Zinedine Zidane Says Real Madrid Aren't Favourites to Win Champions League Final

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has said his Los Blancos side are not the favourites to beat Juventus in the final of the UEFA Champions League in Cardiff, Wales, on June 3.

Madrid lost 2-1 to Atletico Madrid on Wednesday but still advanced to their second consecutive final on aggregate, and Zidane picked out Juve's superb defence as one of the factors that will make it difficult for his side to defend their title, per Mediaset Premium (via Football Italia):

"Real Madrid are absolutely not the favourites. It's very difficult to score against this Juve side. The defence isn't their only strength, either. They have great players in attack, too."

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Oddschecker shows Madrid are slight favourites to prevail at the Principality Stadium and complete a feat never before achieved, winning the Champions League in back-to-back seasons.

AC Milan successfully defended their title in 1990, but the tournament was then called the European Cup.

Teams have come close to consecutive triumphs in the Champions League era—Milan, Ajax, Juventus and Manchester United have all lost in finals as holders—but none have succeeded.

Standing in Madrid's way is a remarkable Juve side who have conceded just three goals in their entire Champions League campaign in 2016-17.

Madrid, meanwhile, are stunningly prolific in front of goal:

It is set to be a hugely competitive occasion as the Bianconeri look to win the Champions League for the first time since 1996—they have since lost in finals in 1997, 1998, 2003 and 2015.

For Zidane, it will be a particularly special occasion, as the Frenchman played for Juve between 1996 and 2001 before making his then-world-record transfer to the Santiago Bernabeu.

"I became a man and a better player at Juve. It's a great club. Facing them in the final will be special, because I still have Juventus in my heart," he said.