In the latest battle for continental football supremacy, Liverpool will face Real Madrid in the 2022 Champions League final in Paris.
Although the two teams have only met in the final twice previously, in 1981 and 2018, they have combined for a total of 25 appearances in the Champions League/European Cup finals since the competition's inception in 1955-56 — nine for Liverpool and 16 for Madrid.
The Reds have won six times, making them the most successful English club in the competition's history, and they are tied for third place overall in terms of wins. Los Blancos, on the other hand, have firmly established themselves as Europe's monarchs, having won 13 of the 66 seasons in which the cup has been played. When the final whistle blows at the Stade de France on Saturday, both teams will be hoping to add to their win totals.
Both clubs have been involved in some genuinely memorable final successes throughout the continent, from Istanbul's Ataturk stadium to Glasgow's Hampden Park. Which, however, is the best?
1-1 draw between Real Madrid and Barcelona (5-3 on penalties) San Siro (Milan), Atletico Madrid, 2016.
Following the 2014 final between the same two teams, this was only the second occasion both Champions League finals were from the same city, but it didn't stop the 2016 final from soon devolving into monotony. While the 2014 final dragged on for a long time before bursting into life in stoppage time, the same catalyst failed to materialize in 2016, as a scrappy and obnoxious match produced little entertainment of note for 120 minutes, aside from Sergio Ramos' scrappy 15th-minute opener and Yannick Carrasco's 79th-minute equalizer. Cristiano Ronaldo scored the game-winning penalty kick for Los Blancos, extending his team's winning streak to 11 games in the competition. (Highlights)
18. Neckarstadion (Stuttgart), 1959, Real Madrid 2-0 Stade de Reims
Real faced Ligue 1 champions Reims in a rematch of the inaugural European Cup final from 1956, although this time in West Germany rather than France. Los Blancos were without star signing Ferenc Puskas due to injury, but the Spanish giants nevertheless cruised to a comfortable victory thanks to goals from Enrique Mateos and Alfredo Di Stefano each side of half-time. (Highlights)
In 1981, Liverpool defeated Real Madrid 1-0 at Parc des Princes in Paris.
Although Liverpool's victory is significant, the first European Cup final match between these two sides is hardly a classic. With a goal from Alan Kennedy eight minutes from full-time, the Reds eked out a narrow and unremarkable victory over the six-time champions. (Highlights)
Real Madrid defeated Juventus 1-0 at the Amsterdam Arena (Amsterdam) in 1998.
A single goal from Predrag Mijatovic shortly after the hour mark gave Real their first European Cup/Champions League trophy since 1966, a result more significant for its historical significance than the game itself. Mijatovic's participation had been in doubt prior to kick-off due to a calf injury suffered by the Yugoslavian winger. Despite this, he started against the Bianconeri and scored the game-winning goal in the 67th minute with a deft stroke of agility. (Highlights)
Real Madrid defeated Valencia 3-0 at the Stade de France in Paris in 2000.
Real Madrid dominated their compatriots without breaking a sweat in the first Champions League final of the twenty-first century, which also marked the first meeting of two clubs from the same country. Despite having only a temporary manager in Vicente del Bosque at the helm, Madrid easily eliminated Los Che, who were making their maiden appearance in the final, with Fernando Morientes' opening, Steve McManaman's stunning scissor volley, and Raul putting the icing on the cake 15 minutes from time. (Highlights)
Real Madrid defeated Fiorentina 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid in 1957.
The Bernabeu was filled to the rafters with 124,000 spectators to witness Real compete in the European Cup final on home turf. Los Blancos won thanks to goals from Di Stefano and Francisco "Paco" Gento, but the first was contentious because Dutch referee Leo Horn ignored an offside flag and then gave a penalty for a trip on Enrique Mateos that appeared to have occurred outside the penalty area. (Highlights)
13. Heysel Stadium (Brussels), 1966, Real Madrid 2-1 FK Partizan
With much of their famed team from the late 1950s and early 1960s gone, a youthful and inexperienced Real side upset the apple cart by defeating back-to-back European champions Inter Milan in the semi-finals to go to the final against Partizan. The Yugoslavians seized the lead in the 55th minute while playing in the shadow of the fantastical Atomium building, but Real came back to win the cup for the sixth time in 11 years thanks to goals from Amancio Amaro and Fernando Serena. Unfortunately, they had no idea at the time that it would be their only European Cup victory in 32 years. (Highlights)
