Liverpool's rivalry with Real Madrid has produced thrilling matches in the Champions League, including three unforgettable finals. This fixture has demonstrated royalty, with Los Blancos being the most successful club continentally with a huge figure of 15 titles, while the Reds are the glittering English side in the competition, having won it six times. Although Liverpool came up with triumphs in this fixture initially, Real Madrid became the dominant force in the modern era by notching up seven wins after losing their first three meetings. Still, the Reds have shown their resurgence lately in the new format of the competition. Regardless of who becomes the winner, this rivalry has produced intense matches with plenty of goals, unforgettable moments, and endless drama every time they have played.
Here are some of the memorable clashes between Liverpool and Real Madrid in Champions League history:
Liverpool 1-0 Real Madrid - 1980/81 Final
The first face-off between the two sides happened in the grand final stage of the 1980-81 Champions League season, then known as the European Cup. The Reds, in their third final, were led by their legendary manager Bob Paisley, who was chasing the record of being the first coach to win the competition three times. They had a smooth run-up to the final, except against Bayern Munich in the semis, where they had to rely on the now-defunct away goal rule to progress. Their opponents, Real Madrid, appearing in their ninth final, also had a strong show leading up to this stage by maintaining solidity as they kept a clean sheet in every game since the first round. However, the dream materialised for Paisley as, after a cagey goalless first half, his side found the winner through full-back Alan Kennedy in the 81st minute to make it a fifth straight time an English side has taken home the title. Interestingly, Los Blancos would not lose any Champions League finals from here on, with two coming against the Reds as part of their revenge for this loss.
Liverpool 4-0 Real Madrid - 2008/09 Round of 16
The two rubbed shoulders again 28 years later in the round of 16 stage and it became another memorable outing for Liverpool in front of their own fans, while an utter humiliation for Real Madrid. Sneaking a 1-0 win from Santiago Bernabeu, the Reds welcomed the Whites at Anfield expecting another tight battle, but it hardly was. Coached by Rafa Benitez, the side stunned the visitors with a peak Fernando Torres, beginning the routing with a 16th-minute opener despite Iker Casillas’s best efforts to deny the host an early lead. Club’s iconic captain Steven Gerrard then scored a fantastic brace in his 100th European appearance, slotting home from the spot near the half-hour mark before elegantly tucking his second just two minutes after the restart. The Reds’ attacking storm overwhelmed Madrid, and their defence was once again bamboozled. Andrea Dossena hit the final nail in the coffin of the match and the tie, claiming a 4-0 win and a 5-0 aggregate victory. However, the Reds had to wait for 15 years to get their next glory in this fixture as they had to go through a cruel eight-game winless streak from here on.
Liverpool 0-3 Real Madrid - 2014/15 Group Stage
So far, Real Madrid had always ended up on the losing side in this fixture, but things began to change when the pair met again five years later at the same venue, Anfield. For the first time, this clash was played in the group stage of the Champions League and Los Blancos, under Carlo Ancelotti, were determined to get things right finally. Courtesy of their deadly duo of Karim Benzema and superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, Madrid, who won the La Decima or the 10th Champions League title that summer, created havoc at Anfield, completely nullifying their opponents. Their Portuguese icon, having taunted the Reds earlier in a Manchester United star, became their nightmare again with a stunning opener on a half-volley, silencing the home fans. Madrid was experiencing another golden period continentally, and they reminded Liverpool, who were looking to return to their glory days under Brendan Rodgers, of it with the Frenchman Benzema joining the party with a quick-fire brace before the half-time whistle. Ancelotti’s men held on for the victory and finally got their revenge over their English giants while also starting an incredible dominance in this fixture.
Real Madrid 3-1 Liverpool - 2017/18 Final
The 2017-18 Champions League final saw a repeat of the 1981 showpiece with Real Madrid locking horns with Liverpool in Kyiv. Like Bob Paisley back then, France legend Zinedine Zidane was chasing a third Champions League final with Los Blancos, but he was on the brink of doing it consecutive times, which no one has done before. Meanwhile, the Reds were in the early stage of the Jurgen Klopp era, which pulled the club back to its highs and they wanted a repeat of that glorious night to secure a first Champions League title since their Istanbul heroics in 2005 in their first final in a decade. The final did not disappoint as it produced numerous headlines that made this showpiece an unforgettable one, not just in this fixture but also in the competition’s history.
Drama started even before a ball was kicked, with Ronaldo’s famous stare at Mohamed Salah, who was the reason behind the Reds’ meteoric rise, in the tunnel and then the Egyptian lasted only half an hour after suffering a dislocated shoulder in a tussle with Sergio Ramos, whom many conspired to be a deliberate act by the Real Madrid captain. However, the major storyline was around Liverpool’s goalkeeper Loris Karius, who suffered a concussion with Ramos being the guilty party again for a challenge on him, leading to two catastrophic errors that decided the showpiece. In the 51st minute, the German throw was deflected into the empty net by Karim Benzema, but his side recovered from that shock to equalise through Sadio Mane minutes later.
