Champions League final: Real Madrid 0 Liverpool 0 – LIVE

Reds star Mohamed Salah goes off injured,
Karim Benzema goal is ruled out for Real

One-Minute Read

HALF-TIME: Real Madrid 0 Liverpool 0

“No goals and no Mo,” says Gary Lineker on BT Sport. Mohamed Salah’s injury is the biggest
talking point after 45 goalless minutes of the Champions League
final in Kiev. 

45+3 mins: the whistle blows

That’s the end of the first-half in Kiev. Still Real Madrid 0
Liverpool 0, but Benzema had a late shot go just wide.

44: chances for Real

Nacho’s shot hits the side-netting. There will be three minutes
of added time in Kiev.

43: Real goal disallowed

Ronaldo sees a header saved by Karius and Benzema’s follow-up is
ruled out because of the offside flag.

40 mins: how Twitter reacted to Salah’s injury

37: injuries dominate Twitter

The injuries to Salah and Carvajal are the biggest talking
points so far – especially on Twitter. There is a lot of worry over
the duo’s World Cup chances.

35 mins: Carvajal taken off injured

The Real defender is also in tears as he walks
off. Carvajal comes off and Nacho is brought on by Zinedine
Zidane. 

30 mins: change in attack for Liverpool

Lallana goes over to the left, Mane is on the right and Firmino
through the middle. 

29: SALAH TAKEN OFF

Liverpool’s star striker Mohamed Salah is going off because of
that injured shoulder – he is in tears on the pitch. Adam Lallana
is coming on.

25 mins: Salah down

Liverpool fans look away… Mohamed Salah is down on the ground
after being pulled down by Sergio Ramos. He is holding his left
shoulder, but should be ok to carry on.

23 mins: chances for Liverpool

Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino sees a shot blocked then
seconds later Alexander-Arnold’s drive is saved by Navas. 

21 mins: decent start for the Reds

Reds boss Jurgen Klopp will be pleased with the opening
exchanges. Sadio Mane was nearly in but Real skipper Sergio Ramos
sweeps up.

17 mins: van Dijk heads wide

Sloppy play from Real gives Liverpool a corner. Salah swings it
over, Navas misses it and Virgil van Dijk cannot direct his
header on target.

15 mins: Ronaldo smashes over

The Real star has the first real chance. He strides into the
Liverpool area but shoots off target. Should he have
passed? 

10 mins: no clear-cut chances

It is quite an open early ten minutes in the final. Real
left-back Marcelo drags a shot wide. 

7 mins: Alexander-Arnold involved early

The young Liverpool defender is getting forward early. Real
keeper Navas blocks him off.

5 mins: Salah shot blocked

Liverpool have an early free-kick. Henderson to Salah whose
drive is blocked. 

3 mins: good start for Karius

A decent punch by the Liverpool keeper to deny Isco, the Real
attacker was offside though. 

7.45pm: Liverpool to kick off

Captains Sergio Ramos (Real) and Jordan Henderson (Liverpool)
shake hands at the coin toss. Liverpool will kick off the
final.

7.42pm: here we go…

Real Madrid and Liverpool are in the tunnel waiting to come
out… here come the teams!

7.40pm: Ronaldo vs. Salah

So much has been written about the two star strikers on show
tonight: Cristiano Ronaldo and Mo Salah. They certainly have scored
a few goals…

7.25pm (UK time): teams announced

There’s no place in the Real Madrid starting line-up for
Welsh star Gareth Bale as Zinedine Zidane picks Karim Benzema and
Isco to support Cristiano Ronaldo in Real’s attack. While for
Liverpool James Milner starts and the returning Emre Can is named
on the Liverpool bench by Anfield boss Jurgen Klopp.

Real Madrid team: Navas, Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo,
Kroos, Casemiro, Modric, Isco, Ronaldo, Benzema. Substitutes:
Casilla, Nacho, Theo, Lucas Vazquez, Bale, Asensio,
Kovacic

Liverpool: Karius, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk,
Robertson, Henderson, Milner, Wijnaldum, Salah, Mane, Firmino.
Substitutes: Mignolet, Clyne, Klavan, Moreno, Lallana, Can,
Solanke

Champions League final guide and match facts

When and where is the final?

The Champions League final between Real Madrid and Liverpool
takes place tomorrow at the NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kiev,
Ukraine. 

When does it start?

Kick-off is at 7.45pm (UK time).

How can I watch on TV or on a live stream?

BT Sport has exclusive coverage of the
final and will broadcast the match live on BT Sport 2 HD or on BT
Sport 4K UHD. BT will also show a free-to-air live stream of the
Champions League final via its app, website and YouTube channel.

