Real Madrid will look to make history by winning a third straight Champions League crown as they take on Liverpool in Kiev. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 4:45am (AEST).
Real have beaten Atletico Madrid and Juventus in the last two finals of the famous tournament – beating the Italian giants 4-1 last year.
Now, their attention turns to the English surprise packet in Kiev. The Champions League has the potential to save a somewhat frustrating season for the Spanish giants, who finished third in La Liga, behind their fierce rivals Barcelona and Atletico.
While they were far from a distant third, Real struggled to get the job done throughout the season. They only lost six games, but ten draws across their 38 meant they were no chance of competing with Barcelona.
The Spanish giants will be glad they are at full strength for the final, with superstar Cristiano Ronaldo recovering from a slight niggle he picked up in training. Nonetheless, manager Zinedine Zidane has stated his star forward will be at ‘150 per cent’ for the final, putting fans minds at ease.
Of course, Ronaldo was the key man for Real Madrid during La Liga, scoring 26 times, with Karim Benzema his main help, ending the season with ten assists.
Real’s defence was a worry at times though and if Liverpool are to win, there will be a heap of reliance on Egyptian striker Mohamed Salah. He carried Liverpool during the English Premier League season, scoring on 32 occasions and making defences look silly.
To go with his goals, he also had ten assists, meaning he was involved in 42 of Liverpool’s 84 goals for the season – exactly half.
There is no disputing his value to Liverpool, but with the club winning just 21 of their 38 EPL games and finishing the season with draws against the likes of West Brom and Stoke, as well as a loss to Chelsea, it’s no small surprise they come into the final against Real as the underdogs.
Liverpool got the better of Roma in the semi-finals of the Champions League, running up seven goals across the two legs to win 7-6, while Real beat Bayern Munich 4-3 on aggregate.
Prediction
Real Madrid are favourites and with good reason. While Salah could come to the rescue for Liverpool, whether he gets any quality ball up front is another question altogether.
Real Madrid 2 – Liverpool 1.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the Champions League final from 4:45am (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
KenoathCarnt
Guest
Lol seriously Karius has had alot of question marks all season the only thing that made him seem so good was that he was performing better then Mingolet who was dreadful.
Lionheart
Guest
all the praise for Bale's bicycle - get them every other week in the A League.
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
That was cruel for Mo Salah and Karius who normally is pretty much impenitrable in goal. Real Madrid the Champions League specialists. Zidane looks like the ultimate tournament manager, should be snapped up as the Footballroos next manager, whatever the cost.
Scott Pryde
Expert
That we are! Cheers Stevo
Lionheart
Guest
LFC would do well to consider Matt Ryan
Buddy
Guest
I reckon he was reminding him that there is such a thing as German comedy and it will last longer in the memory than anything Bale could ever contribute in 90 minutes of football. ( one for the bloopers dvd)
That A-League Fan
Roar Guru
Your assumption is correct.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Saturated with football. When too much football is not enough!!!! Well done Scott.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this morning right here on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2018 UEFA Champions League final as Real Madrid got the better of Liverpool. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. The Roar will be back in the coming weeks with a stack of football. We plan to cover a series of international friendlies to keep you across all the happenings in the lead up to the World Cup, then we will be live, on deck for every single match of the FIFA World Cup from start to finish. You won't miss a single moment right here. I'll also be back at 11am (AEST) this morning for Game 6 of the NBA Western Conference finals between the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME Real Madrid have won their third UEFA Champions League in a row, defeating Liverpool by two goals in Kiev. Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Kauris had what will go down as the worst night of his sporting career, letting in two very easy goals for Real to take victory. Real's first goal to Karem Benzema and third to Gareth Bale were both as a direct result of goalkeeping errors. The first was an average roll out which Benzema got a boot in the way of, before the third was a dropped shot from 30 yards out. The goal in between however was all class, with a cross finding Gareth Bale, who put on a stunning bicycle kick to steer the ball into the back of the net for Real Madrid. Liverpool did answer back to the dismay of the first goal with Sadio Mane putting one into the back of the net off a corner, but they couldn't react from the final two with Real dominating the back end of the game and not giving their opponents a sniff, as they did last year against Juventus. A four-goal second half came after none in the first, very much going against pre-match expectations. While there was plenty of intent from both sides in the first half, the shots on goal didn't come flowing with a real lack of execution coupled against some good defence. Real Madrid did have a goal towards the end, but were ruled to be offside by centimetres. Injuries also played their part in the game. Mohamed Salah is now in doubt for Egypt's World Cup push after suffering a potentially dislocated shoulder half an hour into the game. Salah heading off seemed to ruin Liverpool's confidence, with their attacking, free-flowing start to the game seemingly gone following his exit. Dani Carvajal also had to be replaced during the first half after suffering a leg injury. In the end though, it was all Real Madrid who are three-time champions of Europe. Real Madrid 3 Liverpool 1
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
It was a great final overall. Non-stop action from the first to the last minute. Lots of drama, freakish stuff, and lots of heart. As a neutral, I can't ask for much more from a final. A Brilliant spectacle. And on the day, the better team won.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Hahahahaha, Klopp embracing Bale, having a laugh and probably telling him that his goal was nothing particularly special :) :)
Stevo
Roar Rookie
A lot of tears in the eyes of Liverpool players. Understandable but thank goodness that the game was basically won by a most amazing goal from Bale.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
You don't watch too much European football I assume?
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the match Roarers?
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
Give the pitch invader who prevented CR7 a goal the MOTM ;) Bit lucky, but Real were the better team. Congrats to them.
That A-League Fan
Roar Guru
I'm really surprised they didn't start Mingolet. I've never heard of Karius until they started him tonight.
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME There goes the whistle. Real Madrid are champions of Europe for a third straight time. It was a dramatic 20 or so minutes which took them away, capped off by one of the best goals you are ever likely to see with Gareth Bale hitting a bicycle kick to take the game away from Liverpool. Real Madrid 3 Liverpool 1
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Cold chicken Kiev’s for Liverpool tonight :(
Scott Pryde
Expert
90 + 3' The managers have just shook hands on the sideline, so Jurgen Klopp clearly understands this is over. And, now we have some goose who has run onto the field. Three or four security guards drag him off and that fan might have just denied Ronaldo a goal. Real Madrid 3 Liverpool 1