Two of Europe’s biggest football powerhouses are preparing for their next battle in the Champions League final.
Real Madrid pulled off an incredible comeback at Santiago Bernabeu to reach the 2021-22 Champions League final.
The Blancos must face Liverpool in a rematch of the 2018 UCL final, where they managed to claim the title by beating the Reds.
But, that match alone cannot fully describe the old rivalry between the two European giants. Real Madrid and Liverpool have faced off eight times in European games, with the two sides calming four and three victories, respectively.
Let’s review the greatest games played between Liverpool and Real Madrid in European competitions.
3- Liverpool 4-0 Real Madrid (2008-09 Round of 16 – Leg 2)
Liverpool smashed Real Madrid 4-0 at Anfield to eliminate them from the 2008-09 tournament with a 5-0 win on aggregate.
Steven Gerrard scored a brace in his 100th appearance for the Reds after Fernando Torres opened the scoring early on.
Andrea Dossena then put the icing on the cake for Rafael Benitez’s side by making it 4-0 in the 88th minute.
Liverpool dominated both legs and deservedly reached the quarter-finals, where they suffered a 7-5 defeat on aggregate against Chelsea.
2- Liverpool 1-0 Real Madrid (1980- 81 Final)
Liverpool were at the peak of their golden era when they met Real Madrid in the 1981 European Cup final.
The Reds had won their first two European Cups in 1977 and 1978, while Real Madrid were playing their first European final since 1966.
Legendary full-back Alan Kennedy took a break from his defensive duties to win the final for the Reds with a late strike.
1- Real Madrid 3-1 Liverpool (2017-18 Final)
A classic Champions League final saw Real Madrid claiming their 13th UCL title in Kyiv.
Having beaten Atletico Madrid and Juventus in the past two season’s UCL finals, the Blancos needed a victory to complete their historic hat-trick.
On the other hand, Liverpool had finally returned to Europe’s elite after a successful season under Jurgen Klopp.
The Reds were eager to win their first trophy under the German boss, but they had to wait longer.
Sergio Ramos’ controversial foul on Mohamed Salah and Luis Karius’ shocking performance in goal are still present in the memory of football fans.
But the game’s most magical moment came when Gareth Bale scored one of the greatest goals in the Champions League history with a bicycle kick.
Bale scored twice that night while Karim Benzema converted Karius’ blunder to add his name to the scoreline.
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