As part of our special presentation for the 2019 UEFA Champions League final, Mega Sports is running a package for our fans.
PREDICT THE WINNER between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, you stand to get precious gifts from megasportsarena.com and 27 July Limited Sports Network. Post you predictions on this forum.
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The countdown is tighter than ever, heading into Saturday’s UEFA Champions League final in Madrid, Spain, with another all-England clash on the cards, so soon after Chelsea decimated London rivals, Arsenal 4-1 in the Europa League final on Wednesday.
Another London team is under the spotlight, as Tottenham Hotspur aim to despoil former champions, Liverpool, who are back in the biggest game in European club football for the second successive year, after they lost to Real Madrid last season and they chase a sixth crown.
However, Spurs are in unfamiliar terrain. This is the furthest they have ever gone in the competition, after reaching the European Cup semi-final in 1962, but never in the current Champions League format.
Liverpool appeared dead and buried after the first leg of their semi-final clash with Barcelona, as they succumbed 3-0 at Nou Camp. However, a magical night at Anfield saw them produce a stunning 4-0 win to sink the Spanish champs, which Reds’ boss, Jurgen Klopp tagged unbelievable.
Spurs took inspiration from that 24 hours later, as they also recovered from a 3-0 aggregate deficit at half-time of their second leg against Ajax Amsterdam of Holland. All along, Mauricio Pochettino’s men have been 10 minutes or less from going out of the competition on five occasions while Liverpool had to beat Napoli in their final group game to make it.
Eleven months after having more players in the semi-finals of the World Cup than any other club, Tottenham gear up for the biggest match in their history. The Londoners did not sign a single player either last summer or in January, and had to contend with delays to their new stadium throughout the campaign.
Despite all those loopholes, Spurs hope to become the 23rd different side to lift the most coveted piece of club silverware, and the first new name on the trophy since Chelsea in 2012.
However, Pochettino’s side have been beaten 19 times this season – their highest tally of defeats in a decade – including four losses already in the Champions League, the final of which Liverpool certainly have a wide edge in terms of experience at this stage.
The Reds have now reached successive European Cup finals for the third time in their history. Only Juventus and Valencia have ever lost back-to-back finals in this competition.
So, having fallen to defeat in devastating fashion at the hands of Madrid in last year’s final, Klopp’s side will hope to put that right tomorrow in the Spanish capital.
Liverpool ended the domestic campaign in fine form, winning their last nine Premier League games, and it is worth remembering that the only defeat they suffered came away to eventual champions, Man City.
Ultimately, they know that defeat on Saturday would see a historic epic campaign end without silverware, and losing to a domestic rival would be a hugely underwhelming way to finish off such an impressive season.
