Congratulations @realmadrid pic.twitter.com/dpYsoxF5Tj
— Michael Owen (@themichaelowen) May 28, 2022
11.10pm – Owen added: “I still think they (Liverpool) are the best team in Europe. On other occasions Liverpool would be having their name etched on the trophy this time, but it wasn’t to be. The season they have had, I still think they are the team to beat. Yes, Real Madrid have got past them today, but it is a one-off game. I still think they (Liverpool) are the most fearsome team in Europe and they have not got any of the big two trophies this season to show for it, and that will be the biggest pill to swallow.”
It’s really normal to be happy tonight if you’re a united fan! I’m f@@@@@g ecstatic! ?
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) May 28, 2022
10.46pm – Former Liverpool captain Gerrard, who lifted the trophy in 2005, said on BT Sport: “They have put an absolute defensive masterclass on today. Yes the keeper got man of the match, but if you look at the detail of the defending to a man all over the pitch, their distances, their shape and the calmness under pressure. Yes they got outplayed for 40 minutes, but over the 90 minutes… yes their keeper bailed them out at times, but to a man across the pitch they defended ever so well.”
— Richarlison Andrade (@richarlison97) May 28, 2022
10.37pm – Real have had to do it the hard way, beating Chelsea, PSG, Manchester City and now Liverpool. Former Everton boss Ancelotti makes history as he becomes the first coach to win a fourth European Cup. Liverpool will have to settle for the two domestic cups after having a chance of the quadruple a week ago.
10.30pm – Substitute Eduardo Camavinga curls over from the edge of the area for Madrid.
10.27pm – Five minutes added time. Can Liverpool get one?
I would add and most probably give it to Cortouis. Insane season. https://t.co/CcoCGwytif
— Cesc Fàbregas Soler (@cesc4official) May 28, 2022
10.25pm – UEFA also releases a statement. It reads: “In the lead-up to the game, the turnstiles at the Liverpool end became blocked by thousands of fans who had purchased fake tickets which did not work in the turnstiles. This created a build-up of fans trying to get in. As a result, the kick-off was delayed by 35 minutes to allow as many fans as possible with genuine tickets to gain access. As numbers outside the stadium continued to build up after kick-off, the police dispersed them with tear gas and forced them away from the stadium. UEFA is sympathetic to those affected by these events and will further review these matters urgently together with the French police and authorities, and with the French Football Federation.”
Wow @thibautcourtois what a save ?
— John Terry (@JohnTerry26) May 28, 2022
10.19pm – Courtois parries wide after Jota diverts Salah’s shot goalwards. Keita then fires horribly wide from the edge of the box.
10.16pm – Casemiro gets behind the Liverpool defence from a free-kick into the box but opts to pull the ball back to a team-mate rather than go for goal himself and the chance goes begging. That would have sunk Liverpool.
Liverpool FC statement on #UCLfinal entry issues:
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 28, 2022
10.13pm – Liverpool release a statement on the issues before kick-off. It reads: “We are hugely disappointed at the stadium entry issues and breakdown of the security perimeter that Liverpool fans faced this evening at Stade de France. This is the greatest match in European football and supporters should not have to experience the scenes we have witnessed tonight. We have officially requested a formal investigation into the causes of these unacceptable issues.”
10.06pm – Henderson’s floated cross is headed back across goal by Jota and Salah is denied at the back post by Courtois. Twenty minutes to go.
Long way to go! pic.twitter.com/B9agPo0a3K
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) May 28, 2022
10.01pm – Salah curls a shot at goal which Courtois parries to safety. Diogo Jota replaces Diaz as Liverpool search for an equaliser.
9.53pm – Liverpool are still trying to find a way through a stubborn Real Madrid defence. Courtois parries away an Alexander-Arnold cross.
9.43pm – No changes from either side at half-time.
How is that not a goal? I’m glad Peter Walton cleared it up for us ?The rule clearly doesn’t make sense because when would a Liverpool player ever intentionally play Benzema the ball ? ??♂️The fact it’s come off a Liverpool player surely means it’s a Goal?
— John Terry (@JohnTerry26) May 28, 2022
Offside Karim
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) May 28, 2022
9.23pm – Benzema thinks he has put Madrid ahead on the stroke of half-time, but his effort is ruled out for offside after some shambolic defending from Liverpool. VAR takes a long look and decides the officials are correct.
9.18pm – Andy Robertson receives the ball on the left side of the box and plays in Mane whose shot is deflected behind for a corner. Henderson then blasts just wide from distance.
9.05pm – Madrid are enjoying a bit of possession after those chances for Liverpool. Alisson Becker catches a cross that is heading for Benzema.
8.42pm – Not a lot has happened in the early exchanges. Liverpool are pressing.
8.34pm – Former Liverpool forward Ian Rush and ex-Real striker Raul bring the Champions League trophy out onto the pitch. The players then emerge from the tunnel and the Champions League anthem starts. We are minutes away from kick-off.
8.30pm – The pre-match show is over and now it is time for action.
