On Saturday, May 28, two of Europe’s top teams will go head-to-head for the opportunity to add to their UEFA Champions League titles. Liverpool will face Real Madrid in what is expected to be a repeat of 2018 final, with the game taking place in Paris – a venue where Madrid lost its last European final against the same opposition.
For Liverpool, this fixture promises a good opportunity to have one over Madrid considering the fact that the Reds lost the 2018 edition of the final to the Los Blancos.
In this article, we take a look at some key battles that could sway the result of this game in the favor of either Real Madrid or Liverpool.
TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD vs VINICIUS JUNIOR
For everything that Real Madrid’s season has been in the Champions League, one of the many to have contributed greatly to it is Vinicius Junior.
The Brazilian could be vital to Madrid winning a 14th European title. The youngster will come up against Trent Alexander-Arnold in Paris in a fight that could be pivotal for both teams.
Vinicius netted three times and assisted seven others in the UCL this season while Trent was also involved in four goals keeping just one clean sheet in eight games.
LUIS DIAZ vs DANI CARVAJAL
Luis Diaz is arguably the best transfer to have happened in the winter transfer window. The 25-year-old has joined the Premier League side and looked to be the needed backup they had looked for in a long while.
Diaz has been the changing point in some games including the fixture against Villarreal in the second leg of the semi-final tie.
Against Dani Carvajal, the Columbia international will have it tough but his quality being on display could help Klopp’s men.
MOHAMED SALAH vs KARIM BENZEMA
Mohamed Salah’s eight goals in the tournament is bettered by Karim Benzema who has scored 15 times for Real Madrid.
A chunk of Benzema’s has come in the knockout stages including back-to-back hattricks against Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea while he was also vital in the tie against Manchester City.
ALISSON vs THIBAUT COURTOIS
Alisson in 12 games in the Champions League has managed just four clean sheets. The shot-stopper has conceded 1.1 goals per game in this season’s Champions League and has a save ratio of 1.2 per game.
For Thibaut Courtois, he has been limited to just four clean sheets as well but the Belgium international despite conceding so many has a save ratio of 4.2 per game.
He has kept Madrid in the competition for the majority of the season and he will be looking to win his first Champions League trophy with the White Angels.
