(Football news) Liverpool and Real Madrid will meet in the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League final. The match will be between two of the most successful clubs in the history of football. Real Madrid will be looking to win their 14th UCL while Liverpool will be eyeing a 7th title. A win for Liverpool would put them level with AC Milan as the 2nd most successful team in the competition. As for Real Madrid, it would extend their dominance in Europe. This is Liverpool's 3rd UCL final in 5 years on the other hand it's Real Madrid's 5th final in 9 years. The contest in itself promises to be an amazing one but if put into context of the history it is even more exciting.

After a little hiatus, Real Madrid is back challenging for the Champions League. Los Blancos have been in the final 16 times before, having won 13 of them. This generation of Real Madrid has been incredibly successful. Madrid legend Paco Gento holds the record for most UCL titles with 6. Other Madrid legends Cristiano Ronaldo, Alfredo Di Stefano, Hector Rial, Jose Maria Zarraga, Rafael Lesmes, Marquitos, Juan Sebastian, Juan Alonzo are joint second with 5 titles to their names. The only non-Real Madrid player in the list is Paolo Maldini who also has 5 with AC Milan. The most outrageous thing is that if Real Madrid manage to win the title on Saturday, 9 of their players namely Marcelo, Nacho, Dani Carvajal, Toni Kroos, Casemiro, Karim Benzema, Luka Modric, Isco and Gareth Bale will have 5 titles and all with Real Madrid which perfectly sums up this generation of Galaticos. 

Liverpool are playing some of their best football under Jurgen Klopp but they just have 1 Premier League, 1 UCL, 1 FA Cup and 1 Carabao Cup to show for it. After missing out of the Premier League, their quadruple dream is over but a UCL title would make this season one of their best. They haven't lost a single game in the campaign this season and would be looking to go unbeaten. Real Madrid haven't lost a Champions League final since 1981 which ironically was against Liverpool, that too in Paris. Recent history however is on Los Blancos's side. Ever since the final has been fixed, Mohamed Salah on multiple occasions has said that it is time for revenge, referencing the 2018 final where he had to go off after a scuffle with Sergio Ramos left him with a dislocated shoulder.

Since then, Jurgen Klopp has said that he doesn't believe in revenge although he understands Salah's point of view. Dani Carvajal hit back saying "Let's hope it's not a huge burden for Salah to lose a second Champions League final against Real Madrid." Liverpool are a much better side this time around than they were in 2018 and one could even argue that Real Madrid is worse but it's still Real Madrid. Amidst all the revenge comments, people seem to have forgotten what happened when the teams met in the quarter finals last year. Real Madrid defeated Liverpool 3-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu and fought for a goalless draw at Anfield. The narrative is that Liverpool were without their first choice centre backs but so were Real Madrid who in addition were also missing both their right backs and had to play Fede Valverde in that position at Anfield. This time around the two teams are expected to be at full strength. There are doubts over the fitness of Thiago and Fabinho but the pair have trained with the team recently. It should be an exciting final nonetheless which will see one club assert their European dominance further.

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