Real Madrid to face Liverpool in Champions League final after two enthralling semi-finals against Manchester City and Villarreal

Liverpool and Real Madrid will go head-to-head in this season’s Champions League final in a repeat of their 2018 showdown.

Liverpool booked their passage into this month’s showpiece with a 5-2 aggregate win over Villarreal on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Real did it in dramatic fashion courtesy of remarkable 6-5 aggregate win over Manchester City on Wednesday night.

TIBS News reviews both second legs that took place this midweek…

Villarreal 2-3 Liverpool (2-5 on aggregate)

Liverpool survived a first-half scare to reach the Champions League final with a 3-2 win at Villarreal on Tuesday that secured a 5-2 aggregate victory after the night had threatened to turn sour for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

The visitors fell 2-0 down with an insipid first-half performance before fighting back with three goals in a 12-minute spell after the break to advance to their third European Cup final in five seasons.

The Premier League side had won 2-0 in England but looked in danger of coming unstuck on a rain-soaked pitch in Spain, as the hosts pegged them back with goals from Boulaye Dia and Francis Coquelin.

Liverpool, however, came out transformed after half-time and goals from Fabinho, Luis Diaz and Sadio Mane sealed the deal, with Villarreal ending the match with 10 men following a late red card for Etienne Capoue.

Real Madrid 3-1 Manchester City (6-5 on aggregate)

Real Madrid fought back from the brink of elimination to beat Manchester City 3-1 after extra time and 6-5 on aggregate in an enthralling and dramatic Champions League semi-final on Wednesday.

City led 1-0 on the night and 5-3 on aggregate when Riyad Mahrez scored after 73 minutes but Real substitute Rodrygo equalised in the last minute of normal time and headed home one minute later to level the tie at 5-5.

Five minutes into extra time Karim Benzema converted a penalty awarded for a foul on him by Ruben Dias and Real, the record 13-times European champions, held the shell-shocked English side at bay to reach the final.

Real will play Liverpool on May 28 in the final at the Stade de France, Paris.