The Champions League has been a fairy tale of comebacks in 2019, after Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur both stared down the barrel of Semi-Final heartache, only to overcome the odds and demolish FC Barcelona and break the hearts of Ajax supporters around the world.
Only one side’s dream can become a reality on June 1 when the two English outfits meet at the 63,500-capacity Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, though, with the other’s swiftly turning into a nightmare that will be remembered through the ages much like their last round victims.
Liverpool have already seen one dream swiped from their clutches this year with the Premier League trophy remaining with Manchester City, after Jurgen Klopp’s men fought tooth and nail until the last to snatch that inaugural crown.
Spurs, meanwhile, rode the wave of an up-and-down league campaign to secure Champions League football for another season by a solitary point, and much like his German counterpart, Mauricio Pochettino will be betting on a miracle in Madrid to add the silver lining to an adventure that otherwise has nothing to show for his immense efforts.
Pochettino’s side’s road to Madrid has been nothing short of a miracle thus far, having scrapped through the Group Stages when the Europa League was calling after three games, before being drawn against the would-be Bundesliga runners-up Borussia Dortmund and Premier League winners Manchester City.
Liverpool had no easy ride, either, having squared up to – and beat – Bavarian behemoth Bayern Munich and Catalan colossus FC Barcelona to set up just the third European encounter between the Anfield natives and the North Londoners.
Form in a UEFA competition favours no man, though, as both Tottenham and Liverpool have a win to their name against each other, having been drawn together in the UEFA Cup Semi-Finals back in 1973, with the Reds advancing through a single away goal.
Klopp’s men did win both Premier League encounters in the recently concluded campaign, however, with both games returning a 2-1 win, and will head into the Final as slight favourites.
The German is also set to have Brazilian forward Roberto Firmino back in his ranks for the Final, having shaken off the muscle strain that ruled him out of Liverpool’s last three matches.
Spurs have likewise been handed an injury boost for their date in Madrid, with talisman striker Harry Kane expected to be available, while Pochettino is confident Harry Winks, Jan Vertonghen, Davinson Sanchez and Danny Rose will all be fit, in what could be the England left-back’s final game for the club.
