A piece I wrote for a newspaper in my city.
Topic: Champions League final preview highlighting Real Madrid
When Real Madrid step out in Kiev on 26th May, they will know they can cement their legacy as the greatest club team ever assembled by getting past Liverpool. However, for a team that has achieved so much, they have been surprisingly written off by many experts. It’s largely down to their leaky defence, but they have always conceded goals. This season they have developed an unwanted knack of not turning up for games. As seen in the second leg of both, their quarter and semi finals. The point however, is that they’ve found a way. And this club, in the Champions League, always finds a way.
As good as they are going forward, Liverpool have a very unsure defence. The prolific front three of Manè, Salah and Firmino have been forced to outscore teams many times this season which they have managed so far. Cristiano Ronaldo wouldn’t be one of the greats if he didn’t know how to exploit an opponent’s weakness. He will be licking his lips on the prospect of facing a back four with very little European experience, especially going against Dejan Lovren and their shaky keeper Karius.
On paper, Real Madrid should comfortable get past this Liverpool side but unfortunately for them, football isn’t played on paper. This doesn’t mean that they don’t have a clear advantage over their opponents and that advantage is in midfield. Imagine Wijnaldum, Henderson and Milner, who have been great this season for Liverpool, outplaying Modric, Kroos and Casemiro. Casemiro has had a poor season but even then he will be confident of dominating the midfield battle especially thanks to the two maestros around him.
One area Real Madrid have to make use of, which has not been mentioned at all so far, is their clear height advantage. Liverpool only have 3 outfield players on and above the 6 ft mark(amongst those likely to start). So expect Ramos, Ronaldo, Varane, Benzema and Casemiro to be looking for crosses into them at every opportunity.
Finally, they biggest and most prominent factor favouring Real Madrid is their ace marksman, the man with most goals in the champions league and the leading scorer of the UCL for 5 seasons straight, Cristiano Ronaldo. Two below average games from him in the semi finals must be worrying for Liverpool as he rarely has three bad games in a row in this competition. The man is a living legend and Zidane must be confident that if his number seven shows up, Apor La decimal is on its way.