Real Madrid look to make it ten in a row against Liverpool
Real Madrid/Liverpool, 7.45pm, Sky Sports 2, Free £10 bet
Alan Kennedy helps Liverpool defeat Real madrid in the 1981 Final
Juande Ramos may have taken just two points from his last nine league matches in north London, but over in Madrid, he has won each of his last nine. The Spaniard will be hoping to stretch his winning streak to double figures against Liverpool tonight, but the Reds are unbeaten in seventeen Champions League games (in 90 minutes). Here’s everything you need to know about this match, courtesy of our hombres at chickendinner:
EARLY KNOCKOUTS
Juventus, Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Roma. Those are the four sides responsible for the fact that Real Madrid, the the most successful team in the competition’s history, haven’t cleared this hurdle since 2004. Ramos’ La Liga performance might be enough to rebuild his reputation after being sacked by Tottenham, but in order to earn a second season at the Bernabeu, he will probably need to come closer to ending the second-longest Champions League drought in Real Madrid’s history than his predecessor did.
PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS
Remarkably, considering Real Madrid and Liverpool are two of the three most successful teams in Champions League history, they have only ever crossed paths once, in the 1981 final when the Reds triumphed 1-0 in Paris (see the picture above). Juande Ramos faced Liverpool only once during his time as Tottenham boss, at home on the final day of last season, and his team lost 2-0. Since the Spaniard’s departure, Tottenham have beaten Liverpool twice at White Hart Lane and they remain the only team to have beaten Rafael Benitez’s side in ninety minutes this season.
THE FORM GUIDE
A glance at the form guide shows that Real Madrid have a clear advantage over Liverpool. The reigning Spanish champions have won ten of their eleven games under Ramos, including all seven home games. They have conceded just two goals in their last nine matches. In contrast, Liverpool have won just two of their last eight. Even if you go back to the start of November, Benitez’s side have won just ten of their last 23. Real Madrid have hosted English opposition nine times – winning four, drawing four and losing just one.
JUANDE’S TROPHY RECORD
Ramos has won at least one cup in each of his last three seasons as a manager and with Real Madrid already eliminated from the Copa del Rey, the Champions League is the only knockout competition available for him to continue his run. In 2005-06 he won the UEFA Cup with Sevilla then in 2006-07 he retained the UEFA Cup, won the UEFA Super Cup and the Copa del Rey. Last season he won the Spanish Super Cup in Spain before guiding Tottenham to the Carling Cup.
DON’T EXPECT A GOALFEST
Just one of Liverpool’s last nine matches in either the round of 16, quarter-finals or semi-finals has featured over 2.5 goals. Real Madrid have won their last two matches 4-0 and 6-1 but their games against fellow top five opposition under Ramos (Barcelona, Villarreal and Valencia) have all featured two goals or less.
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