Even though both Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah have been at pains to insist that Saturday’s Champions League final does not come down to a battle between the Real Madrid and Liverpool talismen, there’s no doubt that those two will be the most crucial players on the pitch.
The fortunes of both teams are riding on their star players’ performances, but there are plenty of other duels in Kiev too
Here, we take a closet look at all the key battles for the final.
CRISTIANO RONALDO V MOHAMED SALAH
It might be difficult to remember, but there was a time when Ronaldo’s big-game credentials were questioned. A goal in three separate Champions League finals has put that notion to rest (indeed, it was put to rest long before last season’s brace against Juventus in Cardiff).
He’s an old nemesis of Liverpool’s, from his Manchester United days, and he enjoyed success against them when Madrid and the Reds were drawn together in the 2014 Champions League group stages. Ronaldo will fancy his chances against young Reds right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold and the rest of the Merseysiders’ often suspect defence.
That Ronaldo isn’t the player with the most hype surrounding him heading into Saturday’s final speaks volumes of how stunning Salah’s debut season for Liverpool has been. The Egyptian has scored 43 goals across all comps this season, beating Ronaldo’s best mark as a Premier League player when he struck 42 times in 2007/08. His 10 Champions League goals put him behind only one player – Ronaldo again – this season.
With Madrid left-back Marcelo often caught up the field, Salah could have plenty of freedom to roam during Saturday’s final, which is a dangerous proposition. Stopping that from happening will be Madrid’s biggest headache on the night.
Ronaldo vs Salah is the battle that will determine the final.
MARCELO v ANDY ROBERTSON
Marcelo serves as a bellwether for Madrid’s fortunes. At his best, he’s unplayable as an attacker, and is just about diligent enough defensively to keep Los Blancos’ back line solid. Otherwise, he’s a defensive liability and doesn’t do enough going forward to make up for it.
The semi-final against Bayern Munich summed him up. In the first leg, he was caught high up the pitch when the Bavarians scored the opening goal, but then scored Madrid’s equaliser. It’s a trade-off Madrid will gladly accept on most days and have done for a decade. But with Salah attacking his flank, his defensive ability will be under the spotlight on Saturday.
Marcelo’s counterpart has been one of the finds of the season. Robertson is tenacious defensively and a tireless runner in attack, as well as a lethal crosser.
His performance against Dani Carvajal and whichever Madrid attacker starts on their right will be an engrossing contest. If it’s Bale, that will come with added intrigue: two British players against each other, Madrid’s decorated if not maligned Welshman against Liverpool’s unheralded Scot.
It’s also worth taking a moment to appreciate the left-back’s journey. A year ago, his Hull City side were relegated from the Premier League. Now, he’s in a Champions League final.
Which left-back will provide the crucial performance on Saturday?
LUKA MODRIC V JAMES MILNER
Earlier in the season it seemed Modric had just dipped from the outstanding level he’d hit during last season’s league-and-European-double-winning campaign. As the season has gone on, however, and especially over the last couple of months, he’s been looking again like the player hailed by some last year as the world’s best midfielder.
His ability to find pockets of spaces, remain calm on the ball in the face of pressure, and distribute the ball through quick, clever passes will be key to Madrid counteracting Liverpool’s intense press. The way he can control a game from midfield is exactly what Madrid need.
Modric may be among the world’s leading players in his position, but in the Champions League this season, nobody’s been better than Milner. His eight assists is a single-season record for the competition. Who would have thought Milner would be breaking a record previously held by Neymar – as well as creating more assists than all of Madrid’s midfielders simultaneously?
Observers have been saying for a while that Milner is Liverpool’s best midfielder. Last season, he didn’t get enough of an opportunity to show it. Now that he has, he’s led them to a Champions League final. Madrid have been forewarned.
Modric and Milner will battle for control of midfield.
