One of the sporting events of the year is approaching, the UEFA Champions League final on Saturday 28th May at the Stade de France. Although Real Madrid managed to win the final between both teams in 2018, this time it seems that the Reds will be favourites. We'll see how both teams get to the final and who has a better chance of lifting the Champions League this year.
This weekend we have an important date with football. On Saturday 28th May, the Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid will be played at the Stade de France in Paris. Both teams know each other quite well and both Jurgen Klopp and Carlo Ancelotti are finalising the details of their squads to be at their best for Saturday and win the coveted trophy. It would be the 14th Champions League for Real Madrid and the seventh for the Reds. Who do you think will win it?
According to SportsBettingDime.com the initial odds have been moving for Liverpool from -140 to +110 in most sports betting sites, but they remain the main favorites to lift the trophy. To check these odds, we are going to analyse both teams and how they get to the final. Both teams have some notable absentees and other players who are doubtful until the last minute. We will also look at what they have done this season so far and whether they will be able to finish the season with another trophy for the trophy cabinet of Anfield or the Bernabeu.
Liverpool have had a great season. Jurgen Klopp's team has managed to win both the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup, both finals on penalties against Man City and Chelsea, respectively. Two very difficult matches, but both were won by the Reds. However, they have not managed to win the Premier League, despite being in the title race until the last game, but Man City did not give in and managed to win it. If not, Liverpool would already have won three titles this season and would be looking for a fourth.
They go into the final with Fabinho, Mohamed Salah and Virgil Van Dijk, who have been carrying a few problems from recent games, although it looks like they will have no problem making it to the final. Thiago Alcantara looks set to miss out. Despite this, they seem to be clear favourites to win this year. Salah is particularly motivated according to his statements due to his injury in the 2018 Kiev final. He said that they "have a score to settle" and it seems that he is sure that his team will win the 7th Champions League.
Real Madrid have also completed a great season so far. They started by winning the Spanish Super Cup against Athletic Bilbao 2-0 in Saudi Arabia. They have been the clear dominators of LaLiga this year with no one to challenge them for the top spot and they have won their 35th league title with four games left to play and just before the second leg of the semi-final against Man City. With this win, Carlo Ancelotti's side are highly motivated going into a final where nobody expected the 13-time European champions to be present.
Without doubt, their season so far in the UCL has been spectacular. They managed to finish first in Group D, winning all their matches except the surprising victory of Sheriff Tiraspol at the Bernabeu. From there, in the knockout stages they have made one comeback after another against teams that are considered favourites to win the Champions League this year. First it was PSG, against whom they started off losing in both games and ended up coming from behind thanks to a stellar Benzema. Then Chelsea, against whom they scored three goals at Stamford Bridge, and finally Man City, whom they came from behind with two goals at the end of the game and won with a goal in extra time.
The two teams know each other very well. They played the 2018 final in Kiev, which Real Madrid won 3-1 with goals from Benzema and Bale after several serious mistakes by Loris Karius. Mane managed to score the 1-1 for the Reds. Salah was forced off injured in the 30th minute of the match. Their last meeting was last season also in the Champions League. This time they met in the quarter-finals where Real Madrid also managed to win at the Bernabeu and drew at Anfield to knock out Liverpool. However, they lost in the semi-finals against Chelsa, who managed to win their second Champions League.
So, place your bets and decide who will win this year. Both teams have a good chance and it is expected to be an entertaining game in France.