Real Madrid v FC Liverpool - 5 facts ahead of the big Champions League final!

UEFA Champions League Final 2018
Real Madrid v FC Liverpool
19:45 | Saturday 26th May
Olimpijskyj Stadium, Kiev (Ukraine)

Tonight Real Madrid will take on FC Liverpool for the Champions League trophy. There are so many stories behind it: Real Madrid on the one side, which plays the third final in a row and is favored once again because of the high quality of its individuals.

On the other hand there is Liverpool, the underdog, with Jurgen Klopp leading the rabble from the english blue-collar town into the final game in Kiev, trying to make a dream come true just as they did 13 years ago, when they were 3-0 down against Milan after the first 45 minutes, turning the game on its head by equalizing and then winning the match after penalties.

A few hours before the match, we want to look at 5 interesting facts regarding today's final.

#1: about last weekend

Last weekend Real Madrid played Villareal at the last game in La Liga this season. Real even had the chance to tie with city rival Atletico point-wise and become 2nd of the table because of the better goal difference. But as horrible as the whole La Liga season was for Real with finishing way behind Barcelona, they only made it to a 2-2 after 90 minutes.

Zinedine Zidan even sent a very strong starting XI into the match which were up 2-0 after the first half, then Villareal were efficient with the few chances they could create. This summed up the La Liga campaign for Real Madrid very good and for sure won't help the nervousness of the players.

#2: UCL history between Madrid and Liverpool

It's not the first time Real and Liverpool go head on head in the Champions League.

2014 was the last time they met in the group stage where Madrid won both legs clearly, just as Liverpool won both legs clearly when they played each other in 2009.

But: a lot of players from the starting XI in 2014 still play for Real Madrid. The only one from today's expected Liverpool team that also stood on the field four years ago is Dejan Lovren. Possible match-winning factors like Mo Salah or Sadio Mané were far away from Liverpool back then.

#3: Jurgen Klopp - third time lucky?

It is the third international final for Jurgen Klopp.

His first one was with Borussia Dortmund against Bayern Munich in Wembley 2013. Klopp regarded it as an insult after the match was decided by a few doubtful decisions of the referee against in disfavour of his team. Dortmund lost 1-2 after Arjen Robben scored the matchwinner in the last minute.

The second one was 2016 in the Europa League final with Liverpool facing Sevilla. Once again, the referees played a significant role by not giving three (or at least two) rightful penalties to Liverpool. In the end Liverpool were beaten 1-3.

Funny analogy for the Champions League final: as well as Real Madrid, back then Sevilla played the third final in a row and as well as Real, they won both previous finals. Bad omen?