Real Madrid appears to be a team of destiny.
Right when it looked like all was lost against Manchester City, Madrid rallied with two goals in the 90th and 91st minutes to send the tie into extra time. Then, Karim Benzema scored a 95th-minute penalty to give Madrid the aggregate lead, which proved to be enough to advance to the final.
Liverpool also almost choked away their semifinal lead as Villarreal scored two goals in the first half of the second leg to level the tie, but Liverpool quickly erased any hopes the Yellow Submarine had with a three-goal outburst in the second half.
With a spot in the Champions League final secured, Liverpool’s dream of completing the quadruple is still very much alive. The Reds defeated Chelsea in the FA Cup Final on penalties (as they did in the Carabao Cup Final) and they only trail Manchester City by 4 points in the Premier League race with a game in hand.
The 2022 Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid will certainly be a great spectacle, as two of the best attacks in the world match up with the title on the line.
Let’s dive in with our Champions League best bets for the final!
Champions League Winner Odds 2021-2022
UCL Odds are provided courtesy of BetRivers Sportsbook and current as of Friday, May 27, at 4 p.m. ET.
UCL Full-Time Betting
- Liverpool (-104)
- Real Madrid (+280)
- Tie (+270)
UCL To Win Trophy
- Liverpool (-175)
- Real Madrid (+140)
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Champions League Winner Prediction 2021-2022
Real Madrid (+140)
Real Madrid will be entering the Champions League final with more rest, having already wrapped up their domestic title, and potentially a more fit squad. Liverpool stars Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk were forced to come off during the FA Cup final victory over Chelsea due to injury.
Liverpool has two Premier League games to play before the Champions League final, so it will be interesting to see if manager Jurgen Klopp will play his two stars in those contests or rest them for the final. I do expect both to play in the final, but they might not be 100%.
This Champions League run has been special for Madrid and every time they’ve been underdogs or had their backs up against the wall, they’ve fought back and proved everyone wrong. They are underdogs again here, but ruling them out would be a mistake.
Champions League Final Best Bets
Real Madrid Win in 90 Minutes (+280)
The key in this game will be Madrid’s ability to attack down the left flank with Vinicius Jr.. He had great battles with Kyle Walker in the semifinal tie and will get a considerably easier matchup in the final against Liverpool.
Although Trent Alexander-Arnold is a fantastic passer and crosser of the ball, he is not the best defender. Vinicius could have a field day on the left wing against Alexander-Arnold, leading to goal-scoring opportunities for Madrid.
The real MVP of the semifinal for Madrid was goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who was fantastic and kept Madrid in the tie. If he can repeat that performance, it will be a long day for Liverpool.
Over 2.5 Goals (-139)
This is a no-brainer bet for me in the final.
Both teams have dynamic attacks and proven goalscorers who always show up in big games. Liverpool’s addition of Luis Diaz during the January transfer window has given a new look to their dynamic front three, with Sadio Mane centering Diaz and Salah in a false nine role.
Diaz was arguably the best player in Liverpool’s FA Cup final win against Chelsea and will create a lot of opportunities for Liverpool to score.
Karim Benzema: Anytime Goalscorer (+148)
Goalscorer props aren’t available yet for the Champions League final, but this is one I will definitely be playing.
The 34-year-old has scored 15 goals this Champions League campaign and has shown no signs of slowing down. Benzema has shown the ability to score off headers, and volleys while also serving as Madrid’s primary penalty kick taker, so he would be the one stepping up to the spot if that opportunity arose.
If Madrid are to going win the title, Benzema will have to be a force in the middle of the attack and find the back of the net at least once. I’m backing him to get his name on the scoresheet once again.
Champions League Parlay Bet 2022
Best Champions League Parlay (+450) at Caesars Sportsbook
- Both Teams to Score (-145)
- Real Madrid Double Chance (-135)
- Liverpool to Score First (-145)
In the event this match goes into extra time, we are covered with the double chance because a draw would mean that leg of the parlay hits.
Both teams will definitely get on the scoresheet in this game and Madrid have been the comeback kings, so I wouldn’t be shocked if Liverpool scores first and Madrid comes roaring back.
