Will Real make it 3-In-A-Row or Can Liverpool Sink the Spanish Armada?

This weekend, the most prestigious game in club football will take place in Kyiv as Spanish giants Real Madrid attempt to become the first team since Bayern Munich in the mid 1970s to claim three Champions League titles in a row and what would be a new record of 13 Champions League victories.

Standing in their way is Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, themselves five-time winners of the title and who have one of the most dynamic and exciting attacking set ups in all of European football. The Reds have set their own records on the way to the final, scoring a record 46 goal so far in the tournament, the most scored by any team in any Champions League campaign.

Of course, such a huge game always attracts plenty of betting and if you fancy a flutter, then why not sign up with Coral Sport? You can enjoy their standard welcome offer for new customers or see if the site offers a special Champions League themed starter bonus for customers. Alternatively, you can sign up with any other Coral site to get an account with them and still enjoy sports betting. Check out the great Coral Vegas No Deposit Bonus offer currently available if you fancy that route.

Before we bring you our selection of tips for the game, let’s take a closer look at both sides that are scheduled to face off on Saturday evening.

Champions League Final

• Venue – NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev
• Date – Sat 26^th May
• Kick Off – 7.45pm
• Referee – Milorad Mazic (Servia)

Liverpool v Real Madrid

In Focus – Liverpool

• Manager – Jurgen Klopp
• Domestic Season – 4^th in Premier League – 38 games played, 75 points

Road to Kiev

Liverpool’s journey to Kiev began in the Champions League playoff stage.

• V Hoffenheim – Away won 2-1, Home won 4-2

Champions League Group Stage

• V Sevilla – Home drew 2-2, Away drew 3-3
• V Spartak Moscow –Away drew 1-1, Home won 7-0
• V Maribor Branik – Away won 7-0, Home won 3-0

Liverpool finished top of their group to qualify for the knockout stage.

Knockout Stage

• Round of 16 – V FC Porto – Away won 5-0, Home drew 0-0 – (5-0 on aggregate)
• Quarterfinal – V Manchester City – Home won 3-0, Away won 2-1 – (5-1 on aggregate)
• Semifinal – V AS Roma – Home won 5-2, Away lost 2-4 – (7-6 on aggregate)

Liverpool Squad

Leading Champions League Scorers & Assists

Top Scorers

• Mo Salah – 10 Goals
• Roberto Firmino – 9 goals
• Sadio Mane – 9 goals

Top Assists

• James Milner – 9 assists
• Roberto Firmino – 8 assists
• Mo Salah – 4 assists

Probable Liverpool XI – (4-3-3) – Karius, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson, Wijnaldum, Henderson, Milner, Mane, Firmino, Salah

In Focus – Real Madrid

• Manager – Zinedine Zidane
• Domestic Season – 3^rd in La Liga, 38 games played, 76 points achieved.

Road to Kiev

As holders of the trophy, Real Madrid qualified directly for the Group Stages of the tournament.

Champions League Group Stage

• V APOEL FC – Home won 3-0, Away won 6-0
• V Borussia Dortmund – Away won 3-1, Home won 3-2
• V Tottenham – Home drew 1-1, Away lost 1-3

Real finished second in Group H behind Tottenham Hotspurs to qualify for the knockout stage.

Knockout Stage

• Round of 16 – V Paris St Germain – Home won 3-1, Away won 2-1 (5-2 on aggregate)
• Quarterfinal – V Juventus – Away won 3-0, Home Lost 1-3 (4-3 on aggregate)
• Semifinal – V Bayern Munich – Away won 2-1, Home Drew 2-2 (4-3 on aggregate)

Real Madrid Squad

Leading Champions League Scorers & Assists

Top Scorers

• Cristiano Ronaldo – 15 Goals
• Karim Benzema – 4 goals
• Marcelo – 3 goals

Top Assists

• Dani Carvajal – 3 assists
• Cristiano Ronaldo – 2 assists
• Marcelo – 2 assists

Probable Real Madrid XI (4-4-2) – Navas, Vasquez, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo, Kroos, Casemiro, Modric, Isco, Bale, Ronaldo

How will the game unfold?

While Liverpool’s defence has improved since the arrival of Virgil Van Dijk in January, there are still big question marks over them and in particular their tendency to concede late goals. That said, Real Madrid have not enjoyed the best of seasons domestically and while reaching another Champions League Final, have not been at their dominant best of a couple of years ago.

Cristiano Ronaldo will be key to Real’s chances and if he gets plenty of opportunities, then Real Madrid will win, however by the same token, Real will not have come up against an attack that is as energetic, bright or who pressurises their defence as much as Liverpool’s trio in attack will and that may well be crucial, especially in the full back areas where Real look somewhat weak.

The bookies have Real as the favourites here and it is easy to see why. They have the experience and the pedigree to win this game, but I think Liverpool’s greater variety of attacking options and the way that Real Madrid defend at times, gives Jurgen Klopp’s side a real chance here.

• Match Result Tip – Liverpool to win – 2/1 with Coral Sport
• First Goalscorer Tip – Mohamed Salah – 10/3 with Coral Sport
• Correct Score – Liverpool to win 3-2 – 20/1 with Coral Sport