Real Madrid will clash heads with Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League final looking to create history and win their third European trophy in a row. Both teams have no fresh injury concerns to cope with and will come into this contest in good form. The La Liga giants are hoping that their experience and quality will be enough to see off the Reds in what promises to be a highly entertaining affair at Kyiv’s Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex.
However, Jurgen Klopp’s side are no pushovers and are the leading scorers of this season’s Champions League. The Merseysiders have been scoring goals for fun and would hope to replicate another great European night out with a victory on Saturday. The history of this fixture slightly favours the Premier League giants as they have won three of their five meetings with Los Blancos. The Redmen will have the opportunity to earn their sixth European Cup while the Galacticos can secure their 13th European title with a victory this weekend.
Team News
Real Madrid
There are no new injury concerns for Zinedine Zidane’s side and it is expected that the Galacticos will have a full squad to choose from. Madrid are expected to line up in a 4-4-2 formation with Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo starting up top. Zidane will also have a dilemma of whether to hand Gareth Bale a start in the Madrid first-team after the Welshman’s recent heroics in the league.
Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp will be sweating on the fitness of Emre Can as he is a major doubt for the match. The Reds will be without the services of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Joe Gomez as the Liverpool pair are sidelined due to injuries. The Reds will line up in Klopp’s favoured 4-3-3 formation with the terrific trio of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah operating in the attacking third.
Predicted Line-ups
Real Madrid
Keylor Navas; Dani Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane, Marcelo; Luka Modric, Casemiro, Toni Kroos, Isco; Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo
Liverpool
Loris Karius; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dejan Lovren, Virgil Van Dijk, Andrew Robertson; James Milner, Jordan Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum; Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah
Key Men
Real Madrid
The focus will once again be on Cristiano Ronaldo and whether he can deliver at the biggest stage for Real Madrid. The defensive duo of Ramos and Varane will be responsible to stop the threat of the Liverpool frontline and their performance on the night could determine the fate of the contest.
Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp’s frontline of Mane, Firmino and Salah needs to be on their game if the Reds are to succeed and come out with a win from this encounter. However, a lot will also rest on the shoulders of Dejan Lovren and whether he can cope with the pressure of playing in the Champions League final.
Betting Odds
Real Madrid win: 5/4
Draw: 21/10
Liverpool win: 29/10
