Previewing the Champions League Final

05/27/2022

By: Jeff Yoder

The Kings of Europe Will Be Crowned on Saturday

Here we go! Another preview before Memorial Day Weekend gives us the European finale soccer fans have been waiting for. The rematch of the 2018 UEFA Champions League Final pits Liverpool and Real Madrid for all the marbles. Los Blancos won that 2018 finale (3-1) under Zinedine Zidane. This time around, it’s Jurgen Klopp’s Reds looking for revenge against Carlo Ancelotti’s Spanish club. The final showdown is a one-leg, winner-take-all match at Stade de France in Paris.

 

How We Got Here: Real Madrid knocked out PSG, Chelsea and Manchester City in a torrid sprint to the finals. Liverpool, on the other hand, had a seemingly easier path with opponents like Inter, Benfica and Villarreal.

 

Real Madrid: Los Blancos are the undisputed kings of the Champions League with 13 titles, including a run of three straight from 2016-2018. They haven’t won it in four years, and a win on Saturday would be the club’s first without superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.

 

Liverpool: The Reds have had a miraculous few years in all competitions dating back to their 2019 Champions League crown. They have six total Champions League titles, but they could use a trophy boost after falling short of the Premier League title by one point last week.

 

Champions League Final

Real Madrid vs. Liverpool (Sat. 3:00 pm ET, CBS)

 

Watch: Champions League Final Match Preview

 

Additional Storylines

ESPN: Champions League Final: Liverpool—Real Madrid Will Be Box Office

SI: Champions League Final Brings Elixir for Liverpool, Real Madrid’s Fresh Setbacks

 

Photo: Kristian Skeie / Getty Images