Liverpool FC and Real Madrid’s journeys to this year’s Champions League final could hardly be more different. And yet somehow they are connected.
The Royals probably don’t want to hear about it any more – and probably hardly anyone else remembers this grotesque situation – but Real Madrid had complained bitterly about the round of 16 draw Paris Saint-Germain in the winter. That’s right, there was something there. Incorrect composition of the lottery balls, draw at the second attempt. And PSG instead of Benfica for Real Madrid, who had won their group ahead of Inter Milan, Sheriff Tiraspol (home defeat at the Bernabeu) and Shakhtar Donetsk.
What followed was an object lesson for the Royals at Prinzenpark. What followed, however, was such a spectacular journey through the knockout rounds of the top flight that no one in the competition’s record-breaking champions would want to miss it. Benzema hat-trick after losing 1-0 in the first leg and 1-0 in the second – seemingly without a chance for a long time but victorious in the end.
Real also prevented a comeback – by catching up
Driven by the genius of its individualists, Real Madrid also prevailed against the hardly less brilliantly guided Chelsea FC – defending champions after all – and Manchester City. Karim Benzema excelled with 15 goals so far this season, whether in the 3:1 quarter-final first leg against the Blues or in the 2:3 “comeback” after trailing 3:0 at the impregnable Bernabeu.
The royals only allow themselves to make up for lost ground. Not to be shaken off despite 0:2, 1:3 and 2:4 in the 3:4 spectacle in Manchester, then two goals in two minutes in the second leg. Although City still led 1-0 and 5-3 (on aggregate) in Madrid until the 90th minute. The icing on the cake so far, as if someone had staged it. True to the motto: Whoever takes the lead against Real Madrid has already lost.
So will Liverpool have to reschedule? The Reds, group winners with 18 points out of 18 ahead of Atletico Madrid, FC Porto and Milan, finally met Inter rather than RB Salzburg in the last 16 – and won the first leg 2-0 in Milan. Dangerous. In the reunion at Anfield Road, Inter suddenly led and pressed for the second goal until the Nerazzurri decimated themselves. Just in time.
Scary moments at Villarreal
Then they beat Benfica 3-1 in the quarter-finals, first in the first leg and then in the second. But the Portuguese caught up at Anfield, 3:2, 3:3, Liverpool were shaking. Then Benfica ran out of time. The Reds were the antithesis of the Royals: In the semi-final against Villarreal again the supposedly easy draw, again the victory in the first leg (2:0). And again the comeback of the other, when the Submarinos unexpectedly also took a 2:0 lead. They lacked the quality to prevent Liverpool’s own comeback (3:2 after 0:2).
So in Saturdays grand final, Real Madrid, who last lost a Henkelpot final to Liverpool in Paris in 1981, will meet Liverpool in Paris. And Liverpool, who lost bitterly to Real Madrid in that final in 2018, to Real Madrid. A reunion somewhere between revenge and catch-up. The only question now is whether it will be completed or prevented.
