REAL VALUE LIES WITH ZIDANE

IT’S back! The Champions League returns and not a moment too soon – midweeks are taken care of again!

Last season was nothing short of sensational and ultimately saw Liverpool triumph (below), after having tasted bitter disappointment the year before.

This time around, the question is who will lift the famous trophy in Istanbul on May 30, 2020?

The betting suggests Manchester City are the most likely winner at 100/30 with thepools.com and it would make for a logical choice given their strength in depth.

Last year’s winners are 11/2, while their opposition in the final, Tottenham, are a potentially very attractive 25/1.

But the value looks to be with Real Madrid, priced at an incredible 10/1.

They are the competition’s most successful team by quite some distance, having tasted victory 13 times, including three times in a row – from 2016 to 2018.

So it looks like there is some real value with their position in the market as just fifth favourite.

While last year’s performance, on the face of it, looks poor by the Bernabeu club’s standards – with an elimination in the round of 16 – we should remember that was to Ajax during their inspired run of form.

Real had even triumphed in the first leg, but succumbed to two early goals in the return leg, which seemed to completely throw them.

This time around, expect to see them progress significantly further.

And, at 10/1, it looks worth taking a chance that they can go all the way for the fourth time in the last five years.