defenders Chiellini, Benatia, Alex Sandro, Barzagli, Bonucci, Dani Alves, Rugani, Lichtsteiner
Midfielders Pjanic, Khedira, Cuadrado, Marchisio, Mattiello, Lemina, Asamoah, Sturaro, Rincon
Forwards Higuain, Mandzukic, Dybala

Massimiliano Allegri has had success with more than one formation in this season's competition but speculation has suggested he will deploy a three-man defence for the final.

That would mean the only real selection dilemma the Italian has is whether to field Sami Khedira or Claudio Marchisio next to Miralem Pjanic in midfield.

Potential starting XI: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Dani Alves, Pjanic, Khedira, Alex Sandro; Dybala, Higuain, Mandzukic.

Note: Juventus have not publicly announced their travelling squad at the time of writing. The projected list above will be updated when it has been confirmed.


BETTING & GAME ODDS


Gonzalo Higuain Juventus Champions LeagueGetty Images

Real Madrid are 17/10 favourites to defend the trophy, according to Oddschecker, with Juventus priced at 2/1 and the draw through 90 minutes available at 9/4.

EXCLUSIVE: Ronaldo or Dybala goal offer

Cristiano Ronaldo is the 7/2 favourite to score first, with Gonzalo Higuain rated at 9/2 and Paulo Dybala available at 7/1.


GAME PREVIEW


Gareth Bale Real Madrid Champions LeagueGetty Images

This feels like it might be the most evenly matched - and difficult to predict - Champions League final for several years.

The past few editions of European club football's biggest game have all involved either an underdog or a team - such as Inter in 2010, Chelsea in 2012 and, to a lesser extent, Atletico Madrid in two of the past three finals - with a more defensive, reactive outlook.

Atleti have twice attempted to shock their more prestigious neighbours Real Madrid, Juventus were powerless to resist Barcelona's 'MSN' forward trio in between and going further back, Bayern Munich and Barca had too much for Borussia Dortmund and Manchester United (twice) respectively.

This time, though Madrid are slight favourites, it is hard to say with much certainty on whose terms the final will be played.

Juventus look tighter at the back, but having a formidable defence is not the same as being a defensive team and in Dani Alves, Paulo Dybala and Gonzalo Higuain they possess plenty of attacking firepower.

Madrid have the game's best player in Cristiano Ronaldo and a star-studded midfield, but are not the dominant force that Juve tried and failed to stop when they faced Barca in Berlin two years ago.

It would be a surprise if more than one goal separates these two sides and perhaps Gareth Bale, likely to come off the bench in his home city, will have the chance to decide it.

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