Two old European rivals will collide once again this week as Real Madrid meet Liverpool in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League tie.
Real Madrid Form GuideThere’s still a long way to go in the La Liga title race but from where we’re sitting, Barcelona are the ones in real control. With that being said, Real Madrid are still the champions of Europe, and that’s a title this club takes very seriously. They know better than most what it means to win at the elite level and once again, many see them as the favourites to go all the way in this competition.
After dismantling Liverpool 5-2 in the first leg, Real proceeded to go on a bit of a questionable run. They were held 1-1 by Atletico Madrid, beaten by Barcelona in the Copa del Rey and held once again, this time by Real Betis. They did, however, rebound over the weekend by beating Espanyol.
Liverpool Form GuideDespite the inconsistent and frustrating nature of Liverpool’s season up to this point, their fans still firmly believe that Jurgen Klopp can turn this ship around. It’s hardly surprising given his track record, but they often spend too much time falling back on their past glories. If they aren’t careful, this could be the last Champions League game they play for quite some time.
As we’ve noted, it’s been hard for Liverpool to get a really strong run going lately. They beat Newcastle 2-0, only to lose 5-2 to Real Madrid. They followed up a 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace with huge wins over Wolves and Manchester United, only to lose 1-0 at Bournemouth.
Latest Team NewsMendy and Alaba are both confirmed to be on the shelf here as they continue to carry injuries for Madrid.
Keita hopes to be fit in time for this one with Diaz, Gomez, Ramsay and Thiago all still out through injury.
Match PredictionThe inconsistency of the Reds will likely shine through again here as they put up a solid effort in attempting to overturn their first leg deficit against the Spanish giants. Alas, we just think they’re going to wind up being overwhelmed, which is why we’re backing Real Madrid to win.