What My Thoughts are on the UCL Final in Kyiv Next Week

Liverpool and Real Madrid are scheduled to play the UCL final in Berlin in a weeks time. The question is who will win? Liverpool with their lighting fast attack have torn it up in the Prem this season and even though they placed fourth they completely dominated champions Manchester City both in the Prem as well as the UCL and lost fewer games than places third and second.

On the other hand Real Madrid have somehow succumbed to rivals Barcelona and city rivals Atletico Madrid to place third in La Liga. All in all its safe to say these two champions of champions have not performed as well as fans expected however how have they performed in UCL?

Liverpool came in top of group E above Sevilla on twelve points, Real Madrid came second to Tottenham on thirteen points.

In the round of sixteen Liverpool comfortably eliminated Porto with an aggregate of 5-0. Real Madrid breezed past PSG with an aggregate of 5-2. Both Porto and PSG were powerless to the attacking prowess of these star-studded teams.

In the quarter final Liverpool swept aside EPL champions Manchester 3-0 in the first leg and finished the job to win 2-1 in the second leg. Real Madrid destroyed Juventus 3-0 with Ronaldo scoring "Goal of his career" and narrowly lost 3-1 in the second leg with a penalty being awarded in added time, which Ronaldo duteously put away (agg. 4-3).

Liverpool safely placed themselves up three goals (5-2) in the first leg against Roma before narrowly keeping their lead in the second leg after losing 4-2 (agg. 7-6). Real Madrid played it safe and won against Bayern 2-1 in the first leg before drawing 2-2 in the second (agg. 4-3). Which brings us to the final.

FIFA ratings would predict Real sweep Liverpool aside however FIFA ratings also indicated Liverpool would also lose to Manchester City. With Mohammed Salah in form and destroying all before him, alongside his also pacy teammates Sadio Mane and Robert Firmino, Liverpool are going to be putting up a strong front against Real Madrid.

Real Madrid's defence after the departure of Pepe has become somewhat weakened. Varane is being overworked and although nothing has been unearthed his game against Villareal left a lot to be desired in terms of his pace, marking and positioning. Ramos is defiant however but with Varane alongside him he will most likely be overworked and Liverpool will exploit this. This lack of fitness and pace from both Varane and Ramos (if he is working Varane's role as well as his own) opens up space to shoot against Navas. Regardless of Perez's faith in Navas I personally have none. He is inconsistent and needs to be replaced this summer. If the centre backs open up and allow Liverpool to shoot against Navas, Liverpool will indeed come out on top.

In terms of Liverpools' defence they are weak in comparison to Real Madrid. The deadly three at Liverpool's head is what gives them the win in most games however against a team as vastly experienced and hardworking as Madrid they will have to work harder than they ever have before. Liverpool's defence will have to work even harder as Real Madrid have (finally) a fit Gareth Bale, an in form Cristiano Ronaldo and a rampant Benzema after his game against Bayern.

In terms of midfield... Madrid is ageing but still fit and skilled enough to give an edge. Liverpool on the other hand are weak and unbalanced. The players abilities and vision are varied. They are all average players and with all the experienced players being senior and nearing career ending age Real Madrid are going to exploit this through Isco roaming and Asensio's play-making.

All that aside anything can happen, especially in the UCL. The last four times Liverpool and Real Madrid have played, Liverpool have won twice and Real Madrid have also won twice. Anything can happen in UCL however Real Madrid have a stronger defence regardless of their fitness and man-marking, especially if Casemiro starts as CDM, and Madrid's midfield will openly dominate and use the ageing Liverpool players to their advantage to create space. My money is on Madrid however I would not be surprised if Liverpool exploit Navas' poor form and outpace Ramos and Varane through Salah and Mane.

Thanks for your time,
Angus Mclaughlin