Liverpool and Real Madrid clash on Saturday night (21:00 CET) in the biggest game of the season in European club football.
Liverpool missed out on the chance to win an unmatched quadruple this year, finishing second in the Premier League after their triumphs in the FA Cup and League Cup. But a seventh Champions League gold medal added to their trophy box would undoubtedly make the campaign a historical one.
Liverpool last won the biggest club competition in the world in 2019, beating fellow English side Tottenham in the final. Their success came just a year after losing the last act in front of none other than Real Madrid. In 2018, the Spanish giants recorded their last of three consecutive triumphs, winning a record-breaking 13th trophy in the competition.
Real won the title comfortably in La Liga. Los Blancos were confirmed champions a month ago, with four games left in the season. Many believe that’s an advantage for Ancelotti’s side, as they could relax more and focus on the Champions League final. But some tend to think just the opposite, with Liverpool playing at the highest intensity until the final day of their domestic campaign regarded as more important in terms of form.
Tens of thousands of Real Madrid and Liverpool fans have traveled to Paris, where the first post-pandemic final will take place. The venue was changed in February, shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine. The supreme Champions League event was initially scheduled to take place in St. Petersburg.
Facts and Odds for the Champions League final
Liverpool won 10 of their last 12 Champions League matches. They are at +100 to add one more to their stats and lift the trophy following a victory in normal time against Real Madrid.
Jurgen Klopp’s boys scored at least two goals in 11 of their last 12 UCL games. A continuation of the trend is at -125. A bet on at least two goals being scored during the match is at -455, suggesting that the bookies see this encounter as a high-scoring one.
There have been over 2.5 goals in nine of Madrid’s 11 Champions League confrontations. A bet on that happening again is at -140. Real Madrid themselves scored at least twice in eight of their last 10 Champions League games. Another important detail ahead of the final at Stade de France is that Real Madrid are undefeated in their last matches against Liverpool in all competitions. Despite recent clashes ending in their favor, Real is at +270 to lift the trophy in normal time. A draw is at +250.
The bookies have a 1-1 result over 90 minutes is at +600. A 1-0 Liverpool win is at +800, while a 2-0 victory stands at +900. Real winning 2-1 returns +1100, with a shock 3-0 Madrid triumph at +4900. Liverpool winning 3-0 is at +1700.
Liverpool‘s Mohamed Salah, who needed to be substituted early in the 2018 final after a clash with then Madrid captain Sergio Ramos, is the likeliest goal scorer in this year’s last act. The Egyptian is at +130 to hit the net at Stade de France. Real’s Karim Benzema is just behind at +140, while Liverpool’s Diogo Jota and Sadio Mane both sit at +160.