Key battles and players 

Ronaldo vs. Salah

Not really a direct battle, but the key dangermen for both
sides. Ronaldo has 15 Champions League goals this season and Salah
has 10.

Attack vs. attack

Real can boast an attack including star striker Ronaldo plus
Bale, Benzema, Isco, Lucas Vázquez and Marco Asensio. Liverpool
also have their own talented frontline of Salah, Roberto Firmino
and Sadio Mane. Liverpool’s three forwards have a combined 29
Champions League goals this season, the Daily Star reports. Both defences will have to
be strong in Kiev. 

Milner a potential matchwinner?

Forget Ronaldo vs. Salah, the BBC says that Liverpool midfielder James Milner could
be the key man in the final. “Milner’s increased productivity in
the final third has been the most notable aspect of his Champions
League displays – he has gone from an assist every 588 minutes in
the Premier League to one every 99 minutes in Europe,” says the
BBC. “Despite Real Madrid’s proud European record, Milner may never
have a better chance to create goals for his team-mates in a final,
since the reigning champions are anything but secure
defensively.”

The rivals in Europe

Real Madrid’s Champions League
history

The Spaniards are the most successful side ever in the Champions
League (and formerly the European Cup). Real have won the trophy
a record 12 times and Cristiano Ronaldo is the competition’s record
scorer with 120 goals. 

Liverpool’s Champions League
history

The Merseysiders have won the competition five times. The club’s most recent Champions League
title came in 2005 when Rafael Benitez’s side beat AC Milan on
penalties in the “Miracle of Istanbul”. 

Champions League final predictions

John Toshack, former Liverpool player and Real Madrid manager,
speaking to the BBC: “With the players on show it has every
opportunity to be a classic. I’m just hoping it’s 90 minutes of
great entertainment and Liverpool lift the trophy at the end. My
heart tells me Liverpool but my head says Madrid.” 

John Barnes, former Liverpool and England player, speaking to
talkSPORT: “Of course we can [win], we’re
playing well, the Klopp factor is very apparent, Salah. But it’s
going to be a very difficult match.” 

Ian Ladyman, Daily Mail: “Real Madrid 3-1 Liverpool. I fear
this may be where the dream dies for Liverpool. Unless something
dramatic has happened behind closed doors between Rome and Kiev, it
is hard to see Liverpool keeping a clean sheet and that leaves them
having to beat Cristiano Ronaldo & Co in a shoot-out. I would
be delighted – but very surprised – if they manage it.”

Dominic King, Daily Mail: “Real Madrid 1-3 Liverpool. There
is no logic to this prediction as, to be frank, how many Liverpool
players would get into Madrid’s starting line-up on Saturday. Two,
possibly three, at best? But I have had feeling for sometime that
Liverpool will win this competition and I can see Roberto Firmino
having a huge say in the outcome. Liverpool’s preparations could
not have gone smoother. Now it is time for the players to
deliver.” 

Steve McManaman, former Liverpool and Real Madrid player,
speaking on BT Sport: “To me, Liverpool just look stronger
and quicker. I take them to win a high-scoring match.” 

Matt Le Tissier, Sky Sports: “Liverpool’s front three can cause
Real Madrid plenty of problems. As good as Marcelo is going
forward, he’s not great on the back foot, and I think Liverpool can
exploit that. It would be a fitting end to the season for Salah,
Mane and Firmino to get on the scoresheet, and it would be great to
see an English team win it.”

Champions League betting odds

Latest best prices according to Oddschecker (as of 26 May).

Winner:

• Real Madrid: 13/10 
• Liverpool: 11/5 
• Draw: 14/5

Correct score:

• Draw 1-1: 8/1 
• Real Madrid 2-1: 19/2
• Draw 2-2: 11/1 
• Liverpool 2-1: 12/1 
• Real Madrid 1-0: 15/1 
• Real Madrid 3-1: 16/1 
• Real Madrid 2-0: 16/1 
• Liverpool 1-0: 21/1 
• Real Madrid 3-2: 21/1  
• Draw 0-0: 22/1 

First goalscorer:

• Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid): 7/2 
• Mohamed Salah (Liverpool): 19/4 
• Gareth Bale (Real Madrid): 13/2 
• Karim Benzema (Real Madrid): 15/2 
• Roberto Firmino (Liverpool): 15/2 
• Moya Borja Mayoral (Real Madrid): 8/1 
• Danny Ings (Liverpool): 9/1 
• Dominic Solanke (Liverpool): 9/1 
• Sadio Mane (Liverpool): 9/1