3 biggest keys to victory for Real Madrid vs. Liverpool in the Champions League Final

Real Madrid will face Liverpool in the Champions League Final on Saturday night, and there is a great deal of anticipation for this match at the Stade de France. It is a rematch of last year’s Champions League quarterfinals and, of course, of the 2017/18 Champions League Final.

Let’s take a look at the biggest keys to victory for Los Blancos this weekend against the Reds.

Real Madrid must bypass the press

When Real Madrid defeated Liverpool 3-1 last season, they scored two goals where Toni Kroos set up Vinicius Jr. And this Vini Jr. brace was before the Brazilian broke out into becoming one of the best players in the world, scoring 17 goals and providing 10 assists in the 2021/22 LaLiga season.

Kroos will once again be the key factor for Real in beating Jurgen Klopp’s counterpressing scheme. Klopp and the Reds are better than anyone else in the world at creating rapid chances, as they are so adept at winning the ball in the opposition’s half by pressing high. Their forwards and midfielders have incredible work rate and intelligence.

Real Madrid have Kroos and Luka Modric who can play through the press, and David Alaba is great under pressure, too. But the same cannot be said for some of Real’s other key players, such as Casemiro and Ferland Mendy.

They cannot fall into Liverpool’s game. They must bypass the press and find ways to create quick chances, with the forwards needing to play an active role in both helping when appropriate and making the right runs in transition to create quick chances. Real must not play into Klopp’s hands this weekend.