Salah vs Benzema among 5 key battles in Liverpool-Real Madrid Champions League showdown

In Liverpool's Champions League final meeting with Real Madrid, there are a number of mini head-to-heads that could determine who lifts the trophy in Paris tonight. Here, we take a look at five key battles to keep an eye on at the Stade de France. 

Alisson vs Thibaut Courtois 

Two goalkeepers who can stake a claim to being the best in the business face off in Paris tonight. Alisson was the goalkeeper in the Premier League team of the season, but in the Champions League, the Brazilian has struggled to replicate his league form. 

Alisson's save success rate of just 50% is the worst in the Champions League, which considering he had the third best in England's top tier, highlights a huge drop in form. By comparison, Thibaut Courtois has been a revelation in the competition. He has made more saves (49) than any other goalkeeper, that in itself more than Alisson has been forced into in his last three Champions League campaigns combined (46). 

While Alisson has the worst save success rate, Courtois (76.9%) ranks top for this metric, so it's no wonder that the latter (7.08) has far and away a better WhoScored rating than the former (6.48). 

Fabinho vs Casemiro 

Two Brazilian ball winners lock horns in the middle of the park in Paris. Liverpool fans will have breathed a huge sigh of relief when Jurgen Klopp confirmed that Fabinho would be fit to start against Real Madrid, with the 28-year-old the anchor in the Liverpool midfield. A return of 3.3 tackles per 90 is more than any other Reds player and his influence keeps the Premier League side ticking over. 

Both Fabinho and compatriot Casemiro never crossed paths during their respective time together in Spain, with the latter shining alongside Luka Modric and Toni Kroos in the Los Blancos midfield. The Real Madrid star has made a respectable 26 tackles in the Champions League this season, that two fewer than Fabinho, in what should be a huge clash in the quest for dominance. 

Thiago vs Luka Modric 

While Fabinho and Casemiro rely on their hard work off the ball to win the midfield battle, Thiago and Luka Modric will utilise their quality in possession to dominate proceedings. Liverpool's win ratio drops from 84% to 68% when Thiago doesn't start, so Jurgen Klopp's confirmation that the Spaniard is fit to start in Paris is a huge boost for the Reds. 

80.9 passes per 90 ranks 11th in the Champions League this season, with the 31-year-old able to pick out a teammate with ease. However, while Thiago is able to pick out Liverpool players without so much as breaking a sweat, Modric is able to glide past opponents to open up the angles in midfield and attack. 

Of the 264 players to have attempted more than five dribbles in the Champions League this season, Modric (93.3%) has the best success rate. If the Croat is in the mood tonight, then Real Madrid's chances of European success increases significantly. 

Mohamed Salah vs Karim Benzema

Mohamed Salah started the season brilliantly, and while he did ultimately win the Golden Boot, albeit shared with Son Heung-Min, the second half of his campaign saw a dip in form. Salah has scored just nine times for Liverpool in 2022, one fewer than Karim Benzema has managed in the knockout stages. 

There have been six hat-tricks scored in the Champions League this season, two of which have been by Benzema. Crucially, is that the Frenchman's pair of hat-tricks have come in the knockout stages, with Benzema taking home the match ball against PSG and Chelsea. Like Salah, the 34-year-old earned the Golden Boot in his league, netting 27 times in La Liga, and as the competition's best rated player, 'Karim the Dream' will be out to secure further silverware. 

Luis Diaz vs Vinicius Junior 

It's perhaps fair to say that a key reason for Liverpool's trophy haul has been down to the impact of Luis Diaz. The Colombian joined from FC Porto in January, and while many may have expected Diaz to take time to adjust to his new surroundings, he transitioned from Liga Bwin to the Premier League with ease. 

Diaz affords Klopp greater attacking flexibility, as noted by the German's decision to use Sadio Mane through the middle to accomodate the January arrival. Diaz proved clutch from the bench at Villarreal in the semi-finals, and a key reason for Liverpool's progression was due to the 25-year-old's fine cameo at El Madrigal. 

While few may have foreseen Diaz making such a rapid impact for Liverpool, fewer still could have predicted Vinicius Junior would become one of Real Madrid's most important players this season. No player has registered more assists than the Brazilian winger (6) in the Champions League, while Vinicius Junior has made more key passes (31) than any other player in the competition. 

Of his six assists, five have been for Benzema, which speaks volumes of the importance of the duo as Real Madrid go for Champions League glory for the 14th time in their history.