Carlo Ancelotti Has Told Liverpool His Tactics For The Champions League Final

Los Blancos play Jurgen Klopp's side in Paris on 28 May in a repeat of the 2018 final in Kyiv, where Real won 3-1 thanks to some Gareth Bale magic mixed together with Loris Karius' errant goalkeeping.

That secured a 13th European Cup for Real and the Spanish giants are looking to make it 14 in the French capital.

There's plenty of intrigue as to how Ancelotti, a four-time Champions League winner, will approach the game against Liverpool.

But the veteran Italian has quite openly told media what set-up he will be deploying for the showpiece.

"Sometimes it can happen to a 4-4-2. I think there is no defined system, sometimes to press the pivot, as we did against the City, you go from 4-3-3 to 4-4-1-1. The idea doesn't change much, just a little the way to defend the opponent, to pressure them.

Liverpool are expected to line up with a similar system, and they've been given a much-needed boost as Jurgen Klopp has declared Fabinho is fit and available for upcoming fixtures after he went off with an injury in the 2-1 win over Aston Villa on Tuesday.

Ancelotti appeared to reveal that Valverde, as well as Rodrygo Goes - scorer of the first goal in the semi-final second leg against Manchester City - will both start at the Stade de France.

"Both are going to play the final, it's true," Ancelotti commented.

Real, having wrapped up their 35th La Liga title, were given a guard of honour ahead of the 6-0 thrashing of Levante on Thursday.

Vinicius Jr scored a hat-trick, while Karim Benzema, Ferland Mendy and Rodrygo was also on target in the defeat that sent Levante down to the Spanish second tier.