(Football news) The final of the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League final is all set. It will be a replay of the 2018 final as Real Madrid will take on Liverpool at the Stade de France. This will be the 3rd time that the two European giants will be facing each other in the UCL final. Liverpool had won the first one in 1981 while Madrid were victorious in 2018. This time around the stakes will be as high as ever as Liverpool could potentially be hunting for a quadruple while Real Madrid will be looking for a double. The two teams squared off in a two legged quarter final last season which Madrid won comfortably.
Liverpool had the perfect group stage in the UCL this season. In a group of Porto, AC Milan and Atlético Madrid; the Merseyside club won all 6 games, scoring 17 and conceding only 6. Liverpool rarely lose at Anfield but winning the 3 away games was an incredible achievement. Jurgen Klopp's team was in control of the games in what was a tricky group. In the Round of 16, Liverpool beat Inter Milan 2-0 at the San Siro in the first leg. In the 2nd leg they went 1-0 down before Alexis Sanchez was controversially sent off. Jurgen Klopp's men got a little lucky in that particular game as Inter were playing really well but the game ended with Liverpool 2-1 up on aggregate. In the quarter finals, Liverpool got a 6-4 victory over Benfica. The semi final was a tricky one as they defeated Villarreal 2-0 at Anfield. In the return leg away from home, Liverpool conceded two goals before half time. Villarreal did the unthinkable but in the 2nd half Liverpool took control and scored 3 goals to progress to the final.
Real Madrid had a very different road to the final. Los Blancos started off with a 1-0 win at San Siro but then faced a shock 1-2 defeat at the Bernabeu against FC Sheriff. The Merengues recovered well by winning 2 games against Shakhtar Donetsk before beating Sheriff away and Inter at home. In the round of 16, Real Madrid put in one of their worst performances at Parc de Princes but only lost 1-0 to PSG. In the return leg Madrid were 1-0 down at half time and needed 2 goals to equalise. Karim Benzema scored a dramatic hat-trick to mark one of the greatest comebacks in the history of the competition. In the quarter finals, Madrid won 3-1 at the Stamford Bridge against Chelsea thanks to another Benzema hat-trick but then blew the lead as they trailed 4-3 on aggregate to Chelsea at the Bernabeu. With 10 minutes to go, Luka Modric played one of the best passes of all time to set up Rodrygo who equalised. Real Madrid won in extra time as Karim Benzema scored again.
It looked like Real Madrid had played two of the most dramatic UCL ties of all time but the semi final was something else. In the first leg Manchester City were far the better team but won only 4-3. Manchester City had a two goal lead 3 times but kept on losing it. The 2nd leg at the Bernabeu was a cagey affair at first but Manchester City scored in the 73rd minute after which Real Madrid looked down and out needing two goals. They didn't even have a single shot on target until the 90th minute when substitute Rodrygo scored twice to send the game to extra time. Benzema won and scored a penalty to send Real Madrid to the final.
The journey of both the teams has been different. Liverpool have had a couple of tricky situations but Real Madrid have been put through the works in all their knockout games. Liverpool haven't been challenged enough in the competition. All 3 of Real Madrid's incredible victories have come at the Bernabeu which has some magic in it. The crowd just like the players never give up and the welcome that the players get before the match sets the tone. The final will be at a neutral venue which changes things a little bit. Real Madrid have the confidence of beating 3 of the best teams in the world. Los Blancos have already wrapped up the league while Liverpool are still in an intense title race with Manchester City. The final without a doubt will be a cracking battle in Paris.
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