Our prediction for this Champions League match:
Liverpool
Match Time & Date:
21/02/2023
21:00
Prediction: 1-1
Real Madrid
The ground at Anfield will shake when Liverpool and Real Madrid square off against each other in the Champions League derby. The Reds aim to build on back-to-back wins over Everton and Newcastle, and they must be high on spirits ahead of the visit of Real Madrid. January signing Cody Gakpo has found his goal-scoring touch of late, meaning that the opposition back-line should have him at bay. All Arthur, Luis Diaz, and Thiago Alcantara remain in the recovery room, as well as Ibrahima Konate, while Darwin Nunez is a major doubt.
Carlo Ancelotti’s troops, on the other hand, outplayed Osasuna 2-0 in their last La Liga game, but beating Liverpool on the road is easier said than done. Karim Benzema returns to the starting XI after he was rested at the weekend, while both Mariano Diaz and Ferlan Mendy are sidelined with injuries. Both Tony Kroos and Aurelien Tchouameni are rated doubtful for the first leg. Anyhow, we predict that the two European giants are going to share the spoils at Anfield as Jurgen Kloop’s troops are tough to beat at home.
Highlighted Player (Mohamed Salah):
Mohamed Salah is considered one of the best African players. Salah began his senior career at El Mokawloon, scoring 11 goals in 41 league appearances for the club and in 2012 he moved to Europe, signing a four-year deal with Swiss side Basel.
The pacey winger, who is capable of playing as a striker as well was producing outstanding displays for the RotBlau from 2012 to 2014 and, as a result, Chelsea chiefs decided to sign him on 26 January, 2015 for a fee of £11 million. Mohamed Salah, though, failed to impress in the Premier league and one year later he was sent on loan to Fiorentina.
After making 16 league appearances for the Viola in the Serie A, the left-footed winger signed a loan deal with Roma on 6 August, 2015. The Romans made the contract permanent on 3 August, 2016. Speaking of his international career, Salah made his Egypt debut on 3 September, 2011 in a 2-1 loss to Sierra Leone. It has to be noted that he was named Roma’s player of the season (2015/2016).
Highlighted Team (Real Madrid):
Real Madrid is a Spanish football club based in Madrid. Real Madrid participate in La Liga (Primera Division) and they have won 32 domestic titles. On the other hand, los Blancos have won 13 European Cup titles and that is the main reason why they are considered the biggest football club in the world.
Real Madrid play their home matches at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu and the capacity of the stadium is 84,454. Cristiano Ronaldo is the club’s most successful footballer in the 21st century and the Portuguese superstar has won two Golden Ball awards.
The likes of Alfredo Di Stefano, Zinedine Zidane, Raul Gonzalez Blanco, David Beckham and Iker Casillas are star players who were part of the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu outfit in the past. Real Madrid’s bitterest rivals are Barcelona, but the rivalry between local rivals Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid is big as well. Real Madrid’s home kit is white and, as a result, the team’s nickname is los Blancos (the Whites).