12. Real Madrid defeated Juventus 4-1 at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium in 2017.
With a relatively simple defeat of Juventus in the Welsh capital in the first-ever European final played under a closed roof, Real became the first team to defend the championship in the Champions League era (i.e. after 1991-92). Los Blancos got goals from Cristiano Ronaldo (2), Casemiro, and Marco Asensio, but the game's best goal came from Juventus' Mario Mandzukic, who pulled one back with a magnificent overhead kick. (Highlights)
11. Wembley Stadium (London), 1978, Liverpool 1-0 Club Brugge
Kenny Dalglish leaping over the advertising boards to celebrate scoring the winning goal against Ernst Happel's Brugge, sealing his status as a full-fledged star in the process, was the enduring image of Liverpool's second European Cup victory at "Anfield South." Even if the match itself was not a classic, it was one of the high moments in Liverpool's history because of King Kenny's lovely dinked finish, the general feeling of occasion, and the fact that the Reds had successfully defended their European championship at Wembley. (Highlights)
10. Heysel Stadium (Brussels), 1958, Real Madrid 3-2 AC Milan
Real had to go the distance against Milan in the third European Cup final ever, and the first to require extra time, in order to complete a hat trick of trophies. The Rossoneri took the lead after an hour when Pepe Schiaffino scored, but Real were quick to react and the score was tied at 2-2 at the end of normal time. In the 107th minute, it was the legendary Paco Gento who scored the game-winning goal. (Highlights)
9. Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Liverpool, Metropolitano Stadium (Madrid), 2019
Tottenham were unable to find any more magic in their inaugural appearance on the largest European platform as old hands, despite suffering through hell and high water to get past Manchester City and Ajax en route to the final. Liverpool swatted off their Premier League rivals with ease. The Reds seized the lead after just 106 seconds thanks to a Mohamed Salah penalty, but it took Divock Origi's goal in the 87th minute to secure the victory. (Highlights)
Real Madrid defeated Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 at Hampden Park in Glasgow in 2002.
Finalists for the past twelve years Real were big favorites coming into the game versus Leverkusen, who were making their first appearance in a European Cup/Champions League final. With only eight minutes on the clock, Raul put the Spanish giants ahead, and it appeared like victory would be a foregone conclusion. Leverkusen, on the other hand, responded six minutes later with a stunning equalizer from Brazilian defender Lucio. Then, practically on the stroke of half-time, Zinedine Zidane demonstrated incredible timing and technique to put Los Blancos back in ahead with a match-winning volley — largely regarded as one of the best goals ever scored in a European final. (Highlights)
When it came to the 1984 European Cup final, Liverpool was in the lion's den, as ESPN's Steve Nicol puts it, facing Roma in front of a hostile 69,000-strong crowd in the Italian capital. The Reds were in their fourth European Cup final, while Roma were making their first, albeit the former still felt like underdogs due to the fanatical environment. Following goals from Phil Neal and Roberto Pruzzo, the sides were knotted at 1-1 after 120 minutes, necessitating the first-ever European Cup final penalty shootout. After Ian Rush had put Liverpool 3-2 up, Roma's fourth penalty was taken by Francesco Graziani. Graziani was set to take his team's first penalty kick, but he was publicly pushed aside by captain Agostino Di Bartolomei, who took it and scored. Sensing a weakness, Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar used his now-iconic "spaghetti legs" routine on the goal line to try to freak out Graziani. The bizarre knock-knee gimmick worked, as the Roma attacker blasted his penalty well over the bar, allowing Alan Kennedy to win the shootout with the following kick of the ball. (Highlights)
6. Estadio da Luz (Lisbon), 2014, Real Madrid 4-1 Atletico Madrid
