This Saturday, 28 May, is the UEFA Champions League final, which pits Real Madrid and Liverpool against one another in order to determine the true Champions of Europe. The loser will head back to Liverpool empty-handed (or to Madrid, but this isn’t happening).
This time around, the match won’t only be shown through SuperSport – which has been the case for ages. But now, SuperSport has negotiated a deal that allows the final to be broadcast on Showmax Pro too. This is the first time Showmax will play host to a Champions League match. Hopefully, it won’t be the last. Still, there’s a catch. As with UEFA’s Euro 2020 broadcasts, only Showmax Pro subscribers in South Africa, Lesotho, and Mauritius will receive access.
Rematch of the century
If you follow football, you’ll remember the heartbreak Liverpool suffered in the 2017/2018 season. That was the year when Real Madrid took home the UEFA trophy with a 3-1 win over Liverpool. The score wasn’t the only controversial aspect that night, however. Early on, Liverpool’s star player Mohammed Salah was injured – which fans believe was a catalyst for Liverpool not taking home the title.
Since then, Liverpool has gone on to win the Champions League. Real Madrid on the other hand, has not made it to the finals since that win against Liverpool.
Liverpool will be looking to get back at Madrid, considering the two clubs’ history. Luckily for Liverpool and more specifically Mo Salah, Sergio Ramos (who injured Salah) is no longer a factor for Real Madrid – which leaves plenty of room for Salah to break through the ranks and score some world-class goals.
Still a Ballon d’or to consider
But team glory isn’t the only award up for grabs – there is still the annual Ballon d’Or to consider. Both teams have players up to the standard of winning the Ballon d’Or. Taking home the title of European Champion will certainly help votes in their favour. Real Madrid has Karim Benzema and Vinicius Jr, who both have potential in the Ballon d’Or conversation. Liverpool has Mohammed Salah and Sadio Mane vying to become the best player in the world. This just adds an extra layer of drama to the already dramatic showdown that awaits fans.
It’s certainly shaping up to be an interesting night for both fans of the teams and neutral fans who want to see good football from the final. Overall, Real Madrid has a slight edge on Liverpool when it comes to fatigue and training. Last week, Liverpool was still attempting to take home the Premier League title, which they didn’t manage to pull off. This leaves the team downcast, with only a week to rest and train for the final on Saturday. Real Madrid has no such worries. They won their domestic league a little under two months ago. Since then, they’ve had more time to rest, and more importantly, train.
If you don’t want to miss any of the upcoming drama, go and check out the final on Showmax Pro, this Saturday, 28 May at 21:00 SAST.
