Liverpool Opens as Champions League Final Favorite
This has been one of the most exciting Champions League seasons in recent memory. Real Madrid has had to make three thrilling comebacks in order to reach the final, so the La Liga titans are underdogs to Liverpool.
These teams met in the Champions League Final in Kyiv four years ago, and Real Madrid won 3-1 over Liverpool to claim its record 13thtitle. Liverpool’s then-goalkeeper Loris Karius made two major mistakes that resulted in Real Madrid goals and Mo Salah was injured in the first half of that game, so the Reds are in good position to avenge that defeat.
Champions League Final Odds
- Liverpool -118
- Real Madrid +280
- Draw +275
Liverpool hasn’t had nearly the same trouble that Real Madrid has in getting to the Champions League Final. The six-time champions were largely in control against Inter Milan, Benfica, and Villarreal in the knockout stages, as they won the first leg against all three opponents by two goals.
Jurgen Klopp has established himself as a tactical genius, and that has led to a renaissance in Liverpool football. Mo Salah is one of the most gifted creators in the game, and Sadio Mane is a clinical finisher. Fabinho and Trent Alexander-Arnold are playing very well, and the back line is solid with Virgil van Dijk anchoring the defense in front of Alisson.
This is not the best Real Madrid squad we have seen in recent years, even though they have locked up another La Liga title and are in the Champions League Final. Real Madrid needed an improbable comeback against Paris Saint-Germain in the Round of 16 and pulled out a miracle against Manchester City in the semifinals.
Karim Benzema is still the talented talisman that knows how to finish for Real Madrid up top. Luka Modric and Toni Kroos are starting to show their age though, and Vinicius Junior is still a little raw. We’ve seen some real problems with the back line too, and Thibaut Courtois can only do so much. That puts Real Madrid at a real disadvantage in Paris.
