Thursday, May 24, 2018

2018 UEFA Champions League Final

Real Madrid and Liverpool will compete in the final of the European Cup - for the first time since 1981 - in a mouth-watering match to decide who will be awarded the coveted Champions League trophy.

The defending champions and 12-time winners Real are bidding for their third successive title while Liverpool are seeking the sixth in their history.

A Champions League final for the ages pits a rampaging giant on the hunt for a historic third consecutive title against a plucky underdog, whose engaging counterattacking style has made history in the goalscoring department and endeared them to the wider public.

Zinédine Zidane has a full complement to choose from following the return from injury of Cristiano Ronaldo and Dani Carvajal, both of whom appear certain to start. There is debate as to whether it will be Gareth Bale or Karin Benzema up top alongside Ronaldo; however in big games the Frenchman tends to get the nod.

Liverpool have already set a record for most goals in a campaign this season while Real Madrid fans have been reared on free-flowing attacking football, so nobody is anticipating a cagey affair. Before the football even begins, Dua Lipa, no less, will whet the appetite with a performance at the opening ceremony. And after the final whistle blows, there will be a trophy presentation and ticker-tape reception. And some selfies. Glitz and glamour all the way.

Real Madrid Likely XI: Navas (CRC); Carvajal (ESP), Varane (FRA), Ramos (ESP), Marcelo (BRA); Casemiro (BRA), Kroos (GER), Modrić (CRO), Isco (ESP); Ronaldo (POR), Benzema (FRA)

Liverpool Likely XI: Karius (GER); Alexander-Arnold (ENG), Van Dijk (NED), Lovren (CRO), Robertson (SCO); Henderson (ENG), Milner (ENG), Wijnaldum (NED); Mané (SEN), Firmino (BRA), Salah (EGY)

In the dugouts, a beloved French legend yet to taste defeat in the most competitive club competition on the planet takes on a charismatic German with an unwavering game plan and a lust to shake a documented inability to get the job done on the biggest stage.

There is no bigger name on the planet than Cristiano Ronaldo so that's a pretty good place to start. He is after a fifth title, is in line to be the top scorer in the competition for the sixth season in a row and is the leading marksman in the competition's history. Liverpool will not be overawed, though. Ronaldo may have 15 goals this term but Reds trio Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mané have 29 between them. It can't be 0-0, can it?

Emre Can has been out since March with a back injury, but took a full part in Monday's training session at Anfield. James Milner is likely to feature after recovering from a muscle strain, while Trent Alexander-Arnold, 19, will become the club's youngest player in a European Cup final if he starts.