Ronaldo and Real Madrid will face Liverpool. Photo by Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images
Our first losing piece in the last 8, the busting of the bookies was put on hold. Be we are back, with a sort of vengeance, as the Champions League final has arrived.
Real Madrid vs Liverpool
The venue: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kyiv – the capital of Ukraine
In front of 63,000 fans live, and 2.8 million viewers worldwide, we get a cracker of a match between to of Europe's most prestigious clubs as well as two of the biggest stars.
Ronaldo, his name alone, draws the attention of even the less casual soccer fan. For good reason, as the Real Madrid striker always puts on a show, and Saturday will be no different. Ronaldo is scorching hot and leads the tournament with 15 goals this campaign. He has scored in 9 goals in his last ten matches. He also leads with goals scored in all competitions this season with 50.
His superstar counterpart, or the villain per say, none other than King Mohamed Salah, who brings his own scoring streak of 8 goals in his last ten matches. Fresh off being named the Premier League Player of the Year for netting a record-breaking 32 goals in a 38 game season, the Egyptian will look to break down a shaky Madrid defense, but one that's boosted by an offense that's scored in the last 12 Champions League Matches. Scoring won't be the problem; it will be the defense of Liverpool that will be asked to sustain heavy pressure for most of the match while trying to create from out of the back. The Liverpool tactics prosper when the high pressure and counter attacks are functioning correctly. The three-headed monster Liverpool has in Mane, Firmino and Salah take the smallest of space and turn it up-field into counters that leaves defenders on their back foot trying to recover.
The Pick
Matches like this require experience in moments where the game will be won or lost. Liverpool has given up a massive amount of goals in second halves, something I think derives from the fact the players exert so much energy early in games with he ultra pressure they are asked to exhibit. This match will see goals a plenty, as we have seen all tournament long at a pace of 3.2 per game.
Liverpool comes into this match as the highest scoring side in this competition with 40 goals; second place is Real Madrid with 30. The game sets up perfect for the fan of high scoring affairs, with both of these team generating plenty of chances and ranking in the top 5 in opportunities created, only trailing Bayern Munich
Real Madrid Team Total Over 1.5 5U
Real Madrid to win the Cup 5U
Over 3 5U
Both teams score and Madrid Win +240
Ronaldo Scores a goal 3U
Sergio Ramos scored +800
NBA
Boston Celtics at Cleveland Cavaliers Game 6:
Cavaliers Team Total First Half Over 51
Cavaliers Team Total Game over 104
Warriors vs Rockets Game 6
Warriors -3 First Quarter
Warriors -6 First Half
Warriors Team Total Over 112 Game
UFC
Stephen Thompson +112
For any questions or comments reach me @JerryBoKnowz on Twitter
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Jose Altuve and rookie Jacob Melton drove in three runs each as the Houston Astros jumped on Chris Paddack early and cruised to a 10-3 win over the Minnesota Twins on Friday night.
Paddack (2-6) tied career highs by allowing 12 hits and nine runs — eight earned — in just four innings for his third straight loss.
Houston rookie starter Colton Gordon (2-1) gave up six hits and two runs with five strikeouts in a career-high six innings.
Jeremy Peña tied a season-high with four hits and rookie Cam Smith had two hits and two RBIs as the AL West-leading Astros won their third straight.
Willi Castro, Royce Lewis and Ty France all hit solo homers for the Twins, who were blown out for the third time in four games after losing to Texas 16-4 Tuesday and 16-3 Thursday.
Lewis, who missed the start of the season with a hamstring strain, pulled up as he was running to first base on a single in the ninth inning and was replaced by a pinch-runner. There was no immediate word on his injury.
The Astros got to work early in this one. The bases were loaded with two outs in the first when Smith hit a two-run single to center field to make it 2-0. Melton followed with a single to right field to drive in another run.
There were runners on first and third with one out in the second when Altuve’s double scored two to make it 5-0.
The Twins loaded the bases with two outs in the third but Carlos Correa grounded out to end the threat.
Melton hit a two-run triple with no outs in the bottom of the inning to push the lead to 7-0. A sacrifice fly by Mauricio Dubón made it 8-0.
The Twins got on the board with Castro’s two-out homer in the fourth inning.
Altuve homered to left-center to start the bottom of the inning and make it 9-1.
Key moment
Smith’s two-RBI single in the first that gave Houston the lead for good.
Key stat
The Astros had four doubles to give them 15 in their last three games.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (8-3, 1.82 ERA) opposes Twins RHP Joe Ryan (7-2, 2.96) on Saturday.