What line-ups will Liverpool and Real Madrid field in the Champions League final?

D-Day is finally here, the climax of the season is upon us. The Champions League final between Real Madrid and Liverpool kicks off in Paris at the Stade de France at 9pm, let’s see which players will hit it from the first minute.

Liverpool

Jürgen Klopp had to deal with several health issues before the start of the final. Mohamed Salah and Virgil Van Dijk were substituted in the FA Cup final due to injury, but their condition is not serious. The Egyptian has even already intervened in the league game against Wolves and scored a goal, while Van Dijk hasn’t started since then, but he was ready on the bench and will be available for the final.

It’s a similar situation for Fabinho, who has missed the last 3 games due to a muscle injury. However, according to Klopp, he should also be available for the final despite a minor game loss.

So the only problem remains Thiago. The Spanish midfielder limped out of the last game against Wolves and initially the prognosis didn’t look good at all. During the week, there were reports that Thiago’s start is 50/50, but it doesn’t look like a starting lineup.

So at the moment the German coach doesn’t have many question marks. Alongside Van Dijk, Ibrahima Konaté has been excellent in the Champions League, and Luis Díaz has earned his place in attack alongside Salah and Mané. The injured Thiago should be replaced by Naby Keita.

Expected Liverpool line-up

Alisson

Alexander-Arnold – Konaté – Van Dijk – Robertson

Henderson – Fabinho – Keita

Salah – Mané – Luis Díaz

Real Madrid

Carlo Ancelotti, unlike his coaching counterpart, did not have to deal with any health problems. Real Madrid had already secured the title in April, so he rotated the players appropriately throughout May to ensure no one got injured and at the same time no one was overloaded. Almost all the players in the starting rotation played roughly 60% of the time, which is the ideal portion to maintain game practice.

The only question mark is David Alaba. The Madrid stopper missed all of May due to injury, but he has been training fully with the team for two weeks now and by all accounts is ready for the final. If he doesn’t make the starting line-up, the reliable Nacho would replace him.

Otherwise, the line-up is practically clear and you don’t even have to guess. Carlo Ancelotti himself answered a question about the starting eleven at the press conference Everybody knows what the starting XI will be,” the Italian coach laughed. The experienced strategist is not trying to surprise the opponents like Guardiola or Klopp and keep everything secret until the last moment, but he is relying on a proven eleven and interlocking relationships.

That’s why the legendary trio of CKM (Casemiro, Kroos, Modric) will be deployed in the centre of midfield and the feared duo of Vinicius – Benzema in attack. Federico Valverde, who on paper is written on the right wing, but with his inexhaustible physical pool, will help both the central formation and the right-back extremely.

As jokers, Ancelotti has Rodrygo and Eduardo Camavinga at the ready, who have already turned the tide of the game several times since their arrival.

Expected Real Madrid line-up

Courtois

Carvajal – Militao – Alaba – Mendy

Modric – Casemiro – Kroos

Valverde – Benzema – Vinícius

Source: UEFA