This Could Be One For The Ages

In a season that has been defined by the unexpected, it is fitting that this year's Champions League will draw to a conclusion with a match that could be of epic proportions. 

This Saturday Real Madrid and Liverpool clash in Kiev to decide who will lift the most coveted trophy in club football. 

Possessing the trifecta for an intriguing encounter, both sides go into the final with an illustrious history in the competition, a wide appeal to fans all over the world, and most significantly the attacking styles that have set these two teams on the path for glory.

Saturday's final pits two of the tournament's top scorers boasting a combined 70 goals, but it is Liverpool who have grabbed the headlines after scoring 40 goals on the road to the final. The Reds have had their deadly frontline to thank for that as Sadio Mané, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino have netted almost as many goals (29) as Real Madrid have scored throughout the entirety of the tournament. 

With their high press and pace on the counter Liverpool have proven to be devasting against teams who are prone to defensive lapses as they can run rampant when let loose.

In this regard, Real Madrid look like the perfect opponents for the Reds as even though they recovered from a bad start to the season Los Blancos aren't exactly all that sturdy at the back.

Since winning at Juventus in the quarterfinal first leg, Madrid have conceded six goals in three games and weren't all that too convincing in dispatching German champions Bayern Munich in the semi-finals.

Bayern essentially shot themselves in the foot as they gifted Madrid with goals which turned out to be decisive in the tie. In the first leg Rafinha gave away the ball allowing Lucas Vasquez to play in Marco Asensio for the winner. Then indecision from Bayern keeper Sven Ulreich allowed Karim Benzema in to score in the return leg at the Bernabeau.

Regardless of their performances in those matches Real Madrid have cultivated the one characteristic that could prove pivotal to lifting yet another Champions League crown.

Madrid have become the consummate opportunists being able to get the job done even without being all that impressive.

Add that to their cup pedigree, ability to nullify the opposition's strengths like they did in Turin and that Liverpool tend fall away towards the end of  games like they did against Roma the back-to-back champions will also come into the final in good confidence. 

It also helps that Liverpool themselves aren't exactly bullet proof with their right flank being guarded by a teenager and the error prone Dejan Lovren at the back.

There's the small matter of history being on the line for Los Blancos too as victory on Saturday will make the Spanish side the first team to win three consecutive European titles since Bayern Munich in 1976. 

This would also make Madrid the first team to win three consecutive titles since the Champions League era begin back in 1992.