A Repeat of the 2018 UCL Final: Would Liverpool Get Their Revenge against Madrid?

In 2018, Liverpool faced Real Madrid in a UCL showdown to stop Madrid from doing the 3-peat and winning their 13th UCL title. It was poised to be an epic match after Liverpool’s fight to hold on to their win against Roma in the semifinals. The budding team was looking for their first title under Jurgen Klopp, and it was a team that rarely lost a final.

Going into the Liverpool vs. Real Madrid match, we expected a glorious end-to-end showdown, and it started that way until Mohammed Salah got injured in the first half. That night didn’t go the Reds’ way. They struggled to hold on to possession, and they only had Sadio Mane to rely on upfront after Salah’s early exit.

It went from bad to worse after Madrid got their first goal, and even though Liverpool pulled it back in the first half, it only got worse. The Liverpool goalie made a few errors that gave Madrid two extra goals in the second half, and as a result, Real Madrid got their 13th UCL title, the third one in three years. 

Liverpool has the chance to right the wrong and gets revenge for what happened four years ago. They can go to Paris and become one of the few teams to beat Madrid in a UCL final. It will not be an easy task because after the final, they met in 2021 in the UCL quarterfinals, and they lost 3-1 on aggregate to the Spanish giants.

But the scenery is different, and the winner would be decided in a single-leg match. There is no second chance, and the winner takes all. It will be an epic showdown where two powerhouses in Europe will lock horns to add to their already boisterous collection of UCL titles. 

European Pedigree and Experience

Both teams have been big names in the European scene for many years. They both have 19 titles between them, although Real Madrid has contributed more over the years. However, there is no doubt that the number will grow to 20 after they clash in Paris at the end of May. But who will be adding more to their number is what we don’t know.

Over the years, both teams have been involved in some kinds of incredible battles that resonate across the UCL history.  For instance, there is the epic 2005 UCL final between Liverpool and AC Milan, where the Reds were down by 3 goals in the first half, but they held their own. With 45 minutes left, Liverpool pulled the ultimate comeback to send the game to extra time to win on penalties eventually.

On the other hand, Real Madrid broke their long UCL trophy drought to win La Decimal in grand style. They were down to city rivals Atletico Madrid, and in the final minutes of stoppage time, they got an equalizer, giving them a lifeline. Given that Atletico had thrown everything to protect their lead in the regular 90 minutes, they crumbled in extra time, losing 4-1. 

Both teams know how to fight and hold to the littlest of hope. We’ve seen that happen time and time again. Therefore, this is a perfect match.