2022 UEFA Champions League Final Betting Preview: Liverpool vs. Real Madrid

European heavyweights Liverpool and Real Madrid will meet at the Stade de France on Saturday, May 28, 2022 for the most prestigious club-competition prize in Europe, the UEFA Champions League Final.

Dimers.com soccer writer and former professional footballer Vincenzo Pugliese breaks down the matchup.

2022 Champions League Final: Liverpool vs. Real Madrid

Stade de France, Paris

Saturday, May 28 2022, 3PM ET

The Reds of Liverpool will make their third UCL final appearance since 2018 as Los Blancos end a four-year European final drought.  

This is the third matchup between the clubs, making it the most repeated final in Champions League history, with the teams having met previously in 1981, resulting in a Liverpool triumph, and most recently in 2018 ending in a Madrid title.  

Now the clubs meet each other once more, with Real Madrid having won four of the last five head-to-head matchups with the other being a draw.  

This is Real Madrid’s first European final since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo, but inspired by the outstanding play of Karim Benzema, who has scored 10 of his 15 UCL goals this season in the knockout stages

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However, it was 21 year-old Brazilian winger, Rodrygo, who dug Real Madrid out of their ruins, following two late stoppage-time goals in the span of 120 seconds, to force extra time in their second-leg semifinal matchup vs. Manchester City.  

Rodrygo, along with 21-year old Brazilian winger, Vinicius Jr., are bound to cause trouble on the flanks for Liverpool's backline.  

Rodrygo and Modric in training😂 pic.twitter.com/LS1jlEkikU

— 𝐑𝐎𝐃𝐑𝐘𝐆𝐎 𝐙𝐎𝐍𝐄 (@RodrygoZone) May 24, 2022

In the middle, Los Blancos are led by veteran and four-time champion of the competition, Luka Modric, who hasn’t shown any sign of his 36 years catching up with him, as the midfield general will continue to prove his class, looking to add a fifth European Cup to his trophy haul

Between the two teams, Real Madrid had a much more difficult path to the final, advancing past the likes of PSG, Chelsea and Manchester City — all in comeback fashion for the 13-time champions.

This will no doubt be of concern to Carlo Ancelotti’s men as the champion is decided over one match and adds a demand on Madrid’s readiness and preparation for the dangers and speed of Liverpool's attack.

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Having a bit of a smoother route to the final, Liverpool Manager Jurgen Klopp's men had to get past Inter Milan, Benfica and Villarreal, in that order, to reach the last dance.

Despite the easier road to Saturday's final, the Reds have nonetheless proven their worth, playing with an undeniable ruthlessness throughout the 2021-22 season.

Coming up just short in the Premier League on Sunday, the six-time champions of Europe will look to make it seven, getting revenge for their 2018 final loss to Real Madrid. 

Liverpool’s Mohammed Salah will certainly see it that way after he was forced to leave the field in tears prematurely, following a heavy fall under a challenge caused by Sergio Ramos in the opening half of the 2018 final.

Liverpool will certainly look to exploit Madrid’s weakness in the back with the likes of Salah, Sadio Mané and Luis Diaz, who have all been sensational this season, scoring a combined 15 goals in this competition for the Reds, with the Colombian Diaz only joining mid-season.

The Reds will look to distribute their threat up top and have the luxury of bringing Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino off the bench at any given time, making it difficult for the Spanish side to predict where their opposition's goals could come from.  

It should be a tasteful matchup between two of Europe's most renowned clubs and kick-off is at 3 PM Eastern Time on Saturday May 28, 2022.

2022 Champions League Final Picks

Odds by BetMGM Sportsbook.

• Liverpool (+115)
• Draw (+260)
• Real Madrid (+230)
• Total Goals: 2.5 (Over -140, Under +105) 

Champions League Final Best Bet

Liverpool (+115) is just a more rounded squad. Madrid have been playing rather poorly on defense while Liverpool have completely dominated their opponents and will play with an extra hunger having come up short in the Premier League and having lost to Real Madrid in the Champions final four years ago.

Champions League Final Over Under Bet

OVER (-140)

Champions League Final BTTS Bet

YES (-110)

Champions League Final First Goal Scorer Bet

Sadio Mané, Liverpool (+550)

Vincenzo Pugliese is a former soccer player at Rutgers University who went on to play professionally in Denmark. He is currently living in New Jersey pursuing his U.S. Soccer Coaching License.