After a long international break, UEFA Champions League is set to resume on Tuesday with mouth-watering quarter-final games. All four games are incredible matchups, but in terms of history, nothing gets bigger than the game between Liverpool and Real Madrid. The two sides will meet at Anfield in the first leg on Wednesday at Alfredo Di Stefano stadium in Madrid.
Los Blancos have won 13 CL titles with three under current manager Zinedine Zidane, while Liverpool has won six European titles. The latest win came under current manager Jurgen Klopp in 2019.
With the away goal being crucial for the fate of the tie, Liverpool will be looking to score goals in Madrid on Tuesday. Liverpool so far had endured a difficult Premier League campaign and find themselves at 7th position in the domestic league. However, the Reds come into this game on the back of a 3-0 win against Arsenal last weekend.
Real Madrid has also not been successful this season as they were knocked out of Copa Del Rey. The defending La Liga champions are currently three points behind league leaders Atletico Madrid. They come into Tuesday’s game on the back of a 2-0 win against Eibar.Â
The Spanish club is unbeaten in the last 11 fixtures. Meanwhile, Liverpool lost six games out of last 11 games. Despite an indifferent campaign for both teams, this tie is well set up for a blockbuster.
History between two sides
This Champions League clash between Real Madrid and Liverpool is the first since 2018. Real Madrid made it three CL titles in a row by beating Liverpool in 2018 final. After the 2018 Champions League final, Cristiano Ronaldo left for Juventus and since then Real Madrid has not won the UEFA Champions League. The final is also infamously known for injury to Liverpool’s forward Mohammed Salah. Sergio Ramos was accused of deliberately injuring the forward in that game.
Liverpool has lost all previous three games in Europe against Real Madrid. Meanwhile, Jurgen Klopp has won last all five games in the knockout stages of the Champions League. This will be a crunch clash of the UEFA Champions League season undoubtedly. Liverpool will obviously look to avenge defeat in 2018. Real Madrid will be without captain Sergio Ramos is missing the game due to injury. Considering the firepower of both teams, Liverpool has a slight edge over Real Madrid.Â
What are managers saying?
Zinédine Zidane, Real Madrid coach: “It’s knockout football, a final, that’s going to be played over 180 minutes or more. We know what there is to come, but we’re just focused on tomorrow’s game – nothing else. It’s the most important game of the season because it’s the next one we have. We aren’t thinking about the past [2018’s final].”
Jürgen Klopp, Liverpool manager: “It’s exciting, exciting. It’s obviously a tough draw but I am fine with it because if you look at all the other teams you think ‘Oh my God’ because they are all strong and all have quality. I am really looking forward to the games. It’s only just over two years ago that we faced them and it was a tough night for us, so to get the chance to play them again is cool.”
Players Available both the sides
Real Madrid Squad: Courtois, E. Militão, R. Varane, Nacho, Marcelo, Odriozola, F. Mendy, Kroos, Modrić, Casemiro, Valverde, Isco ,Arribas, Benzema, Asensio, Lucas V., Vini Jr., Mariano,Rodrygo
Ramos, Carvajal, and Hazard are unavailable for this game due to injury.
Liverpool Squad: Alisson, Adrian, Roberston, Fabinho, Davies, Tsimikas, Alexander-Arnold, Kabak, Phillips, Williams, Rhys Williams, Milner, Wjnaldum, Thiago, Shaquiri, Chamberlain, Keita, Jones, Salah, Firmino, Mane, Jota
Jordan Henderson, Joel Matip, Joe Gomez, Divock Origi, and Virgil van Dijk will miss this game due to injury.
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Phillips, Kabak, Robertson; Thiago, Fabinho, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane
Prediction: Real Madrid 1-2 Liverpool