2022 UEFA Champions League final will be played between Liverpool and Real Madrid. It will be a replay from 2018 and from 1981 when they played their first European cup final. Real came to the final after an amazing semifinal comeback vs Manchester City while Liverpool won Villarreal.
Real is the best club in Champions League history with 13 titles while Liverpool have 6.
Here I will show you players and managers that represented both Liverpool and Real but also a little highlights from both previous finals.
Alvaro Arbeloa: Product of Real youth school. World Cup and EURO winner played only a few games for the first team in his first spell. He was then transfered to Deportivo and after only half of a season came to Liverpool. In 2009 he came back to Santiago Bernabeu and stayed there for 7 seasons.
Antonio Nunez: Liverpool bought him from Real in 2004 and was part of the CL winning squad.
Fabinho: Current Liverpool defender was once part of a Real Madrid playing only one official match.
Fernando Morientes: Former Spain striker won 3 CL titles with Los Blancos. In 2005 he was transfered to Liverpool.
Jerzy Dudek: A 2005 Champions League final hero represented both Liverpool and Real. Reds legend played almost 200 matches for the club. Dudek was a reserve GK during his time in Real jersey.
Michael Owen: Ballon d'Or winner from 2001 represented both Reds and Los Blancos. Liverpool legend played only one season in Real.
Nicolas Anelka: Anelka played for many clubs during his career. One season in each of them. Champions league winner from 2000.
Nuri Sahin: Former Turkish midfielder came to Real from BvB. He played there only 10 official matches and was loaned to Liverpool.
Rafael Benitez: Product of a Real youth school but played only for B and C teams. He, later, also worked as a coach there. In 2004 he came to Liverpool after a great success with Valencia. He lead them to two CL finals both played against Milan. They won battle of Istanbul but lost in 2007. Real Madrid coach in first part of 2015/16 season.
Steve McManaman: Former English international started his career in Liverpool and after 9 yeras moved to Real. Winner of two CL titles with Los Blancos.
Xabi Alonso: Spain legend and WC and EURO winner played for both clubs during his career. Winner of two CL titles. One with each of them.
1981 EUROPEAN CUP FINAL:
1981 European cup final was played in Paris, the same place where the match will be played today. At that time Liverpool was one of the greatest clubs in the world. On their route to the final Liverpool was better then Oulun, Aberdeen, CSKA Sofia and Bayern while Real won Limerick, Honved, Spartak Moscow and Inter. This was third final for Reds. They had won two previos. Real appeared in nine winning six of them. Bob Paisley team won this match 1-0 by a late Alan Kennedy goal.
2018 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL:
Second European cup / CL final between these two teams was in 2018 and was played in Kyiv. After a second place in a group stage Real won against PSG, Juventus and Bayern in the knock-out stage. Liverpool placed first in theri group and was better then Porto, Man. City and Roma on thir way to the final. Real took the lead after a mistake from Loris Karius, Liverpool goalkeeper in the final. Benzema was the goalscorer. Liverpool equalised four minutes later with Sadio Mane goal. In the 61st minute Bale scored an amazing bicycle kick and Real was leading again. In 83rd minute Bale scored his second goal of the match. A 37 m shoot went through his hands and into the net. Real Madrid won their 3rd consecutive Champions League title and 13th in total.
