PEP GUARDIOLA has racked up trophy after trophy at Manchester City but the biggest prize of all has eluded him so far.
The former Barcelona boss was hired with aim of conquering Europe and now stands just 90 minutes away from glory.
It has taken Guardiola five years to reach the Champions League Final and many will regard this season as something of an anti-climax if he fails to deliver in the showpiece.
City have already won the League Cup and Premier League, taking Guardiola’s tally of domestic trophies to eight.
But this is the prize they crave more than any other and the bookies fancy them to see off Chelsea, with McBookie pricing City at 4/9 to lift the trophy and the Blues 9/5 outsiders.
The odds increase to 17/20 for the Premier League champs to finish the job inside 90 minutes and that price will attract a few punters.
Chelsea have come out on top in the last two meetings, ending City’s hopes of a Quadruple with an FA Cup semi-final defeat then delaying the title party with a Premier League win at the Etihad.
So Thomas Tuchel will fancy his chances of outwitting Guardiola again as he leads a team out in the Euro showpiece for a second time running.
But the German’s PSG side came up short in last season’s final against Bayern and I can see a similar outcome for Tuchel tonight.
Chelsea lost three of their last four domestic games, only just scraping a top-four finish, and have badly missed a cutting edge up front all season.
City, in contrast, smashed Everton 5-0 on the day they lifted the Premier League trophy and Guardiola’s biggest problem will be deciding which of his forwards misses out.
Kevin De Bruyne has often played as a false nine in big games but is a nailed-on starter even if he’s asked to play deeper in midfield.
So the Belgian is my pick for anytime scorer at a best 3/1 with Unibet while he’s also 5/2 for an assist at McBookie.
Clean sheets have been Chelsea’s forte under Tuchel but they haven’t kept one since seeing off Real Madrid in the semi-final.
Even so, European finals can often be cagey affairs so it may pay to back the half-time draw at 13/12 with SBK.
We saw five cards when these sides faced off in the FA Cup and this final could get fiery with so much at stake.
Over 4.5 cards is priced 23/20 at McBookie while City midfielder Fernandinho is a tempting 13/8 at Paddy Power to be carded.
All three games between these sides this season have produced fewer than 10 corners so betting against them could pay off.
Under 9.5 corners is priced 20/23 at BoyleSports.
Super Singles
- Score to be level at half-time (13/12, SBK),
- City midfielder Fernandinho to be carded (13/8, Paddy Power),
- Kevin De Bruyne assist for City (5/2, McBookie)
I'm a sports journalist, football tipster and author from Dundee, who is now working in Glasgow. I've covered games at every level, from Junior football to internationals, and still love football even though it has clearly sold its soul. I've been in football tipping since 2018 with the MFT site.
Has to be the cards in the champions league final tonight the referee is ( Mr Lopez ) from Spain is extremely strict and takes no nonsense on the pitch considering what’s at stake for both teams and their rivalry really has to be a good shout for 4/5 cards or more in the game !!!