UEFA Champions League: Real Madrid v Liverpool 2018 final

Just three years after Jurgen Klopp's arrival, he would face European giants Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League final.

2018 UEFA Champions League final date, time and venue

The 2018 UEFA Champions League final took place on 26th May 2018 at the NSK Olimpiiskyi in Kyiv. Kick-off was at 19:45 BST.

2018 UEFA Champions League final teams

Real Madrid: Keylor Navas, Dani Carvajal (Nacho 37'), Raphael Varane, Sergio Ramos (c), Marcelo, Casemiro, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Isco (Gareth Bale 61') , Karim Benzema (Marco Asensio 89'), Cristiano Ronaldo.

Substitutes: Kiko Casilla, Nacho, Theo Hernandez, Marco Asensio, Mateo Kovacic, Gareth Bale, Lucas Vazquez.

Liverpool: Loris Karius, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dejan Lovren, Virgil van Dijk, Andrew Robertson, James Milner (Emre Can 83'), Georginio Wijnaldum, Mohamed Salah (Adam Lallana 31'), Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane.

Substitutes: Simon Mignolet, Nathaniel Clyne, Ragnar Klavan, Alberto Moreno, Adam Lallana, Emre Can, Dominic Solanke.

Attendance: 61,561

Referee: Milorad Mazic (Serbia)

2018 UEFA Champions League final score and goalscorers

The 2018 UEFA Champions League final between Real Madrid and Liverpool finished 3-1 to Real Madrid.

Karim Benzema opened the scoring in the 51st minute following a Loris Karius error. Sadio Mane responded almost instantaneously, netting the equaliser in the 55th minute. Gareth Bale regained Madrid's lead just a minute after coming on, and settled the affair with another goal in the 83rd minute.

Real Madrid v Liverpool story of the final

While Real Madrid approached the game seeking their third consecutive UEFA Champions League victory, Liverpool were out to win their first honour under Jurgen Klopp.

Los Blancos finished third in the 2017/18 La Liga season and had recorded 76 points, a tally that was considerably lower than in the campaigns prior.

The Reds managed 75 points in the Premier League, securing UEFA Champions League football for the second consecutive season and were in high spirits approaching the final.

Despite Klopp’s team still being in a transitional period, they had only lost five league games that season and weren’t shy of finding the net, scoring 84 league goals.

The stage was set for two of Europe’s biggest teams to battle it out for the greatest honour of them all, the UEFA Champions League.

15 minutes into the match, Cristiano Ronaldo made his presence known, charging down the right hand side and firing a shot over the crossbar - an early warning sign for Liverpool.

Up against a side with the quality that Madrid possessed, it was always going to be a more cautious approach from Klopp, differing from his usual ‘heavy metal’ style of play.

That said, Madrid certainly weren’t free of nerves, with Carvajal’s overhit pass going out for a Liverpool corner.

Salah’s delivery found Van Dijk, but his effort was steered over - encouraging signs for the Reds.

After 23 minutes, Alexander-Arnold tested Navas, as the ball fell for him inside the Madrid box. While he registered a fair amount of power behind the shot, he was unable to pick out a corner to guide the ball home.

In the 25th minute, Liverpool’s attacking prowess was significantly reduced as Ramos dragged Salah to the ground, injuring him in the process.

The ‘Egyptian King’ was replaced by Adam Lallana in the 31st minute. An already tough challenge to beat this Madrid side was made even tougher, with their main source of goals sidelined.

Karim Benzema found the net after 43 minutes but, much to the delight of Liverpool fans, Ronaldo was flagged offside for the chance prior to the goal.

Madrid’s confidence was growing as Benzema tried his luck from outside the box, narrowly missing the target, just before the half-time whistle.

The score was level going into half-time, but the injury to Salah suggested that Zinedine Zidane’s side were more optimistic heading into the second half.

Just five minutes into the second half, the unthinkable happened.

Loris Karius’s throw, in an attempt to find Lovren, was intercepted by Benzema, whose outstretched leg got enough contact to find the net.  A freak incident on the biggest stage, and one that Karius would not like to relive.

The Reds responded in excellent fashion. James Milner’s cross found the head of Dejan Lovren, who guided a header towards the back post. Mane timed his run to perfection and tapped home the equaliser, sending the red side of the NSK Olimpiiskyi into pandemonium.

The scores weren’t level for long though, as Gareth Bale found the net in spectacular fashion just a minute after coming on. Eyebrows were raised after Bale wasn’t included in the starting XI, and this was why.

Marcelo’s cross was put behind the Welsh international, but he dealt with it wonderfully, adapting to guide home an excellently executed bicycle kick. While Karius was at fault for the first goal, there was simply no stopping this one.

Bale’s goal took the sting out of the game as Madrid seemed comfortable holding onto the ball.

Their lead was extended in the 83rd minute. Super-sub Bale lined up a shot way outside the box, which looked set to be caught by the German goalkeeper. This was not the case.

The ball slipped through the hands of Karius and found the net. Bedlam on the white side of the NSK Olimpiiskyi. The Madridistas knew that the UEFA Champions League was heading home with them for the 13th time.

A campaign that Klopp's side could definitely be proud of, but a sign that the Reds hadn't quite found their feet on Europe's biggest stage.

Real Madrid v Liverpool stats

	Real Madrid	Liverpool
Goals	3	1
Shots	14	13
Shots on target	5	2
Possession	66%	34%
Corners	9	5
Fouls	5	18
Offsides	7	3
Yellow cards	0	1
Red cards	0	0

Real Madrid v Liverpool Man of the Match

Gareth Bale was named UEFA Man of the Match after his brace off the bench, ultimately winning his side the game.

Check out the bet365 betting hub for all the latest UEFA Champions League betting odds.