Real Madrid face Liverpool in the Champions League final in Kiev on May 26 aiming to win the trophy for the third time in a row.
Madrid defeated Bayern Munich to progress to the final, while Liverpool beat Roma, and both sides will eager to claim Europe’s top club prize.
The clash features a mouth-watering duel between two prolific forwards, with Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Liverpool star Mohamed Salah hoping to crown excellent personal seasons with a winner’s medal.
Read on as we take a look at both players.
Cristiano Ronaldo – Real Madrid
Ukraine will play host to Ronaldo’s sixth Champions League final, with the tournament’s all-time leading scorer having won the trophy three times with Madrid and once with Manchester United.
Ronaldo gave Madrid a scare ahead of the final after suffering an ankle during the 2-2 draw at Barcelona earlier this month.
The 33-year-old missed Madrid’s subsequent games against Sevilla and Celta Vigo, but he returned to training earlier this week and should be fit to take his place in the starting line-up against the Reds.
The five-times Ballon d’Or winner has enjoyed another stellar season with Madrid, scoring 43 goals in 42 games in all competitions.
That tally includes 15 goals in 12 Champions League appearances during the current campaign and punters can use this 4NJBets Promo Code if they fancy the Portuguese star to add to his tally in Kiev.
Ronaldo highlighted he is still the man for the big occasion in Madrid’s quarter-final clash with Juventus.
The Spanish side let a three-goal lead slip in the second leg of the tie, before being awarded a controversial late penalty.
Lucas Vazquez went down in the box under a clumsy challenge by Mehdi Benatia, sparking furious protests from Juve keeper Gianluigi Buffon.
The veteran stopper was red carded and after being made to wait an age for replacement Wojciech Szczesny to take his place in goal, Ronaldo kept his cool to fire Madrid into the semi-finals.
Mohamed Salah – Liverpool
Salah has said that the final against Real Madrid will be a showcase of Liverpool’s collective power rather than a personal duel with Ronaldo, but his exploits this season will inevitable draw comparisons with the Portuguese star.
The Egypt international will cap his stunning debut season at Liverpool with a first Champions League final appearance and he is unquestionably the English club’s main threat.
Salah has scored 44 goals in 51 appearances in all competitions this term, sparking talk that he can challenge Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for the Ballon d’Or award this year.
The 25-year-old signed off the Premier League season in fitting fashion last Sunday as he claimed the 2017/18 Golden Boot with yet another goal.
His clever turn and finish in the 4-0 win against Brighton and Hove Albion on the final day made him the record goalscorer in a 38-game Premier League campaign.
Salah’s 32nd strike of the league season moved him clear of Luis Suarez (Liverpool, 2013/14), Ronaldo (Man Utd, 2007/08) and Alan Shearer (Blackburn Rovers, 1995/96), who all scored 31.
The Egyptian is part of the highest-scoring trio in Champions League history this season alongside Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane, with their 29 goals moving them ahead of Madrid’s Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema, who netted 28 times in 2013/14.
Conclusion
Both players have enjoyed stunning seasons for their respective clubs, but Ronaldo’s experience on the highest stage could tip the final in Madrid’s favour.
The Spanish side’s midfield looks a cut above their Liverpool counterparts and they could provide the platform for Ronaldo to weave his magic and become the first ever player to win five Champions League finals.
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