There will be no repeat of last season's all-Madrid Champions League final as Real and Atlectico have been drawn against each other in the semi-finals of Europe's premier competition. Real are 2.80 to become the first side to retain the Champions League and they will host their neighbours at the Bernabeu in the first leg on Tuesday May 2, while in the other semi-final, Italian champions Juventus travel to French club Monaco the following night.
Real Madrid beat neighbours Atletico on penalties in last season's Champions League final and they also overcame them in the 2014 final. The two teams know each other very well but can Atletico make it third time lucky and stop Real's charge to successive Champions League titles?
Real are the early 1.50 favourites to qualify and, at 1.63, bettors fancy Cristiano Ronaldo and co. to win the first leg. But it's only two weeks since Diego Simeone's Atletico recently came away from the Bernabeu with a 1-1 draw in a La Liga fixture and we saw in the previous round against Leicester City that they are strong defensively and lethal on the counter-attack. They're 5.50 to win the tournament.
It's going to be a fascinating tie and, while there's no doubt that Real had the superior firepower, the tactical tussle between the experienced Simeone and Real boss Zinedine Zidane, who's still in his first full season as a manager, will be fascinating.
The other semi-final is also a contest between attacking talent and defensive nous as arguably the most exciting team in this season's Champions League, Monaco, take on Juventus. The Italian side will be buzzing after knocking out Barcelona in the previous round but they know they're in for a stern test when they face the conquerors and Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund.
There's little between the teams in the first leg betting, with away side Juventus 2.50and Monaco 2.00. Over all, Juventus 1.34 are expected to qualify for the final.
Monaco have been thrilling at their Stade Louis II, putting three past Dortmund in this week's quater-final second leg. At 9.40, they're the tournament winner market outsiders, while Juventus trade at 2.78 - marginal favourites ahead of Real Madrid following the draw for the semi-finals.
It's the odds on the French team, however, that will look generous if their fearless 18-year-old striker Kylian Mbappe can find a way past Juventus's experienced defenders Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci.
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