Champions League Semi-Final Recap and Championship Preview

The 2022 UEFA Champions League Final has recently been moved to Paris from St. Petersburg due to the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. The final will be between two clubs who have quite a recent history in the Champions League with each other. The final will be between Liverpool and Real Madrid, who have squared off in the 2020/21 quarterfinals, 2017/2018 final, and now the final on May 28, 2022.

Liverpool has made the final after a comeback win over Cinderella Villareal defeating them 5-2 on aggregate. Liverpool winger Sadio Mané helped lead Liverpool by scoring two goals in two matches.

Real Madrid denies us the Premier League final between Liverpool and Manchester City, Real Madrid wins on aggregate 6-5. Real Madrid lost the first leg 4-3 to Manchester City, then went down in the 73rd minute to a Mahrez goal for City. Shortly after that goal City, Manager Pep Guardiola made tactical substitutions to hold onto their lead. Those substitutions almost put the nail in the coffin in the 87th minute after a heroic solo run by Grealish which led to a Mendy goalline clearance to keep Real Madrid alive.

In the 90th minute, Rodrygo cut the face of the goalkeeper off of a Karim Benzema flick after the initial service into the box. Then seconds later, in extra time Rodrygo did it again, this time a screaming header off the service of outside back Carvajal. Rodrygo almost made it three goals in three minutes but Manchester City Goalkeeper Ederson made a terrific one-on-one save in the 90+3 of regulation.

In the third minute of extra time, Rodrygo plays a through ball to Karim Benzema who earns a penalty kick after the poorly timed Rúben Dias challenge. Benzema then slots it to the corner(kick taker's right), sending Ederson the other way. The final minutes were electric both ways but Cortuois is another unsung hero of this match, keeping the game close and allowing for the Madrid comeback to happen.

If the final between Liverpool and Real Madrid is anywhere near as dramatic as the semi-final matches and the previous contests between these two sides, we should have a terrific final on our hands.

Liverpool enters the finals as the favorite to win, but you cannot rule out Real Madrid’s never say die attitude.