Who will lift the coveted trophy in 2022?
The most important and biggest final of the 2021/22 European club football season is casting its shadow ahead. On Saturday evening, Liverpool and Real Madrid will duke it out for the coveted UEFA Champions League handle pot. The venue for this historic final, which has already been played in this continent’s premier club competition in 1981 and 2018, is the Stade de France in Paris, which has been designated to replace the arena in St Petersburg.
As is always the case before major title decisions, the 2022 final is already writing many exciting stories in advance. In particular, the saying “there’s life in the old dog yet” could serve as a headline for this encounter. The Madrilenians had already been knocked out several times, but always fought their way back, proved their incredible morale and now want to bring the most prestigious and important title in European club football to the Spanish capital for the 14th time in the club’s history.
Bookmakers are offering lower odds between Liverpool and Real Madrid on success for the English runners-up, who are having an outstanding season in the top flight, winning ten of their 12 games.
Finally, we are also looking forward to the many personal stories that the clash of two heavyweights of European football automatically brings. Will Karim Benzema break a record or two on Saturday night? Will Mo Salah find his personal revenge after his bitter 2018 final exit? And can Carlo Ancelotti actually climb a new Olympus and win the Champions League for the fourth time as coach?
Liverpool – Statistics & current form
Liverpool almost achieved the impossible last Sunday. The Reds were only one goal short of overtaking Manchester City in the season finale of the English Premier League. In the end, however, the Reds came away with a well-deserved runners-up spot, but at the same time their dream of a “quadruple” was shattered. However, this missed title will in no way diminish the Reds’ performance so far this season. There are still the triumphs in the two national cup competitions and the highlight final on Saturday against Real Madrid.
In any case, the excellent results in the current calendar year give hope for the encounter in the Stade de France. The defeat in the second leg of the last 16 against Inter Milan was not only the only defeat in the current CL season, but also the only defeat in 2022. Jürgen Klopp’s team has not lost any of the last 18 games in the competition and has celebrated 15 victories in the same period, eight of them without conceding a goal.
LFC in 2022 the measure of all things in European football
For the German coach of LFC, meanwhile, it is already the fourth Champions League final. He has won the title on one of his three attempts – in 2019 with his current employer. His personal record against Real Madrid is also capable of improvement. The team coached by Klopp only managed to win three out of nine matches against the royals (two draws, four defeats).
Despite these interesting statistics, we are willing to bet on Liverpool against Real Madrid in the Champions League final. Apart from the already mentioned top form and the desire for revenge for the lost final four years ago against the same opponent, there are also tactical arguments that point in the direction of the Scousers.
The traditionally very courageous and effective pressing will inevitably pose problems for the Madrilenians. No other club in the current CL season has allowed their respective opponents to pass less than LFC. However, anyone who believes that the men from Merseyside will be able to constrict Real in their own penalty area with a high four-man defence will be proved wrong.
No goal spectacle in CL final again?
In view of the strong switching game with the quick-as-an-arrow Vinicius Jr. as well as the enforcer Benzema, Klopp will be forced to adjust his approach somewhat, which in turn should increase the likelihood that the odds on rather few goals will pay off between Liverpool and Real Madrid. Incidentally, the number of goals in the most recent finals also speaks in favour of this. In a review of the past three title matches in the top flight, only four goals were scored in total. The bet on the over 2.5 would never have gone through.
In terms of personnel, the Reds may have to do without the injured Thiago. Otherwise, however, all the key players are on board. It remains to be seen who will start alongside van Dijk in the centre of defence and whether Klopp will go for Diaz, Jota or Firmino in the attacking back three. Mo Salah, who has been involved in a whopping 44 goals in the CL since the start of the 2016/17 season, will definitely return to the starting eleven. The Egyptian is expected to be the difference-maker again this weekend. In any case, there should be no lack of motivation after Salah was so fouled by Sergio Ramos in the 2018 final that he had to leave the pitch after just 30 minutes.
Liverpool’s likely line-up:
Alisson – Robertson, van Dijk, Konate, Alexander-Arnold – Fabinho – Henderson, Keita – Diaz, Mane, Salah
Last matches played by Liverpool:
Premier League
22/05/2022 – Liverpool FC 3 – 1 Wolverhampton
18/05/2022 – Southampton 1 – 2 Liverpool FC
FA Cup
14/05/2022 – Chelsea FC (5)0 – 0(6) Liverpool FC
Premier League
11/05/2022 – Aston Villa 1 – 2 Liverpool FC
08/05/2022 – Liverpool FC 1 – 1 Tottenham
Real Madrid – Statistics & current form
Real Madrid remains a phenomenon in world football. Since 1981, the royals have reached the final of the most important title in European club football seven times and have also been able to lift the trophy to the sky on all seven occasions. This impressive record should be maintained at best on Saturday evening.
