Real Madrid have finished their La Liga season with a 2-2 draw away to Villarreal, having seemingly been cruising at half-time.
Liverpool take on the reigning European champions in Kiev next Saturday evening.
There is a feeling that Jurgen Klopp‘s side should not fear their opponents, and that has again been highlighted after their trip to eastern Spain on Saturday.
Madrid faced a potentially tough trip to Villarreal in the final match of their league campaign, and it proved to be exactly that.
Zinedine Zidane picked arguably his strongest outfield starting lineup, despite not a huge amount resting on the game, and the players chosen may well take to the field at the Olympic Stadium.
Zidane handed his son Luca his debut in place of Keylor Navas in goal, with Dani Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane and Marcelo making up the back-line.
The gritty, unsung Casemiro dovetailed with world-class creative pair Toni Kroos and Luka Modric in the middle of the park, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale joined by Isco in attack.
It was Bale and Ronaldo who fired the visitors into a 2-0 half-time lead, and they looked set to coast into second in the table after the break.
That proved to be incorrect, though, as Madrid allowed Roger Martinez to pull a goal back, before Samu Castillejo equalised with five minutes remaining.
Injury-wise, Ronaldo played 60 minutes on his return from an ankle injury, and right-back Carvajal played the full 90.
Toni Kroos appeared to pick up a knock late on, while Varane went down in the second half but finished the game and looked okay.
The draw will come as a boost to Liverpool, with Zidane’s team again showing their defensive flaws – especially Marcelo who was culpable for Villarreal’s equaliser.
It shouldn’t be forgotten that los Blancos have built up a frightening winning mentality in the Champions League, as they search for a fourth crown in five years.
The Reds have already knocked out tournament favourites Man City, and if they turn up on May 26 and embrace the occasion, a sixth European Cup is more than possible.
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