Real Madrid Vs Liverpool - UCL Finals Preview

The UEFA Champions League finals is set to take centre stage with two European giants - Real Madrid and Liverpool set to go toe to toe for the most lucrative and decorated trophy in Europe on 28th May (29th in India as it's 12:15am) in a repeat of 1981 and 2018 European final.

HISTORY: 

Real Madrid: 

The 13 time champions of the competition , the most by a long shot (second highest AC Milan -7 UCL titles) set to play 17th European final having played 16 finals having lost 3 and winning 13 of it. 

Liverpool: 

On the other hand the Reds have won the competition 6 times the lastest being in 2019.

The Merseyside team are set to play their 10th European final having played 9 winning 6 and losing 3. 

Shared History: 

Real and Liverpool have faced each other in European finals twice , in 1981 and 2018. 

Interestingly enough Real's last European final defeat came against Liverpool in 1981 , and that of Liverpool in 2018 against Real.

In 1981 the European final was held in Paris where it will be held for this season's final too , Liverpool came out on top 1-0. 

The two gaints made again in the finals in 2018 , when Real Madrid came out 3-1 on top thanks to a horrendous Karius show and a stunner scissor kick from Gareth Bale.

Carlo Ancelotti the manager of Real Madrid has won 3 out of 4 European finals as a manager with his only defeat coming to Liverpool in 2005 in the famous Istanbul final in which Liverpool overturned the 3 goal deficit and went on to win on penalties. 

Although in the repeat of 2005 in 2007, Milan amd Ancelotti came out on top.

Route to final:

The two teams had similar run in the group stage , but had completely different set and level of teams knockout stages.

 

Real Madrid - 

Real Madrid won 5 out of their 6 group stage game with their defeat coming to Sheriff out of the group consisting Inter Milan , Shaktar and Sheriff (the first ever Moldovan team to qualify for UCL). 

Knockout Stage : 

Real had to face PSG in RO16 where they struggled badly first leg and the first half of second leg at Bernebeu only to turn things around magically thanks to a 23 minute Benzema hat-trick.

In quarters Los Blancos took on Blues and won the first leg at Stamford Bridge comfortably thanks to a Benzema hat-trick again. The blues scored 3 in Bernabeu making it 4-3 on agg in favour of the blues only for Luka Modric to magically find a outside of the boot pass which Rodrygo finished to take the tie into extra time where Benzema scored from the spot to finish off the tie 5-3 on aggregate. 

In semis Los Blancos faced the oil rich Manchester City and the first leg was a thriller as Man City kept going up by 2 goals and Real kept scoring to cut the deficit , the match ending 4-3 in favour of City.

In the second leg in Bernabeu the game was a dull one until Mahrez netted for the Citizens in 75' min making it seem like the tie was dead with 5-3 on aggregate until 89th minute. 

Rodrygo came off the bench and netted two in 90 and 90+1 to make it 5-5 on aggregate and yet again Benzema scored from the spot to make 5-6 on aggregate in favour of Real marching on to the finals.

Liverpool -

Liverpool won 6 out of 6 group stage games in a group with Atletico Madrid , Porto and AC Milan. 

Knockout Stage: 

Liverpool faced Inter Milan in RO 16 with the Reds overcoming the Nerrazuri in spite of being the second best team in first leg for 75 mins and in spite of Latauro scoring , Sanchez was sent off the second leg ended up 1-0 with Reds going through 2-1 on aggregate. 

The Reds faced Benfica in Quarters whom they defeated 6-4 on aggregate.

In semis they faced Villarreal - Yellow Submarine, and won 2-0 in first leg and although in the first half of the second leg Yellow Submarine took Reds by suprise scoring two. Liverpool came back and scored 3 in second half to make 2-3 on the night and 5-2 on aggregate. 

Playing XI: 

Both sides have no suspension with only injuries being problem. Liverpool have injured Salah , Fabinho and Van Djik but they all should be fit before finals. Fabinho is equivalent of Casemiro who screens the defence and shall he miss out his absence will be felt 

Liverpool: 

Klopp will mostly set up in a 4-3-3 with the personals below:

Real Madrid:

Real Madrid will set up in 4-4-3 hybrid with Valverde on right who can drop and make 4-4-2 in defence. But watch out for Real's susbtitutions in Camavinga and Rodrygo which may decide the tie like it did against City.

Prediction: 

The game will be a perfect one for a neutral due to the element of high scoring of Liverpool and the late comebacks of Real.

Liverpool haven't been airtight at the back but thanks to Alisson they haven't conceded much either. 

Liverpool have already won two trophies and fight for the PL title on 22nd May. This makes them a bit prone to be weary and tired as they play high pressing game. For Liverpool it'll be their attacking talents of Diaz , Salah , Mane , Firmino , Jota. Although Salahs form took a huge dip after AFCON.

On the other hand Real Madrid have won La Liga and Supercopa. It won't be a two legged tie and Real are not playing at Bernabeu to produce magical moment and reverse the deficit. Unlike PSG and City Liverpool have "the weight of the shirt". Real had the advantage of resting and rotating squad so that the main guns are rested and fit for the all important finale. For Real the main man will be Benzema who has equalled Cristiano Ronaldo's record of scoring most goals in knockout stage (10goals) along with the likes of Vinicius , Modric , Camavinga , Kroos. 

Real can score 5 goals out of 3 chances but their defence is fragile too.

It will be an interesting final with my heart saying Real but mind saying Liverpool to take the trophy home. The stage is set for the rematch an "scores to be settled".