Champions League: beauty time between Real Madrid and Liverpool after 1981 and 2018

Stade de France is hosting an evening full of all records on Saturday, May 28. The usual hideout of the French team is hosting the Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid. Initially, this match was to be held in Saint-Petersburg, but due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the poster was moved to Saint-Denis. Thus, the Stade de France will host the C1 final for the third time in its history, after Real Madrid-Valence in 2000 and FC Barcelona-Arsenal in 2006. A record since 1993, when the new format of the competition began.

This 2021-2022 edition also sets another record. As a matter of fact, Liverpool and Real Madrid, who met for the third time in the Champions League final, became the most played match in the finals of Europe’s most prestigious competitions. The two teams had already battled for the big-eared trophy in 1981 and 2018.

1981: Liverpool Advantage

In 1981, Liverpool and Real Madrid faced off at PSG stadium Parc des Princes in Paris. Real finds the Champions League final after 15 years and is no longer as impressive as it was during European dominance between the late 1950s and 1960s (6 victories in 8 finals). Unlike Liverpool, which was a favorite because of their 1977 and 1978 coronations.

And thanks to a late success, it was the “Reds” who scored 0 to 1 (82^to minutes) England’s left-back Alan Kennedy. Thus, Liverpool rises to the roof of Europe for the third time in its history.

2018: Zidane’s Real Madrid dynasty

In 2018, Real Madrid and Liverpool meet at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev. After 11 years of famine, the “Reds” make it to the Champions League final. However, the British face a real juggernaut. Trained by Zinédine Zidane, Real are already acting as big favourites, led by star players including the winners of the last two editions, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The match will be marked by an injury exit as Liverpool’s flagship player Mohamed Salah is forced to relinquish his 31st place spot.^to After a violent foul by Sergio Ramos. Worse still, the “Reds” goalkeeper Loris Karius is making a dumpling at 51.^to Karim lets Benzema open the score. If Liverpool manage to equalize quickly with Sadio Mané four minutes later, Jürgen Klopp’s men will be penalized in 64 by an anthology return writer Gareth Bale.^to, just two minutes after entering the field. The Welshman even scored two goals at the end of the match after another mistake by Loris Karius to definitively seal Real Madrid’s victory. The Spanish club is thus 14.^to history in the Champions League.

2022: Liverpool machine against a stunning Real

Unlike 2018, this season’s favorite is Liverpool. Even though the “Reds” narrowly missed the Premier League title against Manchester City, Jürgen Klopp’s team still impresses in their game. He got a little scared in the rematch against the Spaniards. With a very fit Sadio Mané and a vengeful Mohamed Salah, Liverpool will be eager to lift the seventh big-eared trophy in their history.

Real Madrid, on the other hand, is coming off a huge route. As on paper, “Merengue” had opponents at a higher level and eliminated PSG, Chelsea and Manchester City on their way. Often dominated but never defeated, Real knocked out their opponent every time, thanks to Karim Benzema, who was the author of 10 goals in this knockout stage. Cristiano Ronaldo also broke the record. Therefore, if “KB9” were to score a goal this Saturday evening, they could find themselves in the leading position. Should there be a new coronation at C1, the 34-year-old striker could be heading to his first Ballon d’Or, whose ceremony will take place on October 17.

Benoit Lesueur