The fact that the team of successful coach Carlo Ancelotti made it to this final at all is already to be seen as a surprise, at least if one considers the respective courses of play in the eighth, quarter and semi-finals. In all three knockout rounds, the Galactics lost either the first leg or the second leg and still managed to pull themselves out of the proverbial scrape.
Madrid mentality monster
The fact that hardly anyone thought the Spaniards would progress in the duels against Chelsea and Manchester City must also be cited as proof of their mental and footballing strength. The enormous experience is also a factor that certainly plays a role for the veterans from Madrid. No less than five players in the squad of the record winners have already played more than 100 matches in the Champions League.
In view of the 90 minutes against the in-form Reds, it is nevertheless understandable in our eyes that Liverpool are favourites against Real Madrid according to the odds. If the English side can keep Vinicius Jr. and Karim Benzema out of the game for the most part, they will definitely have chances to score against a defence that does not always look solid. Eleven goals were conceded in the six knockout games (including extra time). Keeper Courtois was unable to keep his clean sheet on a single occasion.
All eyes are on Benzema
The strengths therefore lie more in the offensive area, which can be underlined, among other things, by the fact that the “white ballet” scored at least twice in nine of the last ten Champions League games. Karim Benzema, who can break two records on Saturday, has a big part to play in this.
Firstly, at 34 years and 160 days, the Frenchman can become the oldest goalscorer in a CL final. Secondly, he can set another record if he scores twice or three times. Benzema currently has 15 CL goals in 2021/22; only Cristiano Ronaldo scored more in 2013/14 (17). Those who actually want to place a high-risk bet on a treble from the captain will find 29.00 as top odds at Bet365.
Coach Ancelotti, who is aiming for his fourth triumph as a coach in the top division, can virtually draw from a full range. David Alaba seems to be fit in time, but may not have the necessary match practice after almost a month of injury. In midfield, Toni Kroos is likely to be preferred to Camavinga; Rodrygo may play up front on the right. But with Hazard, Bale or Asensio, there are still plenty of options from the bench.
Predicted Real Madrid line-up:
Courtois – Mendy, Alaba, Milito, Carvajal – Casemiro, Kroos, Modrid – Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo, Benzema
Last matches played by Real Madrid:
La Liga
21/05/2022 – Real Madrid 0 – 0 Real Betis
16/05/2022 – Cadiz 1 – 1 Real Madrid
13/05/2022 – Real Madrid 6 – 0 Levante
09/05/2022 – Atletico Madrid 1 – 0 Real Madrid
Champions League Final
05/05/2022 – Real Madrid 3 – 1 Manchester City
Liverpool – Real Madrid Direct Comparison / H2H Record
A curious duplicity of events is brewing. As mentioned earlier, Real Madrid have not lost any of their recent seven Champions League/European Champions Cup finals. However, the last defeat came in 1981 against Liverpool, of all teams, and also in Paris. Is this history repeating itself 41 years later?
In total, this is the ninth meeting on the international stage. The Madrilenians lead the direct comparison with four victories. Three times the Reds were able to hold their own. The heavyweights were held to a draw in the pre-season quarter-final second leg, when a 0-0 draw was enough for the Royals to book their place in the semi-finals after a 3-1 first leg win. LFC are now without a win against Real in five successive meetings (one draw, four defeats).
Liverpool – Real Madrid Tip
We have extensively highlighted all the facts, figures and stories surrounding the 2022 Champions League final at the Stade de France in Paris. The ball will roll on Saturday evening from 21:00. If we look at the betting odds between Liverpool and Real Madrid, it becomes clear that the English have the better chance of winning the title. Whether there is value hidden in the respective quotes is something everyone should decide subjectively for themselves.
In any case, we believe that the Reds are rightly favoured after the outstanding calendar year 2022. Self-confidence is at boiling point, Real has weakened in some games and revealed problems especially defensively. This time, Ancelotti’s team does not have as much time to come back into a match as in the previous rounds.
We therefore play the combined tip on Liverpool vs Real Madrid in the Champions League final at 1X & Over 3.5. On the one hand, we believe that Real will not be ahead after 90 minutes. On the other hand, we expect rather few goals in the course of the match. Although both teams have outstanding offensive players at their disposal, the experience of the last few years and the last few weeks has shown that in finals the risk is adjusted to the situation.
There were not many goals in the Europa League and Conference Finals. Even in the three most recent title games in the top division, there were never more than two goals scored.