Camila Cabello pre-match show under way as Real Madrid fans chant loudly & a number of #LFC fans still try to get into the ground pic.twitter.com/4siM7zaOUg
— Simon Peach (@SimonPeach) May 28, 2022
8.26pm – There are stars from all different sports in the crowd tonight. The likes of Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Zinedine Zidane and Rafael Nadal are watching on. And now we have Camila Cabello belting out the tunes on the pitch.
8.16pm – UEFA said the delay was due to “security reasons” but the Stade de France screens claimed it was “due to the late arrival of fans”.
Hala Madrid ? pic.twitter.com/3BC0KofEDI
— Mesut Özil (@MesutOzil1088) May 28, 2022
Scenes at #stadedefrance as fans are stuck outside the #liverpool entrances of the #championsleaguefinal #ucl2022 pic.twitter.com/RcDHfkGszC
— Phil Barnett (@BarnettoPA) May 28, 2022
I’m not sure it’s possible to have a more poorly organised event if you tried. Absolutely shambolic and dangerous. @UEFAcom
— Gary Lineker ?? (@GaryLineker) May 28, 2022
8.05pm – The queues are still big outside the Stade de France. A Liverpool fan told BT Sport that local police were using tear gas outside the stadium. Could kick-off be delayed even further?
Riot police forming inside stadium perimeter pic.twitter.com/EXqfCooeiR
— Carl Markham (@carlmarkham) May 28, 2022
7.46pm – BREAKING NEWS – Kick-off is delayed 15 minutes due to the queues still outside the ground.
Current scene at the top of the up ramp the other side of the underpass where the logjam is occurring. Looks less than ideal pic.twitter.com/RnvxtsTwfV
— Carl Markham (@carlmarkham) May 28, 2022
7.30pm – There are still big queues outside the ground with just 30 minutes until kick-off. Hopefully the fans gets inside in time.
7.20pm – A massive roar from the Liverpool fans as their side run out onto the pitch to warm up.
Here’s how we line up for the #UCLfinal
??
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 28, 2022
6.55pm – Liverpool’s team is out. Thiago is passed fit while Klopp has chosen Ibrahima Konate ahead of the experienced Joel Matip as Virgil Van Dijk’s central defensive partner. Defender Trent Alexander-Arnold becomes the youngest player in Champions League history to start three finals, surpassing Bayern Munich’s Thomas Muller.
Starting line-up: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago, Diaz, Salah, Mane.
Substitutes: Kelleher, Milner, Keita, Firmino, Gomez, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jones, Minamino, Jota, Tsimikas, Matip, Elliott.
Madri-d pic.twitter.com/QBZb8BSzOL
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) May 28, 2022
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) May 28, 2022
6.30pm – The atmosphere is building. Ninety minutes until kick-off. Liverpool team news is not far away.
6.04pm – That is an early team announcement from the Spanish side, reportedly to avoid it getting leaked.
?✅ ¡Nuestro ?? inicial para ?? ?????! ? @LFC#APorLa14 | #UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/iigVLUMrGl
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) May 28, 2022
5.51pm – Real Madrid have announced their team already. Karim Benzema is named captain, while Wales international Gareth Bale, who is out of contract in the summer, is among the substitutes.
Starting line-up: Courtois, Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Kroos, Benzema, Modric, Casemiro, Valverde, Vini Jr, Mendy.
Substitutes: Lunin, Nacho, Hazard, Asensio, Marcelo, Vasquez, Bale, Ceballos, Rodrygo, Isco, Mariano, Camavinga.
Buzzing for this Paris @ChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/p0z1DHH9Hm
— Peter Crouch (@petercrouch) May 28, 2022
5.45pm – The pundits are out in force tonight. Former Liverpool players Michael Owen, Steven Gerrard, Steve McManaman and Peter Crouch are in the BT Sport studio, alongside ex-Manchester United duo Rio Ferdinand and Owen Hargreaves.
#CLFINAL @LFCHELP @SPIRITOFSHANKLYJust been made aware of an attempt theft up at the stadium. What appears to be local youths snatching of people and running off. Look after your belongings. Look out for each other. Stay safe.
— MerPol Liverpool FC (@MerPolLFC) May 28, 2022
4.50pm – A warning for Liverpool fans around the ground tonight. Merseyside Police’s Liverpool matchday policing Twitter account posted: “Just been made aware of an attempted theft up at the stadium. What appears to be local youths snatching off people and running off. Look after your belongings. Look out for each other. Stay safe.”
I’m so glad… ?
The atmosphere is building at our #UCLfinal fan meeting point ? pic.twitter.com/RZAZsCl5XU
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 28, 2022
4.20pm – Real Madrid will be looking to spoil Jurgen Klopp’s party. The Spanish giants, LaLiga champions this campaign, have produced a fair amount of drama en route to the showpiece following sensational comebacks to defeat heavyweights Chelsea, Paris St Germain and Manchester City. They also know what it takes to win the European Cup having done so on 13 occasions.
4.06pm – Thousands of Liverpool fans are in the French capital for the club’s third European final in five seasons. Having seen their quadruple attempts end last week as Manchester City won the Premier League, the Reds are looking to wrap up a treble after wins in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup this term.
