Jesse Nagel previews the final of the 2017/18 Champions League which will see Real Madrid take on Liverpool in Kiev.
Amidst all of the glitz, glamour, corporate hospitality and wildly inflated ticket prices; there is still a very important football match taking place at the NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium on Saturday.
Real Madrid – who will look to claim an unprecedented third consecutive Champions League title – will face five-time European Cup winners, Liverpool. Both teams have conceded regularly and scored freely this season, so expect to see plenty of goals in the Ukrainian capital!
Real Madrid vs Liverpool | Saturday 26 May | NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium | 20:45
To Win (90 minutes)
Real Madrid 23/20
Draw 26/10
Liverpool 2/1
To Lift Cup
Real Madrid 7/10
Liverpool 11/10
Real Madrid
Real Madrid will be looking to further extend their magnificent recent record in this competition by claiming three Champions League titles on the spin. A remarkable feat in itself which illustrates just how dominant the men from the Spanish capital have been in recent years, with plenty of credit going to Zinedine Zidane who has been instrumental in the orchestration of this run.
The French tactician showed that he could overcome any and all obstacles. There have been more than a few whispers going around that Zizou might face the sack after Madrid failed to challenge Barcelona in race for the league title, however, yet another European success would all but guarantee his safety.
Zidane will welcome the returns of both Dani Carvajal and Cristiano Ronaldo, both of whom have been able to shrug off injuries in time to take to the pitch in Kiev.
Gareth Bale also returned to the fold a couple of weeks ago for Madrid, and there’s been question marks over whether the Welshman is back to his best. Bale’s form suggests that he deserves a starting berth in Madrid’s final line-up of the season, but coach Zidane has refused to give out any names that will start in Saturday’s clash.
“I haven’t got my starting XI for the Champions League final in my head. We’re ready,” he said.
Speaking on Bale, Zidane gave nothing but positive comments ahead of the final.
“At no point has Bale thrown the towel in. He’s training well and the only thing that’s changed is that he’s now scoring goals, as he has done in the last few games. I’m pleased with his performance and what he brings to the team. Nothing has changed,” he concluded.
No matter what type of Bale you get on the day, it’s the big man you want at his best. Ronaldo is known as the man for the big occasion, and personally, I feel there isn’t a better footballer on the planet.
The current Ballon d’Or holder has 15 goals in the Champions League this season, five ahead of Liverpool duo, Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino. The Portuguese superstar also has 15 goals in major finals whilst playing for Madrid, so should Ronaldo make an impact in Kyiv, fans and pundits alike should not be surprised at all. Not anybody scores 105 goals in just 100 games.
Liverpool
It’s been a bittersweet season for Liverpool, with the Reds finishing fourth in the Premier League, but producing some of the best football the club have played in years. As a result, Jurgen Klopp’s men have blitzed their way through the group and knockout stages and find themselves in the final.
When Klopp first arrived on the scene, many questioned whether the German was the right man for the job, but after reaching finals in both European competitions, the ‘Klopp Out’ brigade have all but disappeared.
Klopp does, however, have an unhealthy habit of losing in major finals, going down in his last five. That doesn’t bode well against a club on a hat-trick of Champions League wins, and against a king of finals in Ronaldo.
But like the Reds boss said, “if you want guarantees, then don’t qualify for a final, stay at home or go on holiday.”
What Liverpool do have, though, is a front three capable of tearing apart even the most watertight of defences. The combination of Salah, Firmino and Sadio Mane is officially the most prolific trio in Champions League history, scoring 29 goals and counting this season.
In fact, it was Real Madrid’s ‘BBC’ record they broke, set in the 2013/14. Liverpool have also scored the most goals in a Champions League campaign, netting 46 so far. Say what you want about this Liverpool side, but they certainly are capable of finding the back of the net.
Klopp has brought a sense of optimism back to the club, and the fans and players feel that they can beat any team in world football right now. Real Madrid are firm favourites to lift the cup, but Mane reiterates that the Reds are not afraid of anyone.
“I have big respect for Real Madrid and we are not the best team in the world but we have a great team,” the Senegalese said.
“We are Liverpool, we are strong, and we can beat any team in the world,” Mane continued.
Like Real Madrid, Liverpool also have one superstar that stands out amongst the rest. Salah narrowly missed out on the Golden Shoe award, finishing on 32 goals – just two behind Lionel Messi. The Egyptian has had a season to remember in his first year as a Red, but despite all the hype, Salah refuses to be drawn into talk of Liverpool being a one-man team.
“It’s not going to be a final between Mohamed Salah and Cristiano Ronaldo,” said the 25-year-old.
“I’m playing for a great club and we have great players, so qualifying to the final came with great teamwork that I cannot do alone,”
“I know all of Arab people wish the best for me and they are happy every time I win, but now, at the moment, I am only thinking about the final and to bring the trophy to Anfield. We have to be aware of their quality, but they have to be aware of ours,” the Egyptian concluded.
Verdict: Ronaldo To Score First And Real Madrid Win (5/1)
At the biggest stage in the biggest tournament, I can only see one possible outcome. Ronaldo is made for Champions League finals, and despite Liverpool’s defence improvement since the arrival of Virgil van Dijk, you simply cannot stop the big Portuguese in finals.
Mane said that Liverpool can beat any team in the world, but Madrid are not just any team. That’s why I’m backing Ronaldo to Score First and Real Madrid to Win at 5/1. The man for the big occasion will strike again.