Yet, it was Gareth Bale who stole the spotlight by producing one of the best performances by a substitute in the sport’s history. It took only two minutes after coming on the hour mark to get himself on the scoresheet, scoring one of the memorable goals in the Champions League finals with an acrobatic kick from Marcelo’s cross. Liverpool pressed again for the equaliser, with Mane hitting the post this time, while Andy Robertson’s heroic tackle denied the top-scorer Ronaldo in a one-to-one situation. However, Bale made sure Los Blancos had the last laugh with his swerving shot going through Karius and into the net. Real Madrid became the first team since Bayern Munich in 1974–76 to win three consecutive UEFA Champions Leagues, with this being their record-extending 13th trophy in the competition’s history.
Liverpool 0-1 Real Madrid - 2021/22 Final
Just two seasons later, both clubs found themselves on the biggest stage in European club football once again, for the third time, with the venue being Paris in that edition. Liverpool, having overcome the agony of losing the 2018 Champions League final a year later, was gunning for a seventh crown while also chasing a sensational treble, now in their peak under Klopp. On the other hand, Carlo Ancelotti was hoping to give a second Champions League title to Real Madrid in his second spell with the club. Amid the excitement of the occasion, the final descended into chaos with catastrophic mismanagement in crowd control, resulting in a 36-minute delay before kick-off. On the pitch, it was Liverpool that dominated, but was denied by a brick wall in the form of Thibaut Courtois, who clinched the record of most saves in a Champions League final with nine. Madrid, as well, waited for their moment and after Benzema’s goal was controversially disallowed for offside on the stroke of half-time, Vinicius Jr tucked in the eventual winner from Federico Valverde’s pass just five minutes into the second half. The Reds were heartbroken again, while celebrations pomped for Los Blancos, who secured a 14th honour and a fifth title in just nine seasons.
Liverpool 2-5 Real Madrid - 2022/23 Round of 16
Meetings between the two became far more frequent this decade, with the duo clashing just a season later in the Round of 16 stage. The first leg was hosted at Anfield, with Liverpool seeking revenge for their disheartening Champions League losses against Real Madrid. The game turned into a thrilling tie full of goals, but above all, a stunning comeback. The Reds started strongly, with just four minutes passed into the game, when Darwin Nunez scored the opener with an intricate flick from Mohamed Salah’s pass. The Egyptian thought that he finally got his redemption in this fixture when he slotted home from an unusual Courtois mistake to make it 2-0 within 15 minutes. However, the home side’s defence was exposed completely by Los Blancos as they started a mesmerising turnaround.
Scorer in the final, Vinicius returned to terrify the Reds by reducing the deficit with a smashing goal in the 21st minute. Weirdly enough, it was time for Courtois’s opposite number, Alisson, to make a howler with his clearance, striking fellow Brazilian and into the net completing a quick brace. It would be hard to find a match where two of the best in their position have committed horrendous mistakes in the same game. That completely changed the momentum as Madrid breathed life, turning the screw around in the second half. Centre-back Eder Militao, completely unmarked from a Valverde free-kick, gave visitors the upper hand just three minutes into the break before it became a Benzema show. The wannabe Ballon d’Or winner struck twice within 13 minutes for another crunching defeat for the Reds and settled the tie in the first leg itself.
Liverpool 2-0 Real Madrid - 2024-25 League Phase
However, the tables started to turn again from the very season the Champions League adopted a new format. Liverpool, wounded by the many losses in this fixture, finally avenged it when they clashed with Real Madrid in the inaugural League Phase. The Reds were in their first season after Jurgen Klopp’s era and were looking to carry on their legacy under the new management of Arne Slot, whereas Los Blancos were in the final season under Carlo Ancelotti, plagued by struggles. The home side was able to dominate the League Phase by finishing first in the 36-team table in the first season under the Dutch manager, with this result being at the top end of their pile.
After a goalless first half, the match sprang into life in the second half, with Mac Allister wasting little time in giving Liverpool the lead in the 51st minute with a fantastic finish. Although the host was the dominant force in the game, Madrid had the chance to equalise, but Kylian Mbappe’s spot-kick was decisively saved by Caoimhin Kelleher, filling in for the injured Alisson. That gave the Reds to kill the game off, although Salah was guilty of missing his spot-kick after winning it under the challenge from Ferland Mendy. However, there was no collapse from the Reds this time as Cody Gakpo made sure there was no more heartbreak with a cracking header from Andy Robertson’s cross to set the home fans into frenzy.
Liverpool 1-0 Real Madrid - 2025-26 League Phase
As if it was written in the stars, these two met at Anfield for the second consecutive League Phase campaign, with both on the opposite end of form. Premier League holders Liverpool were struggling, having lost six of their previous eight fixtures at the same time, when Real Madrid, now under Xabi Alonso, a legend for both clubs, were enjoying a sensational period with 12 wins and just one loss. However, Slot’s side was determined to recapture their form that brought success in the previous season and a win in this fixture in front of their home fans was ideal.
Madrid hardly had any say in the game despite dominating possession, managing just two shots on target and had to thank Courtois for the scoreline not getting embarrassing with another of his class performances in this fixture. The Belgian did well in denying Dominik Szoboszlai on several occasions alongside Hugo Ekitike and Van Dijk, but he could not do anything when the former’s free-kick was headed in by Mac Allister, scoring for the second straight time in this fixture for a fantastic victory.
