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How will Liverpool and Real Madrid line up in the UCL final? (1:46)

The projected starting XIs for the final of the European club competition are being assessed by two people. (1:45)

You can watch the live coverage of the 2021-22 final of the European club competition. Real Madrid will play in the same place as last year's final when they take on the Reds.

The match is in Paris. 8 p.m. You can follow the build-up to the match as well as the key moments and talking points from the match as it happens right here from the team of writers at the Stade de France. You can refresh the page to get the latest updates.

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LIVE BLOG

2:30 p.m. The time is 7:44 p.m. Benzema has a goal record.

Benzema scored 15 goals in just 11 games this season to be the top goal scorer in the competition.

Benzema has scored a career-high 44 goals in 45 games for Real this season, with Robert Lewandowski ofBayern Munich the only player in Europe&s top five leagues to have registered more. Two more goals in the final would see the Frenchman equal the all-time record for goals scored in a single season, which is currently held by former Real teammate CR7

Benzema has 10 goals in his last five games, which is a record for a five-game span in the knockout stages of the competition, he also has 10 goals in five games last year.

In the European Cup final, only three players have ever scored a hat trick of more than one. Benzema scored a hat trick in back-to-back games against Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea to reach this season's final, so don't bet against him joining that exclusive club.

The Egypt forward would have to score eight goals in a row in the final to overtake Benzema in the race for the Golden Boot.

2:30 p.m. The time is 7:44 p.m. The end is still filling.

There are still congestion issues at the Stade de France.

Some issues outside the ground and it's noticeable inside Stade de France that the Real end is pretty full and still lots of gaps in Liverpool section, with fans in big queues still waiting to get in

— Mark Ogden (@MarkOgden_) May 28, 2022

2:11 p.m. At 7:11 p.m. Fans are struggling to get in.

The build-up of fans trying to get into the stadium is noted by James Olley.

Fans coming into the Stade de France. Liverpool supporters heavily outnumbering Real Madrid from what I've seen, right across the city. pic.twitter.com/w7ToGtuolL

— James Olley (@JamesOlley) May 28, 2022

There are other reports of confusion that is causing stress outside of the stadium.

Sad to relate it's chaos outside, police funelling fans into dangerously narrow routes - because their fans are parked blocking the pavement. Dangerous crush building up behind... pic.twitter.com/Rqzt90MCdn

— Rob Draper (@draper_rob) May 28, 2022

2:44 p.m. The time is 7:44 p.m. England is playing Spain.

England and Spain are the two most successful nations in European Cup history, with England and Spain producing a total of 32 winners between them.

The only time in history that an English side has beaten a Spanish side in a final is in 1981 when the Reds beat Real. The Spanish side has won all four of the subsequent times.

The last English side to win the European Cup was in 1981 whenLiverpool beat a team from Spain.

The time is 1:45 p.m. The team news is in.

Big news in the Liverpool team -- Thiago Alcantara and Fabinho both start, despite being injury doubts ahead of the game. And in defence, Ibrahima Konate is chosen ahead of Joel Matip alongside Virgil van Dijk. Thiago had been the biggest doubt, having limped out of the win against Wolves six days ago with a tweaked hamstring. The Spain midfielder trained on Friday, but the big question mark will be about how long he can last against Real. -- Mark Ogden

The team is in full.

Here's how we line up for the #UCLfinal

👊🔴

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 28, 2022

1:45 p.m. The time is 6:49 p.m. Have you seen the traffic in Paris?

Liverpool's team bus has had a struggle to get through the traffic to make it to the Stade de France. Jurgen Klopp and his players are only just arriving now, having been temporarily stuck in traffic on the motorway close to the stadium. So while Real's players are now beginning to stroll onto the pitch to get an early feel for their surroundings, Liverpool's team are still waiting to get off the bus. -- Mark Ogden

1:45 p.m. 6:30 p.m. The head-to-head record in knockout matches.

In the 1981 final, the Reds beat Real in all three of their first meetings in the knockout phases of the European Cup/Champions League, all without a single goal.

  • The 1981 final was decided by a single point.

  • The first leg of the round of 16 was won by the Reds.

  • The second leg of the round of 16 was won by the Reds.

In the three knockout meetings between the pair since then, Real have gone 2-0, including the final.

  • Real Madrid won the final by a score of 3-1.

  • Real Madrid won the first leg.

  • The second leg of the 2021.

2 p.m. Real Madrid announce their team early.

Is it mind games or genius? At 1 p.m. Carlo Ancelotti had his team-sheet printed two hours before the game. No going back now, sir...

Real Madrid have gone early with their team by announcing their starting XI a full hour before it has to be submitted to UEFA. Coach Carlo Ancelotti has selected Fede Valverde ahead of Rodrygo in his front three. Casemiro, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos start in midfield as expected -- six years after starting in the 2016 Final against Atletico Madrid in Milan. -- Mark Ogden

Here is the full team sheet.

📋✅ Our #UCLfinal 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗫𝗜! #APorLa14 pic.twitter.com/uj9fib8ZoZ

— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) May 28, 2022

2 p.m. 6:30 p.m. The first three-peat.

The two teams have met in the final of the European Championship twice before, first in 1981 and then again in the year 2000. In 1981 the Reds took the first step in their revenge by winning in Paris, while Real avenged that loss in 1984 by winning in Kiev. Since the European Cup was inaugurated in 1955, there have only been three finals between the same two sides.

The club hopes to become the first English club to win the League Cup, FA Cup and the European Championship in the same season. English teams have never reached the final of all three competitions in the same campaign.

Real Madrid have a slight edge when it comes to their previous encounters with the Reds, scoring 10 goals in that time compared to the Red's four.

In the round of 16 of the European Championship, Real were thrashed by the Reds in 2008 and have not beaten them since. In the first leg, a single goal from Yossi Benayoun was enough to give the visitors a win at the Bernabeu, and then they went on to win the second leg by four goals. The Reds were eliminated in the next round after losing to the Blues.

The final wins of Real Madrid andLiverpool were ranked.

2 p.m. 6:30 p.m. Who will win?

The 125th and last game of the season takes place in Paris tonight with a final between two of the most-decorated clubs in the history of the competition.

It is the first time that an English club has reached 10 European Cup finals. If successful, they would move up on the all-time list.

Real have appeared in more finals than any other team and have lifted the trophy more times than any other team. The Spanish giants have won the cup for a fifth time in nine years.

Who do you think will win? You can vote in our poll.