Champions League Final 2018: Real Madrid v Liverpool

[Jezza]

The European Champions League Semi Final ties are now completed as Real Madrid and Liverpool have advanced to the Champions League Final for 2017 marking the second time they'll be playing each other in the final after Liverpool defeated Real Madrid in the final in 1981.

Real Madrid are vying for their third Champions League final victory in succession, which hasn't occurred since Bayern Munich achieved the 3-peat in 1974, 1975 and 1976. Real Madrid are also seeking to extend their run at the top with a 13th Champions League title. They've been champions in 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1966, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2014, 2016 and 2017.

Liverpool will be seeking to win their 6th Champions League final and their first since their famous comeback victory against AC Milan in 2005. Liverpool last played in a Champions League Final back in 2007 when they lost to AC Milan 2-1. Liverpool have been champions in 1977, 1978, 1981, 1984 and 2005.

Road to the Final:

Real Madrid:

Group Stage:
Match 1 - Real Madrid 3-0 APOEL
Match 2 - Borussia Dortmund 1-3 Real Madrid
Match 3 - Real Madrid 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Match 4 - Tottenham Hotpsur 3-1 Real Madrid
Match 5 - APOEL 0-6 Real Madrid
Match 6 - Real Madrid 3-2 Borussia Dortmund

Knockout Stage:
Round of 16 - Real Madrid 5-2 PSG (over two legs)
Quarter Final - Real Madrid 4-3 Juventus (over two legs)
Semi Final - Real Madrid 4-3 Bayern Munich (over two legs)

Liverpool:

Qualifying Phase:
Playoff Round - Liverpool 6-3 1899 Hoffenheim

Group Stage:
Match 1 - Liverpool 2-2 Sevilla
Match 2 - Spartak Moscow 1-1 Liverpool
Match 3 - Maribor 0-7 Liverpool
Match 4 - Liverpool 3-0 Maribor
Match 5 - Sevilla 3-3 Liverpool
Match 6 - Liverpool 7-0 Spartak Moscow

Knockout Stage:
Round of 16 - Liverpool 5-0 FC Porto (over two legs)
Quarter Final - Liverpool 5-1 Manchester City (over two legs)
Semi Final - Liverpool 7-6 AS Roma (over two legs)



This match will be taking place at the Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex in Ukraine on Saturday May 26 2018 with the kick off time being at 21:45 EEST. What are your predictions for this match? Will Real Madrid achieve a 3-peat or can Liverpool breakthrough for their 6th Champions League title after 13 years?

[Pies4shaw]

Spoiler alert. Real Madrid will win 3:1, Zidane will look a little smug and Bale will whinge about not getting more game time. In the off-season, he will be traded to Red Star Belgrade for a packet of stale cheezels. When he writes his autobiography, he will express a degree of regret that he "was a little churlish after that game."

[Jezza]

Real Madrid 3-1 Liverpool

Real Madrid have completed with the 3-peat with a big victory over Liverpool, and their fourth Champions League trophy in five seasons. Real Madrid is the first team to win the 3-peat since Bayern Munich in 1974, 1975 and 1976.

Zinedine Zidane has also resigned from his managerial post after three Champions League trophies.

Goals:
Real Madrid - 51' (Benzema)
Liverpool - 55' (Mane)
Real Madrid - 64' (Bale)
Real Madrid - 83' (Bale)

[K]

How well do people think Liverpool FC has performed in all competitions in the last half dozen years?

Please opine...

[K]

[RudeBoy]

All I know is that Liverpool has been transformed into a genuine powerhouse of the EPL and world soccer as a result of the appointment of Jurgen Klopp. The thing I love about Klopp the most, however, is his open display of genuine passion and love for the Reds and its fans. He regularly calls on the fans to help the team win with their vocal support at games. I know you can't compare apples and oranges, but jeez I'd love to see Bucks go out of his way to connect with our fans and credit them for assisting our team in tight situations. Anyway, it's a great time to be both a Reds and Pies fan. Oh happy days.

[Jezza]

I dislike Liverpool, but there's no doubt that they've hit a purple patch under Klopp. Still think Man City are favourites for the title but Liverpool are making it interesting.

They just need to start winning some silverware soon though. Klopp has done a remarkable job over three years, but he needs some reward at the end of it.

[K]

Not exactly on topic, but there's probably not a better thread for this curiosity. It was on the TV news and I hunted it down online. It looks like the player just disappears after interacting with Klopp:

https://www.thesun.ie/video/football/li ... disappear/

Or here (this seems to load more easily):

https://twitter.com/lewisgilbert97/stat ... 0562960384

What do you think is going on?

[K]

Mourinho's take, Jan 20, 2019:

'Former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho says Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp are reaping the benefits of having the full support of their clubs, something he enjoyed during his first spell as Chelsea boss...

"You see today in Liverpool, and I was thinking how many of these players were in Liverpool before Jurgen [Klopp] arrived? No Alisson, no [Virgil] van Dijk, no [Andrew] Robertson, no [Mohamed] Salah, nor [Roberto] Firmino, no [Sadio] Mane, no Fabinho. [Georginio] Wijnaldum, I don't think he played today [in a 4-3 win over Crystal Palace], but no Wijnauldum, no [Naby] Keita. This is work in-depth.

... So if you are a manager that you have in your hands the possibility to choose the player that you want to follow your football idea, or to follow the idea you think is the best to win a certain competition, that's one thing. Another thing is if you are not able to do that." '

http://www.espn.com/soccer/manchester-c ... r-managers

[HAL]

Interesting deduction. Would you like to be a manager that you have in your hands the possibility to choose the player that you want to follow your football idea or to follow the idea you think is the best to win a certain competition that's one thing ?

[Jezza]

Mourinho's take, Jan 20, 2019:

'Former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho says Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp are reaping the benefits of having the full support of their clubs, something he enjoyed during his first spell as Chelsea boss...

Jose's first stint with us will always be my favourite period as a Chelsea supporter.

It was a joy to watch.

[HAL]

Oh I get it. Very interesting.

[K]

[K]

Restricting Zidane to a coaching role is a missed opportunity for Real Madrid

http://www.espn.com.au/football/club/re ... eal-madrid

"Their key problems stem directly from the fact that Madrid do not have a central football plan that is any more refined or robust than "buy talent." Modern times have overtaken that Galactico idea. It can work but not on its own.

Had Zidane been appointed as the brain of the club, rather than the coach, he could have solved that. In effect, he could have become the Johan Cruyff of Real Madrid and mimicked the central core of wisdom, ideology, judgement and know-how that the great Dutchman brought to Barcelona in one form or another after he took over at the Camp Nou in 1988."

[K]

Meanwhile...

Liverpool, Barcelona ease into Champions League quarter-finals

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/soccer/ ... 5142f.html

"Sadio Mane scored twice to hand Liverpool a 3-1 victory at Bayern Munich on that sent them through to the Champions League quarter-finals.
...

... Lionel Messi scored two goals and provided two more as Barcelona reached the quarter-finals in style, thrashing Olympique Lyonnais 5-1 at home..."