A journey that began long ago in September comes to an end on Saturday when the UEFA Champions League final kicks off in Paris and Liverpool take on Real Madrid. Thirty-two teams battled their way through the group stage and through a wild knockout round, but only two teams remain on the line with the coveted silver. With 124 games played, 379 goals scored and countless memorable moments, fans around the world are now witnessing a repeat of the 2018 final as two storied clubs meet once again. Kick-off is set for 3pm ET at the Stade de France and we’ll be with you before, during and after all the Champions League Final coverage you need.
Here are our storylines for the finale, how to watch the game, and more:
How to see and odds
Date: Saturday May 28 | Time: 3 p.m. ET
TV: CBS | Live broadcast: Paramount+ (try for free)
Location: Stade de France – Saint Denis, France
Studio: Kate Abdo, Thierry Henry, Jamie Carragher and Micah Richards
Commentators: Clive Tyldesley and Rob Green | Rules Expert: Christina Unkel
On site: Peter Schmeichel, Jules Breach, Jenny Chiu and Guillem Balague
Opportunities: Liverpool +104; Drag +270; Madrid +245 (via Caesars Sportsbook)
Live Updates: Liverpool vs Real Madrid
Featured Game | Liverpool vs Real Madrid
From XI
Real Madrid XI: Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Mendy; Casemiro, Modric, Valverde, Kroos; Benzema, Vinicius Jr.
Liverpool XI: Allison, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago, Mane, Salah, Diaz.
storylines
Liverpool: Mohamed Salah said it best on May 4 when he took to Twitter after beating Villarreal in the semifinals. “We have scores to settle,” he wrote in a tweet. Make no mistake – Liverpool want revenge. After that 2018 final, they want nothing more than to see Real Madrid on their knees in tears after the final whistle. As you may recall, this was the match where Sergio Ramos versus Salah turned macho Randy Savage, dislocated his shoulder, ended his performance in the final and almost jeopardized his participation in the World Cup. In addition, Loris Karius himself had a nightmare performance in goal. Not only did he give Karim Benzema the first goal, he conceded Gareth Bale with an overhead kick and then missed a late shot from just over 35 meters by the Welsh attacker. Since then, Liverpool have found European glory by beating Tottenham in the 2019 final, so the Reds know how special the feeling is. It might even feel better to do it against this Real Madrid team.
Real Madrid: Not many saw this Real team come this far. Remember that they lost in the group stage at home to tiny Sheriff Tiraspol. But since then they have been on an absolute rift with Karim Benzema, the fittest player in the world. They made a comeback against PSG in the round of 16, against Chelsea again in the quarter-finals and then the Madrid miracle against Manchester City – two goals after Rodrygo’s 90th minute to force extra time before Benzema won a penalty. They’ll go into this match with ultimate confidence, but they also won’t panic if they go down early. They have proven time and time again that they can never get out of it and they are the true kings in the history of this competition. Liverpool might have the better players overall but don’t discount a side managed by Carlo Ancelotti. He is 3-1 all-time in the UCL final.
Want even more coverage of the game of the world? Listen below and follow ¡Qué Golazo! A daily CBS soccer podcast where we take you off the field and around the globe for commentary, previews, recaps and more.
Team News
Liverpool: The biggest problems Liverpool are currently facing are in the midfield. Fabinho has been struggling with a hamstring injury but is expected to be fit for the game but Thiago Alcantara is the last to take a hit, being substituted off with an Achilles injury at half-time against Wolves on Sunday. His status for the finals remains unclear, but if he’s unable to leave, that’s a big missing piece for the team’s overall ballgame creativity. Without Thiago, the midfield would likely consist of Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Naby Keita. The latest on Thiago is that he has traveled and trained with the team, suggesting he might see the pitch on Saturday.
Real Madrid: David Alaba is the only injury concern at the moment. Due to a minor leg injury, he was sidelined for the La Liga champions’ last game of the domestic season against Real Betis. He is expected to be available with Ancelotti simply aiming to be cautious with the Austrian defender ahead of the biggest game of the season. Otherwise, Real is rested in this showdown in Paris.
forecast
The Reds win their seventh UCL crown and take revenge for the 2018 final, this time with a competent performance in goal and Salah scoring the winning goal from a penalty. Choose: Liverpool 2, Real Madrid 1