By Albert Wambura,
Very few things on this planet match up to the glory of walking onto a football pitch and hearing the Champions League anthem.
We the fans can only imagine the nerves and the pressure of carrying the weight of your club’s expectations in the tournament’s final.
This Saturday Stade de France hosts the most anticipated clash yet. A repeat of 2018’s showdown, it promises to be a starry night. Mohamed Salah’s stock remains high off of a season where he shared the Golden Boot with Korean Son and where he also topped the assist charts. “I want to play Madrid,” Salah said earlier this week.
That he didn’t finish the match in 2018 must fan the fire under him even more. His supporting band led by fellow African Sadio Mane includes an in-form Luis Diaz, the all-conquering Van Dijk and the formidable Fabinho, just to name a few.
The availability of Thiago Alcantara is sure to give Jurgen Klopp sleepless nights, as the midfielder’s return is yet to be confirmed. Should that question be answered, Liverpool should do well in a match that Real Madrid will be looking to win.
Off the back of an odd-defying comeback versus Manchester City they will be bullish about their chances against this familiar foe. The Spanish champions have had more than enough time to rest key players and strategize, and if ever there was a coach in whom you could place complete faith in a fixture of this magnitude it’d be Carlo Ancelotti.
The decorated Italian boss has won the Champions League on more than one occasion, with wins at Bayern Munich and Chelsea on his long CV.
It will be interesting to see how it’ll be in the middle of the park, a war between the legendary midfield Madrid trio of Casemiro, Kroos & Modric (the impressive youngster Federico Valverde not to be forgotten) and the trophy-winning ensemble Liverpool have in Fabinho, skipper Jordan Henderson & old hand Milner.
Watching how Real react to Liverpool’s intense “gegenpress” and high line and control of the mercurial Mohamed Salah will determine their status as Europe’s top team, at least for this season.
This isn’t even commenting on Kareem Benzema’s capacity for excellence. The Frenchman just won’t quit, and this is the stage upon which he likes to shine.
Wonder boy Rodrygo Goes who inspired the Merengues’ comeback against Man City in the semis will come on looking for blood. Complete that attacking squadron with the pedigree of Vinicius Junior and Gareth Bale and it’s enough to water any fan’s mouth.
