Merseyside | Five classic matches between Liverpool and Real Madrid

Liverpool take on Real Madrid in the Champions League again

Before they play each other again, we've taken a look at some classic contests between two of Europe's biggest sides

Author | William G

A match with a lot of history. The footage is from @LFC. pic.twitter.com/zl1vbqP45d

— European Super Football (@ESFootballNews) November 4, 2025

Liverpool 1-0 Real Madrid | May 27th 1981

The clubs first met in the 1981 European Cup final at Parc des Princes in Paris. Alan Kennedy’s close-range strike made him the first Liverpool player to score against the famed white of Real Madrid, helping the Reds become the first English side to defeat the Spaniards in a continental final. The victory secured Liverpool their third European Cup, with captain Phil Thompson lifting the trophy.

Liverpool 4-0 Real Madrid | March 10th 2009

One of the standout wins of the Rafa Benítez era came in the 2008-09 Champions League round of 16 at Anfield. Steven Gerrard scored twice and Fernando Torres added another, while Andrea Dossena completed the rout. Liverpool had already won 1-0 in Madrid, leaving the Reds five goals to the good over the two legs, though they would later fall to Chelsea in the quarter-finals, 7-5 on aggregate.

Liverpool 1-3 Real Madrid | May 26th 2018

Jurgen Klopp’s first Champions League final with Liverpool, held in Kyiv, Ukraine, promised excitement but ended in heartbreak. Real Madrid’s quality was clear, with Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale on display. Liverpool suffered an early blow when Mohamed Salah was injured by Madrid captain Sergio Ramos. Two mistakes from Loris Karius and Bale’s spectacular bicycle kick sealed victory for the Spaniards, with Sadio Mané only able to respond once. Despite the defeat, the game hinted at the potential of Klopp’s squad.

Liverpool 0-1 Real Madrid | May 28th 2022

The sides met again in Paris for another Champions League final. This match was low-scoring and affected by organisational issues from UEFA and local authorities, yet Real Madrid prevailed once more. Vinicius Jr scored shortly before the hour, and despite Liverpool dominating large parts of the game, they were unable to respond, ending their hopes of a treble after narrowly missing out on the Premier League.

Liverpool 2-0 Real Madrid | November 27th 2024

The most recent clash took place in the league phase of last season’s Champions League. After three successive defeats to Madrid, Liverpool were determined to regain momentum, and the Reds delivered, securing a comfortable win on home soil. Anfield was electric as goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo secured an impressive victory over the La Liga giants. After that match, Slot’s side were eventually eliminated in the round of 16 by Paris Saint-Germain, who went on to lift the trophy.