All roads will lead to the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff when Juventus play holders Real Madrid in the 2017 UEFA Champions League Final, with the Bianconeri confident of scuppering Los Blancos’ history-making charge on Saturday.

Zinedine Zidane’s men are on the verge of becoming the only team to ever lift the Champions League in its current format consecutively and after breaking a La Liga drought this year, they will be confident of doing the Double. 

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Standing in their way, however, are a Treble-chasing Juventus side led by the astute Massimiliano Allegri, a team that have picked up a few scalps along the way to the final.

So which camp will be cheering after full-time? While the bookmakers are giving Real Madrid the edge, it seems to be Juventus’ year, after decades of under-performance at the continental level!

Juventus

The Bianconeri’s last win in a European final took place in 1999, when they lifted the Intertoto title. Since then, they have faltered in the final twice (2003 and 2015) and a loss on Saturday would perhaps make them stuck with an unfortunate tag of chokers. 

However, this time they have Paulo Dybala to fire them to a third Champions League title. Along with the underrated Miralem Pjanic, tireless wing-backs in Alex Sandro and Dani Alves, a fearsome all-Italian back-line (christened ‘BBC’), it is easy to see why they are such a well-oiled unit.

Gonzalo Higuain, however, is perhaps the only player with a suspect record in finals. At least for his country that is. The former Real Madrid striker will have to be on top of his game if Juventus are to end years of suffering on the European stage.

What they are saying: “For the past three or four months, Real Madrid have been playing top-level football. But we're also in top form and that's enough for me,” asserts Juventus goalkeeper Gialnluigi Buffon. (AFP)

Injury concerns: Marko Pjaca (Knee)

Suspension Alert: None

Real Madrid

Christiano Ronaldo, has been in a similar situation before with previous club Manchester United. The English giants won the 2008 Champions League title only to fall in the 2009 final to an all-conquering Barcelona side. So will the man, who is on fire, rain goals upon the miserly Bianconeri side? It all depends on Zidane’s selection on the night, it seems. 

While Gareth Bale is ‘fit’, he hasn't started a game since the league loss to Barcelona in April. His match-winning qualities are unquestionable, but the fact remains that Isco has been outstanding and deserves to start and in any other team, Bale would perhaps be third-choice behind the young and irresistible Marco Asensio. This, however, is no other team and there is plenty going on behind the scenes, with factors other than playing form which will 

And while the wing battle will go down to the wire, Zidane has a dilemma in defence as well. Raphael Varane, Pepe and Nacho are contenders to partner Sergio Ramos in the centre and the fit-again Daneil Carvajal makes for a case to start over the unpredictable Danio at right-back. 

What they are saying: “The team is in a sweet spot and we have to take advantage of that.
"We really wanted to win La Liga and that has taken a lot of pressure off us. Now we have a unique opportunity to be the first team to win (the Champions League) on two consecutive occasions,” says Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo. (Real Madrid TV)

Injury concerns: Pepe (Ribs), Gareth Bale (Calf), Daniel Carvajal (Hamstring)

Suspension Alert: None

Super Stat: Madrid are chasing an unprecedented 12th Champions League title, or Duodécimo as it is popularly known as!