Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool will face Real Madrid in the 2022 Champions League final at Paris’ Stade de France, aiming to overturn their 2018 defeat while the Spanish side targets a record 14th European Cup title. This marks the third meeting between the clubs in European competition, including a 1981 Paris final won by Liverpool.
Liverpool’s third final in five seasons follows their 2019 victory over Tottenham, with the Reds entering as slight favorites after securing the League Cup and FA Cup. Manager Klopp acknowledged the significance, stating, "Winning trophies, there is no better feeling." The Anfield side seeks a treble to match AC Milan’s European record, though they fell short of the Premier League title by a point.
Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti faces his third final against Liverpool, having previously won with AC Milan in 2003 and 2007. The Spanish club’s run includes overcoming Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea in the knockout stages, with Karim Benzema scoring 44 goals this season. Ancelotti expressed motivation, saying, "I have extra motivation to win this final."
The match moved to Paris after UEFA stripped Saint-Petersburg of the game due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Over 80,000 fans are expected, with 20,000 officially admitted from each club. Around 40,000 additional Liverpool supporters are traveling without tickets, prompting a large police presence for security.
Real Madrid aims for a fifth Champions League title in nine seasons, a run that began with their 2014 victory. The club also faced Liverpool in a 2005 final, which Ancelotti won with AC Milan. This will be the third meeting between the clubs in European competition, with Liverpool seeking its seventh European crown.
