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Real Madrid v Liverpool | Champions League final preview | Real could make history in Kyiv

Real Madrid travel to the NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kyiv, Ukraine to face Liverpool in the Champions League final on Saturday evening.

Los Blancos are chasing an historic third consecutive European crown – their fourth in five seasons – while the Reds are hoping for their first major trophy under Jurgen Klopp and their second European title in 13 years.

Holders Real are 7/10 to lift the trophy, but you could get an even greater return for your money with the 10bet bonus code as they offer a 50% bonus on your first deposit.

Goals are guaranteed

Zinedine Zidane’s side finished third in La Liga last season, 17 points behind champions Barcelona and three adrift of rivals Atletico Madrid. Real conceded 44 goals in 38 games, the most in the top-four, but they were rescued a lot by having the fire-power to make up for it (94 goals scored).

As for their opponents, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool finished fourth in the Premier League, 35 points adrift of champions Manchester City. The Reds also had the worst defensive record in the top-five but were second-highest scorers like Real.

Goals at either end looks a certainty on Saturday, with Real Madrid scoring and conceding in more La Liga than any other side (24), while Liverpool had scored and conceded in 11 (58%) of their 19 away games in the league. As a result, Both Teams to Score is 2/5. Total Goals Over 2.5 is 4/9.

Ronaldo and Salah are the danger men

And to answer the question of who will be scoring on the night, Cristiano Ronaldo remains Real’s biggest goal threat while Mohamed Salah is undoubtedly Liverpool’s. Their pair have scored 58 league goals and 25 Champions League goals between them this season, so the difference on Saturday could be which team finds a way to quell the attacking threat of the other.

Ronaldo scored in every Champions League game until the semi-finals against Bayern Munich. Ronaldo is 7/2 to be first goalscorer. As for Salah, the Egyptian international came to life in the knockout rounds, scoring five goals in six games. Salah is 10/3 to be first goalscorer.

Zidane’s European experience and Klopp’s curse in finals could be a factor

Real head coach Zinedine Zidane has won the Champions League once as a player and twice as a manger, all with one club. His job largely depends on the outcome of such European night, as Real pride themselves on winning the tournament. No other club has as many European titles as they do, and such experience and pedigree could be key against a Liverpool side managed by Klopp who has a bad record in finals.

The German coach took charge of Liverpool in 2015 and has led them to three cup finals in three years – League Cup final against Manchester City (2015/16), Europa League final against Sevilla (2015/16) and the Champions League final against Real Madrid (2017/18). He’s failed in two of the three finals, with the third to be resolved on Saturday, and was also a runner-up in the Champions League final with Borussia Dortmund (2012/13).

Zidane has won finals and knows what it takes, while Klopp often ends up on the losing side regardless of his efforts. Real are 6/5 to win against Liverpool in 90 minutes. Liverpool are 9/4 to beat Real in normal time. Real and Liverpool are 14/5 to play out a stalemate that forces extra time.

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