Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Competition: UEFA Champions League Final
Date: 26 May 2018 - Kick-off Time: 19:45 BST
Venue: NSK Olimpijs’kyj, Kiev
Date: 26 May 2018 - Kick-off Time: 19:45 BST
Venue: NSK Olimpijs’kyj, Kiev
Real Madrid team came through the semi finals with a 4-3
aggregate win over Bayern. They bat the Bavarians 2-1 away from
home in the first leg and held on at the death in Madrid to draw 2-2 in
the return match. Prior to that they survived a scare against Juventus
altough they beat the Italian champions 3-0 in Turin. They are currently
on a 27 match scoring streak in European games. Los Blancos have bagged
3 UCL title over the past 4 campaigns and now look to
break another record, amid a very disappointing La Liga campaign under
Zidane – where they failed to cope with pace-setters Barcelona.
Real Madrid are expected to have a fully fit squad to choose from with Zinedine Zidane revealing Ronaldo would be 100% fit for this clash. Dani Carvajal returned from injury against Villarreal and will start as right back, with Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane and Marcelo completing the back four. Isco and Lucas Vazquez are in contention for the third berth in attack alongside Ronaldo and Karim Benzema. No changes are expected in midfield where Casemiro, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric are likely to retain their starting berth.
Liverpool team beat AS Roma in the semi-finals to advance to this showpiece clash. The Reds overcame the Giallorossi 7-6 on aggregate, courtesy of a 5-2 win at Anfield in the first leg match. Prior to that, Jurgen Klopp's men beat Manchester City home (3-0) and away (2-1) while in the first knockout round they delivered a 5-0 aggregate win over Porto with all the goals coming in the first leg in Portugal. They were unbeaten in 11 UCL games before to lose 4-2 at the Olimpico. In the Premier League Liverpool finished in fourth place, 25 points adrift of Man City, 6 behind Manchester United and 2 shy of Tottenham.
The Reds will also take an almost fully fit squad to Ukraine, with Emre Can and James Milner both returning to training this week. Jurgen Klopp, who will be only without long-term absentees Chamberlain and Joe Gomez for the final, will keep faith in his usual 4-3-3 formation in which Sadio Manè, Roberto Firmino and Mohammed Salah will lead the line. At the back, Andrew Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold should get the nod over Nathaniel Clyne and Alberto Moreno as full back, with Virgil Van Dijk and Dejan Lovren confirmed as centre-backs. Milner, Georginj Wijnaldum and Jordan Henderson should form the midfield trio.
Real Madrid are expected to have a fully fit squad to choose from with Zinedine Zidane revealing Ronaldo would be 100% fit for this clash. Dani Carvajal returned from injury against Villarreal and will start as right back, with Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane and Marcelo completing the back four. Isco and Lucas Vazquez are in contention for the third berth in attack alongside Ronaldo and Karim Benzema. No changes are expected in midfield where Casemiro, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric are likely to retain their starting berth.
Liverpool team beat AS Roma in the semi-finals to advance to this showpiece clash. The Reds overcame the Giallorossi 7-6 on aggregate, courtesy of a 5-2 win at Anfield in the first leg match. Prior to that, Jurgen Klopp's men beat Manchester City home (3-0) and away (2-1) while in the first knockout round they delivered a 5-0 aggregate win over Porto with all the goals coming in the first leg in Portugal. They were unbeaten in 11 UCL games before to lose 4-2 at the Olimpico. In the Premier League Liverpool finished in fourth place, 25 points adrift of Man City, 6 behind Manchester United and 2 shy of Tottenham.
The Reds will also take an almost fully fit squad to Ukraine, with Emre Can and James Milner both returning to training this week. Jurgen Klopp, who will be only without long-term absentees Chamberlain and Joe Gomez for the final, will keep faith in his usual 4-3-3 formation in which Sadio Manè, Roberto Firmino and Mohammed Salah will lead the line. At the back, Andrew Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold should get the nod over Nathaniel Clyne and Alberto Moreno as full back, with Virgil Van Dijk and Dejan Lovren confirmed as centre-backs. Milner, Georginj Wijnaldum and Jordan Henderson should form the midfield trio.
Probable lineups:
Real Madrid: Navas – Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo – Casemiro, T.Kroos, Modric – Isco, Benzema, Ronaldo.
Liverpool: Karius – Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, van Dijk, Robertson – Wijnaldum, Henderson, Milner – S.Mane, M.Salah, R.Firmino.
Liverpool: Karius – Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, van Dijk, Robertson – Wijnaldum, Henderson, Milner – S.Mane, M.Salah, R.Firmino.
Real Madrid last 5 matches:
01/05/18 Real Madrid 2 – 2 Bayern Munchen06/05/18 Barcelona 2 – 2 Real Madrid
09/05/18 Sevilla 3 – 2 Real Madrid
12/05/18 Real Madrid 6 – 0 Celta
19/05/18 Villarreal 2 – 2 Real Madrid
Liverpool last 5 matches:
24/04/18 Liverpool 5 – 2 Roma28/04/18 Liverpool 0 – 0 Stoke City
02/05/18 Roma 4 – 2 Liverpool
06/05/18 Chelsea 1 – 0 Liverpool
13/05/18 Liverpool 4 – 0 Brighton