Liverpool – Real Madrid : Preview & Prediction
The European season ends this Saturday in Saint-Denis and the Stade de France! The Champions League final will pit Liverpool against Real Madrid. On paper, it’s hard not to see Liverpool as the favourites for this match. The Reds had to be content with second place in the Premier League. However, they finished just one point behind leaders Manchester City, with only two defeats in 38 games. Jürgen Klopp’s men were also able to win the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup. They have also made a strong impression throughout the Champions League. The English club came out on top of the group of death – along with Atletico Madrid, FC Porto and AC Milan – with six wins in six games, and then went on to knock out Inter Milan, Benfica Lisbon and Villarreal CF respectively. Mohamed Salah’s team-mates are still thinking about the 2018 Champions League final they lost to Real Madrid (3-1). They will do everything to take revenge and get the coveted title. But then, how could the title escape the Reds?
The answer is simple: Real Madrid have shown incredible strength of character since the start of the competition. The Spanish champions did not do things by halves in Europe’s premier club competition. The Merengue first knocked out PSG thanks to a Karim Benzema hat-trick in the return leg at the Santiago Bernabeu. Then, with another hat-trick from the Tricolor striker, they were able to take out Chelsea. And what about their double-header against Manchester City? Despite being two goals down (on aggregate) with a few minutes to go in the second leg, Real Madrid completely turned the tide before winning in extra time. It seems that nothing can stop the Madrid club in this edition of the Champions League. Especially since they can count on Karim Benzema at the top of his game. He has scored 44 goals and 15 assists in 45 games in all competitions, including 15 in the Champions League. His ambition will be to shine once again at the Stade de France and add a fifth Champions League to his list of achievements.
The form in the last 5 games of both teams is clear: Liverpool seems to be in better shape than Madrid! And yet, if you look closely, there is an explanation for both teams’ recent results. Liverpool needed to win more games to try and steal the Premier League from Manchester City. Unfortunately for them, City have also been winning, and have won the league. Real, on the other hand, have been champions for many weeks, and have been able to turn over a few players. This was the case in the defeat against Atletico (1-0) and the draw in Cadiz (1-1), where Benzema and many of the first-choice players did not take part in these two games. In the last game against Betis (0-0), with the starters, it was quite clear that they were saving themselves for the final. In the last two games in which they really played, they won 3-1 against Manchester City and then 6-0 against Levante, in an outrageously dominated match.
Both coaches will obviously field the best possible team this Saturday night, for the most important match of the year for both clubs. The Liverpool Reds will have a classic defence with Alisson in goal, the two full-backs Arnold and Robertson, and a combination of Konaté (who has taken over from Matip this year) and V. Van Dijk, who is injured but should be at or near 100% for this clash. In the middle, captain Henderson will hold his place. Fabinho, who has been injured in recent days, is also expected to make a comeback and play in the final.
Liverpool – Real Madrid : Betting Tips
Liverpool – Win Odds: 2.25
