Liverpool vs Real Madrid: Champions League final 2018

Real Madrid vs Liverpool | Champions League final 2018 | May 26, 7:45pm BST | NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium
Liverpool will face Real Madrid in the 2018 Uefa Champions League final on May 26.
The Merseyside club, who have won the European Cup five times, beat AS Roma in the semi-finals to advance to a showpiece clash against holders Real Madrid.
Real edged past Bayern Munich in the semis, are hunting a hat-trick of Champions League triumphs after winning the competition in both 2016 and 2017.

Liverpool vs Real Madrid: Champions League final

Match Schedule:

Champions League final 2018

Date: May 26, 2018

Time: 7:45 PM BST

NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium

How to watch the match for free on YouTube and on BT Sport, even if you're not a subscriber. Can Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool defy the odds and prevent the rampant Real Madrid from winning an unprecedented third consecutive Champions League title?

Premier League Golden Boot winner Mo Salah will be looking to prove he belongs on the big stage alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, who is within touching distance of a fifth career Champions League final win that would take him above Lionel Messi’s four trophies with Barcelona.

How can I watch Liverpool v Real Madrid on TV and online?

The match is showing in the UK on BT Sport 2 – but BT are also offering a FREE live stream on YouTube for non-subscribers.

Non-BT Sport subscribers can watch for free on YouTube, on BTSport.com and the BT Sport app.

Subscribers will also be able to watch 360-degree highlights via the app, with the whole match broadcast in 4K Ultra HD.

BT is also running a special Champions League final offer for those wanting to watch the match on TV. Anyone signing up for BT Sport between 23rd and 29th May will get their first three months free.

Liverpool FC and Real Madrid come to a head in the Champions League final on Saturday 26 May as the club season draws to a close.

Madrid are gunning for their third consecutive European crown – and their 13^th overall – while Liverpool are in their first final since 2007, and looking to add a sixth title after last winning it in the memorable 2005 final.

Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to be fit as he and Mohamed Salah go head-to-head in a battle of two of Europe’s hottest strikers.

What time is it?

The game will kick off in Kiev at the NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium at 7.45pm BST on Saturday 26 May.

Where can I watch it?

The final will be shown live on BT Sport 2 from 7pm BST and also available to watch for free on YouTube. Alternatively, you can follow The Independent’s live coverage above.

Team news

Liverpool will be without Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Joe Gomez for the final, with both men also ruled out of the 2018 World Cup as a result of their respective knee and ankle injuries. Joel Matip will also miss the final with a thigh injury. The Reds have concerns over James Milner and Emre Can as well, although both are expected to make the final having trained on Monday.

Real Madrid are expected to have a fully fit squad to choose from with Zinedine Zidane revealing Ronaldo would be “120 per cent fit” for the final in Kiev. Isco and Dani Carvajal had also been struggling but both men are expected to feature on Saturday.

Predicted line-ups

Liverpool: Karius; Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Lovren, Robertson; Milner, Henderson, Wijnaldum; Mane, Firmino, Salah.

Real Madrid: Navas; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Casemiro, Kroos, Modric; Vasquez, Benzema, Ronaldo.

Key battle

Salah vs Ramos/Marcelo: When playing at Roma against Real Madrid, Mohamed Salah consistently found and exploited acres of space between the marauding full-back Marcelo and Sergio Ramos. He failed to make those chances count then, but having discovered his goalscoring touch this season, it could be the area where Liverpool win the match.