The last time these two sides met in a European Cup final in Paris, Liverpool emerged victorious after a disappointing game
By Steven Pye for That 1980s Sports Blog
With a minute to go at the Bernabéu in the second leg of Real Madrid’s semi-final against Manchester City, the prospect of reminiscing about the 1981 European Cup final seemed distant. Yet, there is something about this Real Madrid team that throws all logic out of the window. Somehow they scored twice in injury time to drag the tie into extra-time before finishing off a shellshocked City. “Improbably, miraculously, beyond their dreams and expectation,” as the wonderful Peter Drury declared.
So, Liverpool will meet Real Madrid in a European Cup final in Paris for the second time. It should be a classic, probably involving a Karim Benzema hat-trick in stoppage time that will leave Liverpool as stunned as the rest of Real Madrid’s opponents this season. That might be asking for too much, but the match should at least be an improvement on the 1981 final.
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