Real, desperate to win "La Decima" (their tenth Champions League), came within seconds of losing to their cross-city rivals after falling behind in the 36th minute, when Diego Godin put Atletico ahead. With 92 minutes on the clock and stoppage time approaching, it appeared that Diego Simeone's seasoned team would cling on for the win. They hadn't counted on Ramos' aerial talent, though, as he used his last available energy reserves to slam home a Luka Modric corner and force extra time. Real ran riot in the half-hour that followed, scoring three more goals through Gareth Bale, Marcelo, and Cristiano Ronaldo. (Highlights)
The Stadio Olimpico was flooded with red-and-yellow flags as Terry McDermott, Tommy Smith, and Phil Neal scored goals to help Liverpool win the European Cup final for the first time. Since Manchester United's victory in 1968, no British team had triumphed in Europe, but Liverpool's victory in Rome ushered in a new era of English dominance. Liverpool won the trophy three times (1977, 1978, 1981), after a back-to-back double for Nottingham Forest in 1979 and 1980, and Aston Villa's victory in 1982 made it six seasons in a row for English clubs. (Highlights)
Real Madrid wins 4-3. Park des Princes (Paris), 1956, Stade de Reims
The first of five consecutive European Cups won by Real Madrid's legendary 1950s club. Within the first 10 minutes of the first-ever final, they were down 2-0 to French team Reims, but goals from Di Stefano, Hector Rial (2), and Marquitos saw the defending LaLiga winners come storming back to win the trophy. Who knows what would have happened if they hadn't mounted that comeback? Who knows what the history of the Champions League and the modern game would have looked like if they hadn't. (Highlights)
3. Olimpiyskiy Stadium (Kiev), 2018: Real Madrid 3-1 Liverpool
Real Madrid and Liverpool went toe-to-toe in what was arguably the last genuinely great Champions League final, an uncompromising heavyweight match that had it all. After clashing with Ramos after 25 minutes, Salah had to leave the field in tears. Real seized the lead five minutes after the break when Karim Benzema ricocheted the ball into an empty net after an incredible clanger from Reds goalkeeper Loris Karius. Sadio Mane nearly promptly equalized for Liverpool before Bale came on as a 61st-minute substitute and completely changed the game's course. Bale restored Real's advantage barely 120 seconds after coming in, as he volleyed Marcelo's cross into the back of the net with an audacious overhead kick volley. In the final ten minutes, the Welshman added a third for Real when his speculative shot from 40 yards went straight through Karius and into the Liverpool goal, securing Los Blancos' fourth European trophy in five seasons, coach Zidane's third in as many years, and the club's 13th overall. (Highlights)
2. Hampden Park (Glasgow), 1960, Real Madrid 7-3 Eintracht Frankfurt
Real Madrid's dominant reign came to an end with a fifth consecutive European Cup victory, a resounding thrashing of Frankfurt. Over 127,000 excited supporters poured into the stadium to watch Los Blancos make mincemeat of their German opponents by a margin that still stands as a record to this day, while an estimated 70 million watched on. Real's goals were scored by Di Stefano and Puskas, who are two of only three players to score a hat trick (or more) in a European Cup/Champions League final (the other being Pierino Prati of Milan, who scored three against Ajax in the 1969 final). (Highlights)
3-3 in favor of Liverpool (3-2 penalties) Milan, Istanbul's Ataturk Olympic Stadium, 2005
The term "pulsating" is perhaps overused in the context of pretty routine football matches, but the 2005 final produced near-indescribable intensity and drama. After falling three goals behind at halftime, Liverpool appeared to be doomed. Milan's brutal display was coordinated by Kaka, who saw Paolo Maldini score in the first minute and Hernan Crespo add two more goals before the break. What followed was one of the greatest comebacks in modern football history, with Steven Gerrard, Vladimir Smicer, and Xabi Alonso scoring three goals in six second-half minutes to send the game to extra time. Milan continued to dominate, but Liverpool held their ground, and penalties were awarded soon after. Smicer (who was aware that he was playing his final game for the club) held his composure to give the Reds a critical edge before Jerzy Dudek thwarted Andriy Shevchenko to complete the most incredible reversal. (Highlights)
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