Liverpool are hunting for a third piece of silverware this season, while Real Madrid will be chasing another coveted title to go with their LaLiga triumph, as the two clubs get set to clash in the Champions League final.
The blockbuster battle is set to take place at the Stade de France on Saturday night, with very little to choose between the powerhouse teams.
Liverpool might not have won the Premier League title, but they can still end the year with three trophies, and the Champions League prize is the biggest of them all.
The Reds have remarkably played every game possible in every competition this season, and will now be desperate to end a taxing campaign with a second Champions League title in the last three seasons.
However, Real Madrid have had one eye on the Champions League final ever since wrapping up the title in Spain at the end of April, with Carlo Ancelotti having rested key players since then.
David Alaba has missed Real Madrid’s last six matches through injury, but crucially could be back for this game, although Nacho will be on standby to start if required.
Meanwhile, Rodrygo has played an integral role in Real reaching the final, so it will be interesting to see whether Ancelotti opts to pick the 21-year-old or Federico Valverde on the right wing on Saturday.
Worryingly for Liverpool, there are doubts over Fabinho and Thiago heading into Saturday’s final, but Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk are at least up and running once again.
Also look out for Ibrahima Konate, who has got the nod over Joel Matip in five of Liverpool’s six Champions League knock-out games.
On paper, Liverpool should be maringal favourites, but it speaks volumes about Real’s innter belief that they progressed to the final despite being outplayed for the vast majority of matches against Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Manchester City.
Notably, there have been over 2.5 goals scored in nine of Real Madrid’s last 11 games in the Champions League.
Superstar Karim Benzema tops the Champions League goalscoring charts for 2021-22 after finding the back of the on 15 occasions. If he could secure a brace of goals at the Stade de France he would equal the all-time record for a single campaign (17) set by former Blancos teammate Cristiano Ronaldo in 2013-14.
Few would bet against Benzema making history, given his rich vein of form, although Liverpool do boast arguably the world’s best goalkeeper in Alisson
The Reds will be out for revenge against Madrid after losing the 2018 Champions League final, but only a very brave punter would expect them to win by more than a goal at most.