Real Madrid’s road to the Champions League final
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Real Madrid face Liverpool this weekend as they look to become Champions League winners for the third season in succession.
The Spanish side are the firm favourites for the trophy, but they face a Liverpool side who will provide them a tough test with free-flowing attacking football.
Cristiano Ronaldo is set to be vital in this match as he comes up against Liverpool star Mo Salah, in what looks to be an intriguing contest.
The giants from Spain have got a number of top players in their side, but will need to adapt against a well-drilled Liverpool outfit.
They got through to the final thanks to a fine win in the semi-final over German side Bayern Munich.
We take a look back at how Madrid have reached this stage…
Matchweek 1: Apoel Nicosia (H)
The holders began their defence of the competition with a dominant 3-0 win over Apoel Nicosia.
Two goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and a header from Sergio Ramos set Madrid off to a fine start.
Madrid were on top in the game for large parts and thoroughly deserved to claim the win to get their season in Europe off to a strong start.
Nicosia rarely threatened and the hosts clean sheet was never in danger of being taken away after a strong showing from the side throughout.
In truth, Madrid could have had more but made a fine start to life in the Champions League.
Matchweek 2: Dortmund (A)
Madrid made their first away trip of the group stage with a fine win in Dortmund as they claimed a 3-1 victory.
A strike from Gareth Bale and a brace from Cristiano Ronaldo in the second-half proved to be the difference after Aubameyang had scored the host’s goal.
The visitors were dominant throughout and thoroughly deserved their win putting in some strong performances throughout the pitch.
In truth, it could have been more in three had Real have really been on it in the game with them also spurring a number of top chances.
Dani Carvajal was particularly impressive on the night putting some great work, while Ronaldo and Bale were both also very strong performers on the night.
Matchweek 3: Tottenham Hotspur (h)
In their third match in the group stage, they faced Tottenham at the Santiago Bernabeu in October.
The match finished in a 1-1 draw with Raphael Varane scoring an own goal while Cristiano Ronaldo got his side back into the game late in the first half.
Both teams could have won it, but were indebted to their goalkeepers, Lloris and Navas, who starred with some important saves.
The two defences were on top on the day with the attacking sides of both teams finding it difficult to break through on to many occasions with Harry Kane being kept quiet by Madrid.
Madrid caused a surprise handing young 18-year-old Achraf Hakimi a Champions League debut after performing well in the league.
Matchweek 4: Tottenham Hotspur (A)
Madrid were simply blown away in their 4th match of the group stage as they were well beaten 3-1 by Tottenham at Wembley.
Dele Ali scored twice, while Christian Eriksen also got on the scoresheet while Cristiano Ronaldo scored a late consolation for the Spanish side.
Madrid just couldn’t cope with Spurs in the first half and also in the early part of the second when the hosts added to their advantage with two more goals.
It was a real setback for the visitors, but a result which they knew wouldn’t make much of an impact on their chances of getting through.
Ronaldo continued his fine record in the competition as he scored for the fourth match in succession.
Matchweek 5: Apoel Nicosia
Madrid produced their most complete performance of the group stage as they hammered Nicosia 6-0 away from home.
The visitors were in control throughout the match and put themselves into the next stage of the competition.
The goals came from Luca Modric, Karim Benzema, Nacho and a Cristiano Ronaldo brace as he became the first player to score in every single group stage match.
The only surprise in the opening 45 minutes was that Ronaldo hadn’t scored any of the four goals, but he soon rectified that with two quick strikes at the start of the second half (49 and 54) to seal a resounding win.
Madrid have to settle for second place in Group H, however, after leaders Tottenham came from behind to beat Borussia Dotmund 2-1 in Germany, meaning the reigning champions will be an unseeded team in the first knockout round.
It was APOEL who began brightly as captain Nuno Morais tested Kiko Casilla from distance but the stand-in ‘keeper made a comfortable save.
Matchweek 6: Borussia Dortmund (H)
Madrid claimed a much-needed victory in the competition as they won a topsy-turvy win over group rivals Borussia Dortmund.
Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score in all six games of the Champions League group stage as Real Madrid beat Dortmund 3-2 at the Bernabeu.
It was a thrilling contest throughout and one which over the course of the match one which the hosts just about did enough to win.
Cristiano Ronaldo was simply sensational once more scoring for the fifth Champions League game in succession.
Madrid made a fast start to the match racing to a 2-0 lead inside 12 minutes.
Dortmund fought back through Aubameyang before Lucas Vazquez won the game with just nine minutes remaining.
The result meant the side finished in 2nd place in the group.
Last 16: PSG
Madrid produced a fine performance across the two legs as they reached the 1/4 finals with a 5-2 aggregate win over PSG.
Most of the job was done in the first leg as they won 3-1 at home thanks to two more goals from Cristiano Ronaldo while Marcelo also got on the scoresheet.
PSG did score the crucial away goal, but lost their key player, Neymar who is still yet to play since.
It was a hugely dominant performance from the hosts in the first leg as they held the all-important advantage.
The second leg came and Madrid won the match 2-1 in Paris to progress through to the next stage.
Goals from Ronaldo and Casemiro were crucial on the night as Madrid powered past PSG in the encounter.
Quarter-finals: Juventus
Real Madrid were very fortunate to progress through to the semi-finals as they edged past Juventus 4-3 on aggregate.
They were cruising in the first leg picking up a stunning 3-0 win in Turin.
Ronaldo scored yet again, while Marcelo also netted as Madrid took firm control of the tie.
The game saw a stunning free-kick from Ronaldo which goes down as one of the best goals of the season.
Paulo Dybala was sent off shortly afterwards for a second booking and Marcelo then bolstered Real’s lead making it 3-0.
Juventus stormed back in the second leg taking a 3-0 lead on the night by the 60th minute thanks to strikes from Mandzukic x2 and Matuidi got them back into the tie.
Madrid were then awarded a controversial penalty which saw Buffon sent off for his actions before Ronaldo converted the crucial penalty to send them through.
Semi-Finals: Bayern Munich
Real secured their place in the final coming through a tight semi-final winning 4-3 on aggregate.
They picked up a crucial result away from home in the first leg winning 2-1 in Munich.
Madrid were forced to come from behind to seize a 2-1 Champions League first-leg lead over Bayern Munich courtesy of goals from Marcelo and Marco Asensio either side of half-time.
Joshua Kimmich opened the scoring, but Madrid headed into the second leg in control.
The second leg was far more exciting with Bayern taking Madrid all the way before the hosts reached their 3rd consecutive final.
Bayern took the lead early on through Joshua Kimmich’s close-range finish, before Karim Benzema headed home at the far post to level it up.
It was 2-1 just after the break as goalkeeper Sven Ulreich’s nightmare error from a back pass allowed Benzema to tap into an empty net, but James Rodriguez, on loan at Bayern from Real, converted from a tight angle to make it 2-2 on the night and 4-3 to Real on aggregate.
Madrid will now go onto face Liverpool in the final.