In a repeat of last season’s final, we have a sneak peek at the delicious Champions League round of 16 clash between Liverpool and Real Madrid:
When does Liverpool play against Real Madrid?
The first leg of their round of 16 clash is at Anfield on Tuesday 21 February.
Real Madrid will host Liverpool at the Bernabéu on Wednesday, March 15.
Where can I watch Liverpool-Real Madrid?
If you are not lucky enough to have a match ticket, BT Sport will broadcast both matches live.
Alternatively, you can tune in to the action on BBC Radio 5 live.
What are the Champions League records of both teams?
Real Madrid’s track record in Europe is simply unmatched. They have won the European Cup a staggering 14 times, including the first five renewals when the competition launched in 1955.
They have also won the Champions League eight times and are the only club in Europe to successfully defend their title, in 2016-17, before notching a famous treble in the 2018 season.
Against all odds, they stunned Liverpool 12 months ago to win back the Champions League trophy.
Liverpool, however, also has a proud recent past in Europe. Only Real and AC Milan have a better Champions League record, with the Merseyside club winning the trophy six times.
Dramatically, they won the Champions League in its current format for the first time in 2004-05 when they came from 3-0 down against AC Milan to take the game to extra time and then to penalties.
Liverpool’s record under Jurgen Klopp has also been impressive, with the Reds winning the tournament in 2019 with a 2-0 defeat of Premier League rivals Spurs.
However, last season’s renewal ended in an honorable failure, as they lacked energy from the start at the Stade de France, with Vinicius Junior’s 59.he-Goal in the minute that broke the hearts of Liverpool in the 1-0 defeat against Real Madrid.
How have Liverpool and Real Madrid been playing?
Both teams have made relatively serene progress towards the Champions League round of 16. Nationally, however, it has been a different story.
Real have struggled since the World Cup break, with a costly defeat in Mallorca in early February perhaps the decisive blow in their quest to regain ground over fierce rival Barcelona at the top of La Liga.
Liverpool’s current form is even more worrisome. Almost inexplicably, they languish in the middle of the table and just haven’t been able to get going all season. Their away form is also deeply troubling – with a 3-0 thrashing at Wolves in early February, the nadir.
With the big-money signing of Darwin Núñez yet to be said, they may have paid a heavy price for allowing the standout Sadio Mane to leave the club for Bayern Munich in the summer.
Who did the two teams sign in the January transfer window?
Surprisingly, Real Madrid did not sign anyone in the window. Aside from re-signing left-back Fran García from Rayo Vallecano this summer, all was quiet at the Bernabéu.
This lack of activity worried many fans, especially since they have suffered serious injuries this winter such as Dani Carvajal, Ferland Mendy, Lucas Vázquez, David Alaba and Aurelien Tchouameni.
Liverpool fans were also disappointed by the lack of business in January. However, they moved quickly by signing Dutch international Cody Gakpo, although the former PSV playmaker has certainly struggled with the Premier League chaos thus far.
There is a feeling at Anfield that this is a club, on and off the pitch, in transition. With Liverpool up for sale, takeover rumors abound, and it was completely understandable that Jurgen Klopp couldn’t get away on the market. It’s likely to be a different story this summer.
What is the face to face between Liverpool and Real Madrid?
Perhaps unsurprisingly given their staggering record in the Champions League, Real Madrid have the upper hand.
Real have won five of their European matches against Liverpool, with the Reds on three wins and a draw.
Liverpool’s best moment against the Spanish giants came in the 2008-09 season when they rattled off five unanswered goals in their round of 16 games at Anfield and the Bernabéu.
However, they have not won since and suffered a painful 3-1 defeat in the Champions League final in 2017-18.
It was a similar tale of woe in last season’s final when Real Madrid outthought, might and outgunned Liverpool with an ultra-professional 1-0 win.
Fascinatingly, the Anfield club have also scored just twice in their last six games against Real.
What are the betting odds for the Liverpool vs Real Madrid match?
With home advantage so important to Liverpool in Europe, Jurgen Klopp’s men can lean on 21/17 to win the first leg at Anfield. Real are as big as 2/1 for an away win, while a draw is available at odds of 44/17.
In terms of the big picture, Liverpool have a chance to progress to the quarter-finals, with Madrid scoring at eye-catching odds of 9/10.
*Quota credits for vbet UK
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What do managers say?
Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool manager (liverpoolfc.com via tribalfootball):
“We’ve played Real Madrid in a couple of recent finals, but it’s not that often that our two clubs meet in a two-legged tie, so now we can expect that to happen.
“Real’s European record is the best there is. But we also know that ours is not bad at all. Also, we know we have Anfield and everyone knows what this means.”
Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid coach:
“It will be a very entertaining and very, very tough tie. There will be a great atmosphere at Anfield and also at the Bernabéu. It will be a spectacular tie.
“We have not gone to the market (in January) because it was not necessary. If you plan well and carry out your plan, it is not necessary to go to the winter market. We thought that it was not necessary to intervene in the winter market because the squad is fine”.
Liverpool vs Real Madrid – Verdict:
The game value here is Real Madrid advancing to the Champions League quarterfinals.
With Liverpool no chance of winning the Premier League and out of the FA Cup, many might be lured into the belief that the way is clear for a deep Champions League run.
That could well be the case, as Jurgen Klopp and his players are undoubtedly in the last chance lounge. But football, at the elite level at least, rarely works like that when a team is as out of shape as Liverpool.
Their appalling away record is also a big concern, especially if Real Madrid score at Anfield.
Real Madrid, of course, are not uprooting too many trees this season. But his team is packed with course and distance winners and, in Carlo Ancelotti, they have a tactical genius who has grown accustomed to creating alchemy in Europe.
It’s probably tight. You are likely to be cautious. It may not even be too pretty to look at.
But, at the prices, Real Madrid seem too big on the stakes as they push for another Champions League quarter-final.
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