Five keys battles that will shape up Real Madrid vs Liverpool

The season is coming to an end as the Champions League final comes closer and closer. No wonder again this season Real Madrid have managed to be in the final and are clear favorites to once again lift the trophy. While Liverpool come into the match as underdogs, but they can't be discounted.

We have seen some extraordinary matches and amazing comebacks this season and the final promises to be a spectacular event to put an end to this incredible football season.

Real Madrid reached the finals by beating PSG (Champions of France), Juventus ( Champions of Itlay) and Bayern Munich (Champions of Germany). There is no doubt that they had unbelievable luck in the tournament and many controversial decisions have gone their way. But anyway they are still in the final.

While Liverpool also had plenty of luck they had an easy group stage, they faced a not so formidable Porto in the Round of 16, then they faced Manchester City a team against whom they have a fantastic record and their high pressing game always troubles them.

It could have been different had they faced a team from England like Manchester United or Tottenham or Chelsea. Even in the semis, they were likely to face FC Barcelona, but they escaped that as well and faced a less tougher opposition in AS Roma.

But we can talk about a lot of possibilities, but the truth is that these two are in the final and one of them is going to win it. So here we look at 5 key battles between players that are likely to shape the Champions League final between Real Madrid and Liverpool.

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#5 Bale vs Lovren

Gareth Bale has been in terrific form for the Los Blancos.

Gareth Bale has been in good form for Real Madrid and his current form makes it likely that he will start ahead of the misfiring Karim Benzema. The Welsh wizard is likely to start up front with Cristiano Ronaldo in a 4-4-2 formation.

While it is likely that Lovren will start for Liverpool and he will be up against Gareth Bale a player who has a knack of scoring important goals. It is likely that Van Dijk would be given the duty of marking the Champions League final specialist Cristiano Ronaldo, Lovren will have to mark Bale.

It definitely gives Madrid a great chance to score goals in the final as Lovren has many times proven to be error-prone and with Bale form, it is likely that he will get the better of him.

The Los Blancos can definitely use this tactic and if Bale does get the better of Lovren with the experience of Madrid in the finals they should easily cruise past Liverpool to their third Champions League trophy in four years.

#4 Mane vs Carvajal/Varane

It would be interesting to see how Mane uses his pace against Real Madrid.

This is going to be an interesting battle. Real Madrid are likely to attack and Liverpool are likely to sit deep and wait to attack them on the counter. When Real Madrid attack their fullbacks are always high up the pitch and are expected to deliver quality balls into the box. But they always leave some space behind them.

This space is covered by the centre back and Varane is likely to do that for Carvajal and Mane would love to use his pace to get into that space and cause Real Madrid problems in the final.

It would be interesting to see how two extremely pacey players Mane and Varane battle it out in Kiev. But if Liverpool are attacking Mane is likely to come up against Carvajal, and it will be extremely tough for Mane to get the better of Carvajal.

If Liverpool wants to score against Real Madrid they will not only need Salah at his best but Mane as well and he needs to make the best possible use of his pace to get the better of the right side of the Real Madrid defence.

#3 Henderson vs Isco

Isco's link up play on the wings will be very crucial for Real Madrid.

When Liverpool will take on Real Madrid they will face Isco, who would be one of the most technically gifted players on the pitch. If going by the trend of Madrid's formation and play in Champions League, Isco is likely to play the attacking midfielder role supporting Bale and Ronaldo.

Isco will be given the free role to roam around the channels and try to link up the play with his fullbacks and help them provide service to Bale and Ronaldo.

But it won't be so easy for him as he likely to face Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson. If Henderson manages to keep him at bay only then Liverpool can think of a having a chance of beating the Los Blancos in the final.

Isco's movement and link up on the wings will be very crucial for Madrid and captain Henderson will definitely have a torrid time facing the Spaniard. If Isco gets the better of the Englishmen Liverpool will have no chance against the Los Blancos.

#2 Virgil Van Dijk vs Cristiano Ronaldo

Van Dijk abilities will be tested to his limits against Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Dutchmen is currently the most expensive defender in the world and he has produced commanding displays for Liverpool since his arrival at Anfield. In Van Dijk, they have a leader at the back and this allows them to sit deep and attack their opponents on counter attacks with the terrific pace of their front three.

Though he has been brilliant for the Reds, his ability will be tested to the limit against the King of Champions League Cristiano Ronaldo. With age, the Portuguese star has become more of a fox in the box and he has been terrific at it.

No matter what, Marcelo and Carvajal will cross balls inside the box and will look for their favorite target Cristiano Ronaldo and the former Manchester United star loves to be the hero on such special occasions.

He will be the biggest threat to Liverpool's goal and their best defender Van Dijk will have to make sure that he keeps Madrid's talisman quiet in Kiev.

#1 Sergio Ramos/Marcelo vs Salah

Mo Salah will be against the very best in the final.

We all know that Marcelo loves to attack and stay high up the pitch, but he should really thank his captain Sergio Ramos who covers for him on the left flank. But in Kiev, they cannot afford to give any space to deadly Mo Salah.

Everyone knows what Mo Salah is capable of doing and he has done it against big oppositions and week in and week out. But in the Champions League final, he will be against arguably the best left back and centre back in the world.

Liverpool would definitely be desperate that Salah it at his best against Madrid, because unlike Madrid, who have the likes of Bale, Ronaldo, Ramos, Asensio and Isco, they have mainly Salah to whom they look up to when they need a goal. If Madrid can keep Salah quiet they are more likely to win the game.

When Manchester United and Chelsea managed to pocket Salah the Reds really struggled badly and were looking out of ideas. Though they have Firmino and Mane to look up to but they are not as good as the Egyptian. The key to stopping a big threat of Liverpool going forward would be how Ramos or Marcelo deal with the former Roma winger.

The winner of this dual is likely to be the winner of the Champions League final. If Salah manages to get the better of the two Madrid defenders they will be in big trouble. But if the Los Blancos duo manages to get the better of him, Liverpool are likely to be in big danger of not scoring and eventually losing the final.