The Champions League Final 2022: Liverpool v Real Madrid

Excitement throngs the air yet again as we approach the 2022 Champions League final, where Liverpool will be taking on Spanish giants, Real Madrid. This was certainly not the final we were expecting – as it seemed it was going to be an all English affair until Real pulled off an astonishing last-minute comeback to kick Man City out and claim their place in the final. Football betting fans can only wonder what is in store for us, as Liverpool braces themselves for vengeance after their 2018 defeat in Kyiv.

The semifinal was certainly action-packed and up until the 90th minute, all seemed lost. Suddenly, substitute Rodrygo managed to score twice in the final minutes to bring them equal. Then, in extra time, Karim Benzema scored a penalty to seal the deal… making it 6-5 on aggregate.

This incredible comeback will now set up an exciting repeat of the 2018 night in Kyiv when Real beat Liverpool 3-1. The only other time they have faced each other in the Champions League final was back in 1981, also in Paris, when the Merseyside lot took home the silverware, with Alan Kennedy scoring the only goal of the match.

Doing a Treble?

Whilst all this is happening, Liverpool’s dream of winning the unprecedented quadruple was quashed after Man City scored 3 goals in 5 minutes after going 2-0 down against Villa … and pipping Liverpool to the Premier League title by 1 point. However, they can still get a treble after they took home their second title this season, beating Chelsea on penalties in the FA Cup Final at Wembley.

Liverpool is seen as the slight favourites to win the big game, but they aren’t runaway favourites by any means. They have so much to play for and they want to finish this season with at least 3 pieces of silverware. Already this season they have lifted the Carabao Cup – and they have lifted the FA Cup – the two major domestic cup tournaments. They finished just one point behind Man City for the Premier League… when everything came down to the very last match of the season.

On their journey to this point, they managed to edge out Serie A winners, Inter Milan, in the first knockout match. They then defeated Benfica 6-4 on aggregate in the quarters. They faced off against Villarreal in the semi-finals and dashed their dreams of an all Spanish final, sweeping them aside to face their nemesis team. They are now so close to their seventh European win. With the two teams having faced each other in the finals twice – with one win apiece, will this one be the decider? The reds will certainly be hoping it goes their way.

Can Real Stop Them?

Real Madrid has won this title 13 times – and they have just been crowned La Liga Champions 2021/22. They are slight underdogs in the betting odds, but only just. They will be going into this match still stinging from their 2020/21 defeat to Chelsea in the semi-finals. However, they certainly pulled out all the stops to ensure they didn’t get knocked out by them again this year. They fended off a brave comeback from Chelsea in this year’s quarters  – with extra time being needed to decide the outcome. They then went on to be the team to actually pull off a big comeback in the semis against another big England Club, Man City… and they will be looking to make it 3 in a row to defeat England’s last remaining hope in the cup, Liverpool.

Will Salah Get His Revenge?

But will those Liverpool fans get what they want when they reach Paris? If Salah has his way, then yes. Salah was controversially put out of action in the 2018 Champions League final after a bad tackle by Ramos dislocated his shoulder – and he wants revenge. Many believed this was a deliberate act – and whether it was or not, this was one of the nail’s in Liverpool’s dream that day. This, along with some embarrassing errors from goalkeeper Loris Karius, saw their night end in disaster. Liverpool players and their fans have neither forgiven nor forgotten. In fact, when Salah was asked who he would rather play – Man City or Real Madrid, he didn’t hesitate. He wants to play against Madrid and win against them. Although it’s close, Liverpool has the edge in terms of betting odds – so we’ll wait and see what happens!

Whatever happens, this game, which kicks off at 8pm on 28th May, will be a defining moment for one of these teams. This could be the game that gives Liverpool their dream revenge win – or a win for Real Madrid would make Ancelotti the only manager to win the European Cup or Champions League cup four times.

This is going to be a thrilling match where both teams leave it all out there. Liverpool is a team that never gives up and always has that self-belief that they can win right up to the last second of the game. Real Madrid has experience – they are always at the heart of the Champions League and they know what it takes to win. This is going to be a heart stopping match for football betting fans from all across Europe and we’re sure many people will have a lot shorter nails by the end!