Kiev is Set to Crown a King!

It’s the biggest prize that can be won in club football.

The ultimate prize which determines the champions of Europe.

Football games simply don’t come any bigger.

Reigning champions Real Madrid, the dominant force in Europe in recent years, chasing a third consecutive European Cup, what would be a fourth success in five years and a 13th crown overall.

Opponents Liverpool are chasing a sixth crown in Europe’s premier competition and what would be their first Champions League triumph since 2005 and place them third on the all-time winners list behind their opponents and Milan.

Can Zinedine Zidane win a third Champions League in his two and half years as manager or will Jurgen Klopp go one better than in 2013 when he guided Borussia Dortmund past Madrid en-route to a narrow final defeat?

What happens in Kiev will answer those questions.

Talking Points

Ultimately, the focus will be on the attacking players on display in the Olympic Stadium and where do we start?

Liverpool’s attacking trio is a pretty good place. In double footballer of the year Mo Salah (10 goals), Roberto Firmino (10 goals) and Sadio Mane (nine), the Merseysiders have players who have scored 29 Champions League goals between them this season.

Even before the final, that makes them the highest scoring trio in a single campaign in the competition.

Victory would send out a message not just to their English rivals but across Europe.

Real Madrid have their own deadly trio – the BBC.

Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and world number one Cristiano Ronaldo. A front three who can strike fear into even the most formidable opponent.

Bale is not guaranteed to start but five goals in his past four starts certainly makes Zidane sit up and take notice.

The Welshman admits a fourth final in five years has ‘blown away’ expectations but it will not quash the desire in the Real ranks who are desperate to remain Reyes de Europa (Kings of Europe).

It would also ensure arch rivals Barcelona cannot claim to be top dogs after a campaign in which they clinched a Spanish La Liga and Copa del Rey double.

While Madrid became the first club to win back-to-back Champions League titles last season, Barcelona have failed to progress beyond the quarter-finals in the last three seasons.

In defence, Virgil van Dijk has quickly become a fans’ favourite since his £75 million January arrival from Southampton and the talk of Liverpool being weak defensively has subsided significantly.
At the Real rear, Sergio Ramos is the crowd’s favourite son.

His sneakiness and defensive indiscipline can prove costly and he has been sent off 24 times during his Madrid career.

Yet he has developed a reputation as a man for the big occasion, as shown by his goals in both the club’s 2014 and 2016 Champions League Final victories.

Both sides can be relentless when they step up the gears but, while the main talk will understandably be on the respective forward lines, the key could yet be how the defenders defend – and attack!

Betting tips suggest Liverpool's front three will outshine Real's BBC — Liverpool’s victory depends on their front three of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane

History

For clubs with such European pedigree, it is perhaps surprising that only once before have they met in a European Cup final.

That was in Paris in 1981 and Liverpool triumphed 1-0 in the Parc des Princes, thanks to a late Alan Kennedy goal, eight minutes from time when one of the then 26 year-old’s forays brought the ultimate reward.

They didn’t meet again until 2009 when Yossi Benayoun sealed a famous win in the Bernabeu and Liverpool then trounced Madrid at Anfield to secure a 5-0 aggregate success in the last 16.

Madrid avenged that in 2014 by winning 3-0 at Anfield and 1-0 in Spain as the Merseysiders were eliminated in the group stage.

What are the odds?

Naturally Real start as favourites for Real Madrid have perfected what the elite do to become the supreme super club.

But there is not much in it.

For example, Asian Handicap odds price Real -0.50 @ 2.25 and Liverpool 0.00 @ 2.38.

A 1X2 draw pays at odds of 3.55, although obviously there must be a winner on the night.

Given the talent on display, it will not surprise you that goals are expected.

Over 3.50 is at 2.28, while under 3.25 pays a fairly paltry 1.85.

A tight affair with few goals is certainly not anticipated as shown by the total goal 0-1 which pays at 5.40.

And is it any wonder after the two-legged Champions League semi-finals produced no fewer than 20 goals.

Certainly, a 4-6 goals bet is priced at 2.48 – fairly modest in some ways but always worth considering.

The scene is set. It should be quite a contest.

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