Real Madrid all set to defend Champions League against Liverpool

Real Madrid is all set to defend their Champions League crown against Liverpool as the club football season draws to a close with a tantalising title match.

The two European heavyweights last met in UEFA's showpiece event in 1981, at the Parc des Princes in Paris, when a late strike from marauding left-back Alan Kennedy secured a 1-0 win for Liverpool. That's the last occasion on which 12-time champions Real lost a European Cup final.

Spanish giants, who made history by lifting the trophy two years in a row, would be aiming to improve their record. Meanwhile, five-time winners Liverpool will be aiming to repeat that triumph in Kiev.

In the first semi, Bayern Munich goalkeeper Sven Ulreich committed a huge blunder as holders Real edged into the final.

Ulreich missed a backpass to gift a vital second goal to Karim Benzema at the Bernabeu Stadium and the Frenchman's double in a pulsating 2-2 draw ensured Real progressed 4-3 on aggregate.

UEFA makes huge blunder ahead of Liverpool vs Real Madrid final

A chaotic 4-2 semi-final second leg loss to Roma saw Liverpool progress 7-6 on aggregate, with victory secured thanks to Sadio Mane's 19th of the season and the rare sight of Georginio Wijnaldum's first away goal in almost three years.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said, "We were in a League Cup final and didn't win it. People don't tell me in the street since then, 'Thank you for bringing us to the final'. We were in the Europa League final too. Nobody tells me thank you."

"I see no trophies after these games. They don't hang silver medals at Melwood. That's a pity, but that's the game. There's still a job to do. You cannot be more experienced in this competition than Real Madrid," he said. "I think 80 per cent of their team played all these finals. They are four times in the last five years and still together. They are experienced, we are not, but we will be really on fire."

Liverpool and Real Madrid will be looking to Mohamed Salah and Cristiano Ronaldo to make the difference for their respective teams on May 26.