Figo hopes for a 'beautiful' Champions League final

FC Barcelona and Real Madrid legend Luis Figo reckoned it will be a tough Uefa Champions League final between Real Madrid and Juventus but hoped for a "beautiful final" with Los Blancos going on to clinching it.

Real Madrid, who ended a five-year wait to put the finishing touches on a record 33rd La Liga title last week, go up against Serie A champions Juventus in Cardiff on Saturday.

The title of the best European club in the world is on the line and while Figo said that Juventus, runners-up in 2015, were the favourites, Real Madrid could go over the line.

"There is always a favourite for every game but it doesn't mean that the favourite team wins. It will be a beautiful final between two big teams in the world and I just hope that Real Madrid can win this amazing trophy," Figo said on the sidelines of the Premier Futsal announcement in Dubai, on Sunday.

The Portuguese himself had fond memories of winning the Champions League in 2002, with Real Madrid.

"It was a dream come true. When you start to play football, you see on television the best club competition in the world and you always wanted to have the chance to win it. And when you win it, it is like a dream."

Figo was in Madrid last week to watch Real Madrid being crowned Spanish champions and revealed that his former teammate and now Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane was pleased to have won the La Liga but also had one eye on the Champions League.

"He is preparing for the final. He was happy of course because he won the League. He is conscious that the final will be a difficult game but positive in terms of the hope that they have to get the Champions League," said Figo.

"Right now, he's one of the best coaches in the world and I'm very pleased with what he has achieved in one and a half years," he added.

Zidane has won four titles - the La Liga, the Uefa Champions League, the Uefa Super Cup and the Fifa Club World Cup so far.

Figo, who had long spells with both FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, didn't want to be drawn into a comparison between Barca's Lionel Messi and Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo.

"They are both making history in football and it is very difficult to choose one of them. They have also won individual accolades over the past 10 years and it is difficult to make a choice. I enjoy watching both," the 44-year-old said.

Source: Khaleej Times