Two former Champions League winners Liverpool and Real Madrid go head-to-head this weekend in the final of Europe’s elite club competition the UEFA Champions League.
Four years after both clubs met in the highly entertaining final in the city of Kyiv, the Reds and Los Blancos will lock horns again but this time at the Stade de France in Paris.
Liverpool have had an excellent season so far by every standard, but the Reds head into the final on Saturday in a dampened mood after missing out on a 20th Premier League title on the final day of the league season.
For Real Madrid, they will take to the pitch in Paris as Spanish champions after lifting a record 35th La Liga title. Los Blancos are looking to seal a 14th UCL crown and will go into this game in a very confident mood.
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Form Guide
Liverpool kicked off their Road to Paris with an impeccable and unbeaten run in the group stages, winning six of their six matches to finish as group winners. Jurgen Klopp’s men netted 17 goals and conceded just six in that run.
Wins against Inter Milan, Benfica and Samuel Chukwueze’s Villarreal followed in the round of 16, quarter-final and semi-final respectively. Liverpool are unbeaten in their last six matches in all competitions, with four wins and two draws.
Real Madrid also finished top of their group but unlikely Liverpool, Los Blancos won five of their matches in the group stages, losing the other one.
Carlo Ancelotti, who is set to become the first manager to play in five Champions League finals, and his men followed that with wins over PSG in the round of 16, Chelsea in the quarter-finals, a game that ended in a nine-goal thriller, and Manchester City in the semi-final after another goal-fest.
Real Madrid will go into the finals tomorrow having won three, drawn two and lost one of their last six matches in all competitions.
How and where to follow the game
Apart from the usual SuperSport channel, you cannot afford to miss out on the UCLFinal coverage on your favourite online platform, Pulse Sports Nigeria.
Make sure to turn on notifications on our various platforms as we bring you happenings from Paris via our reporter OJB Sports and reporters from various viewing centres across Lagos.
You can join in on the UCLFinal conversations via the official UEFA Champions League final hashtag and the Pulse Sports Nigeria dedicated hashtag, PulseSportsUCLFinal.
What time is the kickoff?
The final between Liverpool and Real Madrid will kick off at exactly 8 pm Nigerian time.
Pulse Sports Predictions
Tunde Young, Reporter
I expect a high-scoring game, the first one since AC Milan vs Liverpool - this might be another 3-3 but I think Real Madrid will emerge as champions. So, 3-3, Real Madrid win on penalties.
Solace Chukwu, Senior Editor
This is going to be a very evenly matched game although I anticipate Liverpool dominating possession. But Real Madrid are very stable in terms of controlling a game even without the ball - dictating what spaces the opponent will play in and they also have the added bonus of Karim Benzema upfront - so, that’s obviously a huge factor in the ultimate outcome.
I think Real Madrid’s pedigree in this competition is huge leverage,(but) Liverpool have shown the ability to control and withstand sudden changes in tempo so far in the competition unlike Manchester City and PSG. I see the Reds being able to impose themselves on this game with their superior possession and also have a much more cohesive attack working together. So, I think Liverpool will shade it on the day.
There is going to be a number of goals, maybe like a difference in the odd goal in three. But Liverpool to win narrowly.