Champions league final preview
Champions League final preview: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Friday 25 May 2018
Team news, expert views, form guide, fantasy tips and key stats – it's your UEFA Champions League final preview.
- Real Madrid aiming for third straight triumph
- Liverpool are top scorers with a record 46 goals
- Zidane: "Pressure is life, it makes it better"
- Klopp: "We are Liverpool and this is in our DNA"
- Game is at same venue as UEFA EURO 2012 final
Possible line-ups
Real Madrid: Navas; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Casemiro, Kroos, Modrić, Isco; Ronaldo, Bale
Out: none
Doubtful: none
Out: none
Doubtful: none
Liverpool: Karius; Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Lovren, Robertson; Henderson, Milner, Wijnaldum; Mané, Firmino, Salah
Out: Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee ligaments), Gomez (ankle), Matip (thigh)
Doubtful: Emre Can (back)
Out: Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee ligaments), Gomez (ankle), Matip (thigh)
Doubtful: Emre Can (back)
Reporters' views
Joe Walker, Real Madrid ()
Well, once again Madrid are here. The UEFA Champions League final is a date they have circled in the diary every year and once more they may believe it is their destiny to lift the trophy, this year for an unprecedented 13th time. Zinédine Zidane has a selection dilemma up top – Gareth Bale or Karim Benzema? – but whoever isn't given the nod isn't a bad option to bring on, either.
Well, once again Madrid are here. The UEFA Champions League final is a date they have circled in the diary every year and once more they may believe it is their destiny to lift the trophy, this year for an unprecedented 13th time. Zinédine Zidane has a selection dilemma up top – Gareth Bale or Karim Benzema? – but whoever isn't given the nod isn't a bad option to bring on, either.
Matthew Howarth, Liverpool ()
Jürgen Klopp's troops have no reason to fear Real Madrid. The Merengues may have big-game experience on their side, but Liverpool's irrepressible front three are capable of inflicting serious damage on the holders. If the Reds can show the defensive steel that served them so well over two legs against Manchester City in the quarters, they might just crown this remarkable campaign with a sixth European Cup.
Jürgen Klopp's troops have no reason to fear Real Madrid. The Merengues may have big-game experience on their side, but Liverpool's irrepressible front three are capable of inflicting serious damage on the holders. If the Reds can show the defensive steel that served them so well over two legs against Manchester City in the quarters, they might just crown this remarkable campaign with a sixth European Cup.
What the coaches say
Zinédine Zidane, Real Madrid coach
Football is simple. There are two teams and you need to understand the opponent can hurt you and control that. Then when you have the ball you need to try to do them harm with your style of play. We're not favourites, nor are they. It's 50-50 as finals always are. We're happy to be here and play another final. We'll never live this again. We'll live other moments but we'll never have today and tomorrow again. We need to take advantage. If there's pressure, well, that's life. It makes it better.
Football is simple. There are two teams and you need to understand the opponent can hurt you and control that. Then when you have the ball you need to try to do them harm with your style of play. We're not favourites, nor are they. It's 50-50 as finals always are. We're happy to be here and play another final. We'll never live this again. We'll live other moments but we'll never have today and tomorrow again. We need to take advantage. If there's pressure, well, that's life. It makes it better.
Jürgen Klopp, Liverpool manager
We had an agreement when we started working together that I'm responsible for any defeats, the boys are responsible for when we win. So they have nothing to lose. Experience is very important and I'm pretty sure a second before the game Madrid will be more confident than us. But it doesn't matter because the game doesn't stop there, it only starts. They've not played us and we are Liverpool – not only a good football team, but we have in our DNA to go for big things.
We had an agreement when we started working together that I'm responsible for any defeats, the boys are responsible for when we win. So they have nothing to lose. Experience is very important and I'm pretty sure a second before the game Madrid will be more confident than us. But it doesn't matter because the game doesn't stop there, it only starts. They've not played us and we are Liverpool – not only a good football team, but we have in our DNA to go for big things.
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