IT’S FINALS WEEKEND!!
The Champions League takes centre stage with Liverpool taking on Real Madrid in Paris. As well as two major Rugby finals from both League and Union. We’ve got a bumper cross-sport acca which takes them all in, plus a confident racing selection to boot!
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Draw in 90 mins (Liverpool vs Real Madrid, Champions League Final)
All roads lead to Paris on Saturday night as Liverpool bid to win the Champions League for the 7th time. In a classic final, they take on Real Madrid which promises to bring plenty of fireworks.
The Reds come here having narrowly missed out on the Premier League on the final day, and with it their hopes of an historic quadruple. That disappointment could either spark or dismay them equally and it will be interesting how they respond here.
They’ve played more games than anyone this season, but if any team can lift it once more on the big occasion it’s Jurgen Klopp’s ‘mentality monsters’.
On the opposing side is Real Madrid rejuvenated by the master Carlo Ancelotti. They’ve done things the hard way in this competition coming back from the death against both Chelsea and Real Madrid en route to the final.
Both sides look leaky at the back in recent games, but the Both Teams To Score market was a little skinny at 4/7. So, instead we feel that the draw at 13/5 was plenty value in what could be a more cagey affair than many predict. Penalties and Extra Time have very much been par the course these past few months and could be called on once again to split these two European giants.
Dragon Symbol (Saturday 1.45pm, Achilles Stakes Haydock Park)
Dragon Symbol (right) can make a winning start for new trainer Roger Varian on Saturday
Dragon Symbol was the most consistent top-level sprinter last season, notching up several seconds in Group 1 company (one of which was a victory taken off him in the stewards room).
He has since moved camps from Archie Watson to Roger Varian, and his seasonal reappearance wasn’t exactly electrifying – finishing down the field in 7th. However, that was clearly a tune up and he can be forgiven that run with promises of bigger targets this season.
He arrives here 2/1 favourite, and to put it simply looks a notch above these rivals. If the seasonal debut has done the job, he should get back to the winning grove comfortably. None of his rivals have come close to what he has achieved last year and if retaining that ability will surely go in for his new stable.
Huddersfield Giants (+8 points) vs Wigan Warriors (Saturday 3.00 pm Challenge Cup Final)
Will Pryce will be back for the Giants just in time for the Final
Rugby League heads down the M40 on Saturday all the way to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium where the stage is set for the Challenge Cup final.
It’s Lancashire v Yorkshire this year as Wigan Warriors tackle the Huddersfield Giants having both come through their semi-final assignments three weeks ago. The Giants comfortably accounted for Hull KR in fine style, showcasing all their attacking flair. While it was not as simple for Wigan who had a stave off a thrilling St Helens comeback in their semi-final, eventually coming home 20-18 winners thanks to a somewhat fortunate Liam Marshall breakaway try.
They all count though, and the Warriors will be looking for their first silverware since 2018, and their first Challenge Cup since 2013.
Both these teams are close to full strength, the only noticeable absentee being the Giants’ influential playmaker Theo Fages, who won the trophy last season while at St Helens. Will Pryce will make a comeback from his time banned on the sidelines and slot into the halves.
When these two met in the dress rehearsal last week Huddersfield ran out 32-22 winners in a thriller. That shouldn’t have too much bearing here and it will be interesting to see how the Giants cope on the big stage, with far less experience in this type of arena than their opponents.
Both teams boast similar form so far this season separated by a single point in the Super League table in 3rd and 4th. We reckon this is too close to call in the winners market, however the +8 Handicap head start for the Giants is very tempting in a game that could go to the wire.
Leinster (-11 points) vs La Rochelle (Saturday 4.45 Champions Cup Final)
Johnny Sexton can spearhead another Champions Cup victory for Leinster
Four-time winners Leinster take on 2021 runners-up La Rochelle in the 2022 Champions Cup in Marseille on Saturday.
Irish province Leinster have been quite sensational this season, dominating on the European stage and notching impressive wins against Toulouse and Leicester to get here. They’re clear favourites with the bookmaker at 1/5 with La Rochelle available at 7/2.
Interestingly, it’s Irish and Munster legend Ronan O’Gara who leads the French side against old foes Leinster on Saturday. He’ll be hoping to mastermind a famous upset against the province he had so many good battles with as a player.
The French team, as to be expected, boast a big pack with plenty of power and will look to put maximum pressure on their opponents occasional susceptibility scrum. While Leinster will look to use all their guile and speed of play of the ball, as well as Johnny Sexton’s big game temperament.
There’s no value in the 1/5 here on Leinster, but they could sweep aside this La Rochelle team here and we’re backing them to do so by more than the 11 point margin given by most bookmakers. They should have too much pace and experience and comfortably come home Champions.