Betting: Real Madrid still favourites for Champions League final despite 2-1 defeat by Juventus

Massimiliano Allegri's side established a first-leg lead over the reigning European champions but the bookmakers still expect Carlo Ancelotti's side to progress to BerlinThere was a move for Juventus in the day before the first Champions League semi-final got underway and the money proved to be correct as the Italian side rewarded their backers with a 2-1 win in Turin.

Real Madrid began the day as favourites to claim a first-leg lead at around 13/8 (2.63) but they drifted to bigger than 2/1 (3.0) during the course of Tuesday while Juventus and the draw both shortened in the betting.

It was expected to be a tense, low-scoring affair but goalmouth action was the order of the day in a game which was very open and, in truth, could have contained several more goals had the quality of both sides' finishing been up to scratch.



An early strike from former Real Madrid player Alvaro Morata as well as a Carlos Tevez penalty sandwiched a Cristiano Ronaldo header to give Max Allegri's team a vital 2-1 advantage to take to the Santiago Bernabeu.

William Hill reported that they saw nine times as many bets on Los Blancos as they did on the home side in what appears to have been a good evening for the bookmakers despite the late interest in backing the home side before kick-off.

Juventus have been cut from 8/1 (9.0) to 5/1 (6.0) to win the competition but they remain the longest price of the four remaining sides.

Real Madrid are just 4/6 (1.67) to qualify for the final and face either Barcelona or Bayern Munich, who meet in the second semi-final.



The bookmakers clearly feel that the away goal that Carlo Ancelotti's side took from the first meeting could prove decisive on home soil but their defensive performance certainly raised more questions about Madrid's ability to keep the Italians at bay in the second leg, particularly with Sergio Ramos failing to control the midfield battle in the way in which Luka Modric has proved so effective in the past.

Juventus are priced at 11/10 (2.10) to make their advantage count and secure a place in Berlin with a favourable result from their visit to the Spanish capital.

In the outright betting, it is Barcelona who lead the way at 6/4 (2.50) with Bayern available at 5/2 (3.50)while Real Madrid have been pushed out to 11/4 (3.75) to retain their European crown.