Liverpool vs Real Madrid – The Preview

The Champions League final of 2022 is set to be a rather exciting occasion for many reasons. Liverpool will come into the game at the Stade de France after missing out on the Premier League title, but with success on the domestic front in the bag. On the other hand, Real Madrid are La Liga champions, but making their way to Paris has been a hell of a battle.

Liverpool will start the game favourites, and you could say rightly so. Most sports betting operators believe it’s their final to lose, based on their performance in the competition alone. And, as we’ve already mentioned, Real have made hard work of it at times, overcoming the odds by rescuing games late on. But, this is very much a one-off game, and Real Madrid knows how to win on the biggest stages, and so does their manager Carlo Ancelotti.

Jurgen Klopp saw Thiago limp out on the final day of the Premier League season with a reported Achilles issue. It will need further investigation before his potential involvement in the fixture can be determined. But, at this point, the signs don’t look good, and the Spaniard’s absence could prove to be a bitter blow to Liverpool as he’s the one who conducts games from the middle of the park. In addition, Virgil van Dijk and Mo Salah have both been out injured recently, with the latter making a goalscoring return on Sunday.

On the other hand, Real will head into the showpiece fixture with everyone ready to go, with Ancelotti saying, “The whole roster is in good shape and excited about the match.” While you expect Thiago to be missing for the Reds and for it to be a blow, Liverpool have enough quality to cope regardless, especially with van Dijk and Salah both ready to start the game. And it should make for epic viewing, as both teams have a plethora of talent at the top of the pitch, which is where the game will ultimately be won or lost.

Klopp will likely opt with a front three of Salah, Sadio Mane and Luis Diaz from the off at the Stade de France. And they’re three attackers who have the ability to cause havoc for even the best defence in the world. Salah and Mane are reliable goal-getters, while Diaz, who has been a revelation since his switch to Anfield, can turn a game on its head with a piece of skill or a mazy run.

Ancelotti will be looking for his talisman Karim Benzema to come up trumps once again, and you wouldn’t bet against him doing so. The Frenchman has fifteen goals from eleven appearances in the competition so far, with seven of those coming against Chelsea and Manchester City. He will be chomping at the bit to be Real’s hero once again, and you could see him delivering, albeit against the odds.