What to look out for in Saturday's Champions League final 💫 | OneFootball

So here we are. Eight months after matchday one, Real Madrid face Liverpool in what promises to be a blockbuster Champions League final.

Here’s what to look out for on European football’s biggest night of the season.

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Revenge mission

Four years ago Gareth Bale scored arguably the greatest goal we’ve ever seen in a European final, Loris Karius had an evening to forget and Mohamed Salah had to leave the game early after some interesting defending from Sergio Ramos.

Some of the protagonists might be different this time around but the intensity of the occasion in the French capital is sure to be the same.

Salah has since come out and admitted he wants “revenge” for that defeat and the Reds forward will surely play a part in deciding where the trophy will end up come full time.

The Egyptian was in devastating form earlier in the tournament but since the knockout stages it’s been Sadio Mané who has lit up the Liverpool attack and will likely cause David Alaba and the rest of the Blancos defence a torrid time here.

The Senegalese superstar has seen his game go to a new level since returning from AFCON but even with goals in the quarter-finals and semi-finals, his impact can’t compete with that of Karim Benzema …

Benz is best

It’s safe to say the veteran Real Madrid forward is playing the best football of his career right now but is saving something special every time he hears that Champions League anthem.

Late or extra time goals against Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Manchester City have led Carlo Ancelotti’s side to this point almost single-handedly and it’s now hard to argue against Benzema for this year’s Ballon d’Or.

The 34-year-old has already won this tournament on four separate occasions but on each of those he was playing second fiddle to Cristiano Ronaldo.

This time though, Benzema is the conduit around which all of Real Madrid’s attack flow through, with Vinicius Jnr and Rodrygo offering some sumptuous support.

Midfield match-up

Barcelona’s perfect trio of Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets are widely considered as the greatest midfield three we’ve ever seen in the game.

But surely this classic Real Madrid triumvirate is now running them close in the all-time list?

Luka Modrić, Toni Kroos and Casemiro have been the bedrock on which Los Blancos have built a number of great sides over the years and will no doubt be eyeing another Champions League title in what will be one of their last attempts at the big one.

Liverpool though, will be confident that they’ve got the men in midfield to stop the Spanish side with Fabinho, Naby Keita, Jordan Henderson and Curtis Jones all vying for places.

One man who, when fit, is an automatic starter however is Thiago Alcantara.

The Spain international has been utterly sensational in Europe all season but will face a late fitness test after suffering an injury in their final Premier League game last weekend.