Weekend Sport Preview

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Real Madrid's Marcelo slides in for a tackle in the Champions League

Real Madrid's Marcelo slides in for a tackle in the Champions League Source: AAP

It is going to be a huge weekend of sport, and not just because of the French Open tennis.

The climax to the European football season is taking place, between Real Madrid and Juventus.

There are also basketball's National Basketball Association finals in the United States and the eight best cricket nations heading to England for the Champions Trophy.

The European Champions League football final between tournament holder Real Madrid and the Italian side Juventus caps an action-packed season.

If Real Madrid wins, it will be the Spanish club's 12th European Cup, while Juventus is aiming for its third title.

A sellout crowd of over 70,000 will descend on the Welsh capital Cardiff in the early hours of Sunday morning, with another 100,000 visitors expected in the city.

There are just over 4,000 available hotel rooms, but plans for the largest sporting event in Welsh history have been laid.

Another 5,000 people will be accommodated in a campsite a short walk from Millennium Stadium.

Not knowing which teams were playing until two weeks ago has caused difficulties.

Geoff Vaughan, head of the company setting up the tent city in parklands around the stadium, says it affects everything.

"We can plan for it and put in the infrastructure and things that need to go in, but, until we know which teams are in the final ... And that affects everything -- the language of marketing, the campaigns, the advertising. It affects everything, all the messaging. So it's definitely, definitely an interesting one."

SBS has full coverage of the climax to the European football season from 4.15am on Sunday morning, with a full match replay on SBS Viceland at 3.20pm.

Australia's cricketers take on New Zealand in the opening round of the Champions Trophy tonight against a background of looming strike action.

The collective-bargaining agreement between Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers' Association expires on June the 30th.

The two sides are on a collision course, and the governing organisation has sent a video to the players, hoping to end the dispute.

Former test player Trent Copeland has told Fox Sports he thinks a deal will be done to avert strike action, but he says the video will not affect negotiations.

"Cricket Australia and the ACA are going to get something done here, but the players are united. Nothing changes. And despite this video coming out, we're all still united."

The tournament has the world's eight top-ranked cricket nations battling it out to reach the final at the Oval in London on June the 18th.

The National Basketball Association final series between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors will be decided over the next two weeks in a best-of-seven contest.

Before today's opening game,* the spectre of racism descended on the finals' biggest star.

The front gates of Cleveland forward LeBron James's Los Angeles home were sprayed with a racial slur.

He told a packed media conference of his sadness at the incident -- and that he could not be with his family at their main home at such a time.

"I think the most unfortunate part is that I'm here right now and I can't be home to see my boys right now. My little girl is too young to actually understand it right now, but I can't sit in front of my boys right now, and I won't be home until next week. So, this is kind of killing me inside right now, but my wife is unbelievable."

Game 2 is scheduled for Monday morning.

In rugby, the British and Irish Lions have arrived in New Zealand ahead of their much-anticipated tour.

The touring side plays its opening game against a New Zealand Provincial Barbarians side tomorrow.

Five more warm-up games follow before the first test against the All Blacks in Auckland on June the 24th.

For captain Sam Warburton, the focus is simple for both the warm-up matches and the test series.

"Just ... just win. I don't care how we win. If we won every game 3-nil, I'd bite your arm off (in happiness). So, it's all about winning at this level. Obviously, it's nice from a spectator's point of view -- fans, yourselves -- for it to be a great spectacle, which hopefully it is, because they're better games to play in. But I'll take a win all day long."

In the National Rugby League this weekend, the Melbourne Storm and Newcastle Knights kick off Round 13 tonight.

In the AFL, Geelong and Adelaide face each other in Round 11.

And it is down to the critical end of the Super Netball season.

On Saturday afternoon, the Melbourne Vixens and Sunshine Coast Lightning contest their major semifinal, with the winner advancing straight to the grand final.

The loser will meet the winner of Saturday night's minor semifinal between the Sydney Giants and Collingwood Magpies to see who becomes the other grand-final team.

 

 

 


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By John Baldock


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