Champions League Final

As the Champions League final draws closer with each passing day, we can expect the season closing showpiece to be one of the most entertaining finals in recent history. Between the two of them, there are 17 European Titles with Madrid, of course, having the larger portion of them, but there is no doubting that these two are amongst the most decorated sides in Europe historically.

Coming to the present moment, there couldn’t have been a better side Liverpool would have wished to face in the final with their high-intensity football and high press tactics, something which will trouble Real Madrid if they do not turn up to the game completely prepared or show the slightest bit of complacency. It is imperative that they have their first choice right-back Dani Carvajal back in full fitness for the final. The performance of Liverpool in the first twenty minutes against runaway English champions Manchester City during the quarterfinals made everyone take note of their brand of attacking the football and it is evident that on their day they can make the best teams implode.

This doesn’t go to say that Madrid will be lacking in confidence, in fact, it is quite the opposite. They have beaten the likes of Bayern Munich, Juventus, and PSG on the route to the finals, and these teams have all finished as champions in their respective leagues this year. Also, this will be the third final in a space of four years for large part of the Madrid squad, and the players will know how to get the job done even if they aren’t in command of the entire match.

One thing we are guaranteed is plenty of goals, and that is down to the style of football Liverpool have come to be known for under the energetic Jurgen Klopp. In the defensive department, there may be few doubts of whether Liverpool can maintain a clean sheet against this Madrid side based on the inexperience of Alexander Arnold and the slight lack in confidence of Dejan Lovren.

Madrid took the game 3-1. 

The Line ups -

Real Madrid - Keylor Navas, Dani Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane, Marcelo, Casemiro, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Isco, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema

Liverpool - Loris Karius, Trent Alexander Arnold, Dejan Lovren, Virjil Van Dijk, Andrew Robertson, James Milner, Jordan Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, Mohammed Salah.