Liverpool vs Real Madrid prediction, odds and preview

Liverpool and Real Madrid will renew hostilities at Anfield on Tuesday for the opening leg of the Champions League round of 16 match.

It is a repeat of the 2022 Champions League final which Real Madrid narrowly came out top winning the trophy for a record-extending 14th time.

To set up a meeting with the holders, Jurgen Klopp’s squad finished second in Group A behind Italian powerhouses Napoli. The holders defeated Celtic, Shakhtar Donetsk, and RB Leipzig to win Group F.

A top-four finish is not out of the question for Liverpool after back-to-back Premier League victories over Everton and Newcastle United, the latter coming courtesy of Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo’s efforts. Liverpool appears to have turned a corner after a catastrophic start to the 2023 season.

Liverpool’s unbeaten streak at Anfield is now at a respectable seven games, but their dismal record against their esteemed visitors is well-documented. In the last five years, Klopp’s team has only experienced one Champions League last-16 exit, losing to Real Madrid’s close neighbors Atletico Madrid in 2019–20.

Before the Blaugrana play their game-in-hand against Cadiz on Sunday night, the gap between Barcelona and Real Madrid at the top of La Liga is five points. Additionally, Liverpool supporters will find solace in Real’s patchy European road record, as Los Blancos have won just two of their last six Champions League away games.

Liverpool’s winless streak against the champions reached six games after losing to Real Madrid in the 2017 Champions League final, which was also their longest-ever run without success against a single opponent. However, now that Klopp has seemingly stopped the rot, the Anfield faithful are feeling much more upbeat.