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.
Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo Goes need to be ruthless
The question of who starts on the right wing remains unclear for Real Madrid, because the are compelling reasons to go with Fede Valverde or Rodrygo. Based on the success of the formula in the Champions League thus far, Fede should keep starting to give that running and defensive cover, with Rodrygo coming off the bench to provide extra attacking quality and creativity when (or if) that is needed in the second half.
But regardless of when he plays, Rodrygo is going to be a key man for Real Madrid, given how clutch he has been in multiple Champions League matches this season.
Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo must be ruthless against Liverpool. These young wingers will be counted on to make the right decisions, thread the right passes, and take the initiative off-the-ball to destabilize the Reds’ defense.
Most importantly, Rodrygo and Vini must take their chances, with the onus being on Vini as the team’s second-leading goal-scorer. Karim Benzema may have to play a more facilitative role, and it will be up to Vini and Rodrygo to convert the chances that will be out there for them.
Because there will be chances. Great ones, in fact. Liverpool will not play like cowards. Far from it. The “heavy metal football” Jurgen Klopp espouses will lead to them taking risks, and so Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr. will get a few clear-cut opportunities. But the Reds are an elite team with elite defensive players. Those chances will not be copious. Real Madrid must take them.
Real Madrid cannot be overly aggressive in defense
I have repeated this key to victory before, but it is true that against the best teams in the world like PSG, Chelsea, Manchester City, and now Liverpool (arguably the most dangerous of them to Madrid, by the way), the same things that lead to a win must be harped on.
For Real Madrid, disciplined defending has been an important phrase. David Alaba’s likely return to the XI vs. Liverpool will be a particularly necessary boost, not just for his ball-playing ability, but also because he is by far the most composed and intelligent defender on Los Blancos. That is not to disparage Eder Militao’s reading of the game or Nacho Fernandez’s experience, but Alaba is a different level of big-game experience and defensive quality. We have seen that whenever he is not available, including in a narrow Supercopa Clasico earlier this season.
Nacho and Militao could be the starters if Alaba somehow cannot be back in time. We could see both of them getting minutes in this game, depending on how things go. Militao bounced back against Real Betis, but Madridistas remain worried after some of his rash decisions. And while Nacho has been great lately, including against Manchester City in the second leg, that was not always the case. He and right back Dani Carvajal have been the poster children for unnecessary aggression and risky defending this season.
Real Madrid are going up against one of the world’s most dynamic attacks. Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane are among the Ballon d’Or candidates behind Karim Benzema. Luis Diaz has been a masterstroke of a signing and may prove to be even better than his attacking teammates.
To contend with these electrifying players, Real Madrid cannot make mistakes on or off the ball defensively. They must take the safe options and, looking at Militao and Nacho here, cannot overly commit to a player without being 100 percent sure they will win the ball.
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This Champions League Final will be a test of the defense’s togetherness, understanding, and discipline. Real’s hopes of a 14th title will rest on the shoulders of the men at the back protecting the world-class Thibaut Courtois’ goal.