Liverpool cannot afford complacency against Real Madrid
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On Saturday night, Liverpool and Real Madrid go head-to-head in Paris in the final of the Champions League.
The two teams are some of the most successful in the history of the European Cup. In fact, the team from the Spanish capital have lifted the trophy more times than any other team, winning the competition on 13 occasions.
Another win would make Liverpool the joint-second most successful team in the competition's history.
The bookmakers make Liverpool slight favourites to win their seventh European Cup. However, Real Madrid is not a team to be underestimated.
While Liverpool had relatively comfortable fixtures against Inter, Benfica and Villarreal in the knockout rounds, Real Madrid faced PSG, Chelsea and Manchester City.
Carlo Ancelotti’s team showed great spirit to book their spot in the final, as Los Blancos were trailing in all three ties but came back to make it to the final.
The pick of their comebacks was beating Manchester City 6-5 on aggregate in extra-time in the semi-finals when they needed two late goals from Rodrygo to take the tie into extra-time before Karim Benzema struck the winning goal from the penalty spot.
While some Liverpool fans celebrated that they would be playing Real Madrid rather than City, maybe they should not be so quick to celebrate facing a team they haven’t beaten in five matches in the Champions League.
Liverpool has also won just two of the seven European meetings between the pair, with the two wins coming way back in 2009.
Liverpool also has to face veteran French forward Karim Benzema, who is enjoying somewhat of a renaissance in the twilight of his career. The 34-year-old has 15 goals in 11 Champions League appearances this season.
Liverpool head coach Jurgen Klopp is unlikely to allow any complacency to set in. However, Real Madrid has the quality and experience to punish the men from Merseyside if it does.
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