The countdown to kick-off in Kiev has begun with Real Madrid and Liverpool set to meet in a mouthwatering Champions League final at the NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium.
They are two of the most illustrious names in the history of European football, but how do the current stars match up?
Sportsmail takes a look at the likely starting line-ups.
Liverpool and Real Madrid will fight it out for the Champions League trophy in Kiev on Saturday
Keylor Navas vs Loris Karius
There’s no doubting the threat carried by two attacking teams like Real Madrid and Liverpool, but their goalkeepers are arguably the weakest link.
Madrid’s continued interest in signing David De Gea has hardly been a vote of confidence in Navas, who was outstanding in the semi-final win over Bayern Munich but remains prone to errors.
Karius, meanwhile, may have established himself as Liverpool’s first-choice ahead of Simon Mignolet but there are still doubts about the German.
Navas – 6.5
Karius – 6
Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas just edges his Liverpool counterpart Loris Karius
Dani Carvajal vs Trent Alexander-Arnold
Two right-backs who don’t need much encouragement to get forward and help their team in attack.
Carvajal is well established at Real Madrid and in the Spain squad after rejoining his boyhood club from Bayer Leverkusen in 2013; a tenacious, energetic defender who will always come up with an assist.
Alexander-Arnold is the teenage star who has enjoyed a breakthrough season at Liverpool and earned himself a place in England’s World Cup squad.
Experience favours Carvajal but nothing has fazed Liverpool-born Alexander-Arnold yet.
Carvajal – 7.5
Alexander-Arnold – 7
Dani Carvajal will benefit from a wealth of experience while Trent Alexander-Arnold will not
Sergio Ramos vs Dejan Lovren
Two warriors of the piece. Ramos is the talismanic leader of Real, a captain who has led the club to three Champions League wins in four years and scored crucial goals in the two final triumphs over rivals Atletico Madrid.
He is a more accomplished defender than Lovren who is more likely to make a mistake, but don’t underestimate the rugged Croatia centre-back. He can be just as resolute when he’s on his game.
Ramos – 8
Lovren – 6.5
Sergio Ramos has thrived in finals before while Dejan Lovren has struggled on the big stage
Raphael Varane vs Virgil van Dijk
If Ramos and Lovren are the beasts, then Varane and Van Dijk provide a little more beauty; two gifted, ball-playing centre-backs who can distribute from defence.
Van Dijk is the more dominant of the two, a powerful defender who has made a huge impact on Liverpool’s back line since moving to Anfield from Southampton for £75m.
But, like Ramos, Varane is a veteran of three Champions League winning campaigns, and he will be confident of making it four.
Varane – 8
Van Dijk – 8.5
Virgil van Dijk will need to put in one of his mammoth performances for Liverpool on Saturday
Marcelo vs Andrew Robertson
Brazilian flair versus good old-fashioned Scottish endeavour? Kind of. There is no doubting the attacking qualities that Marcelo brings to this Real team, although his lack of defensive discipline will be something Liverpool, and Mo Salah in particular, will be looking to exploit.
However, Robertson gives Jurgen Klopp’s side a real thrust with his overlapping runs down the left, and the Scot has been one of Liverpool’s great success stories this season after moving from Hull for what now seems a ridiculously low price of £8m.
Marcelo – 8
Robertson – 7
Marcelo has a wealth of experience but Andrew Robertson has proved his quality this season
Casemiro v Jordan Henderson
The two players given the unenviable task of defensive midfield duties while their teammates go on the attack.
Casemiro is the man who does Real’s dirty work, minding the back door while Modric and Kroos get forward, and breaking up opposition attacks.
Henderson does a similar job for Liverpool having won over his critics and emerged as a fine leader of this team. Who would have thought the former Sunderland man could be first up the steps in Kiev to lift the famous trophy?
Caesmiro – 7.5
Henderson – 7
Caesmiro will do a very specific job for Real Madrid while Jordan Henderson needs to lead
Toni Kroos v James Milner
It’s hard to think of two more dependable characters than Kroos and Milner, players who will give you pretty much exactly what you expect of them.
Kroos’ metronomic passing keeps Madrid ticking as the former Bayern Munich man dictates play. Milner is a less polished midfielder but his work-rate will be key in trying to ensure that Real don’t run the game from midfield.
Kroos – 8
Milner – 7
Toni Kroos and James Milner should both add a reliable outlet for Real Madrid and Liverpool
Luka Modric vs Georginio Wijnaldum
Wijnaldum probably wouldn’t have been playing had Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain not suffered an unfortunate knee injury in the semi-final against Roma, but the Dutchman seized his chance that night and will be called upon to do it again in Kiev.
He will have his work cut out against Madrid and the likes of Modric, another three-time Champions League winner who will have an important role to play in their bid for a fourth title in five years.
Modric – 8
Wijnaldum – 6.5
Luka Modric is a sure starter for Real Madrid while Georginio Wijnaldum stars due to injuries
Lucas Vazquez vs Mo Salah
Real will respect Liverpool but the one man who will put fear into the Spaniards is Salah.
The Egyptian’s exploits have been well documented and well rewarded this season as he has emerged as one of the hottest talents in European football. There could be no better way to end it than firing Liverpool to glory in Kiev.
Assuming Vazquez gets the nod ahead of Gareth Bale and Marco Asensio, he will pose a threat down the Liverpool left but not on the same scale as Salah.
Vazquez – 7
Salah – 9
Mohamed Salah is the ace in the hole for Liverpool and will be under pressure to perform
Cristiano Ronaldo vs Roberto Firmino
The Portuguese superstar has been subdued by his standards towards the end of the season, but write off Ronaldo at your peril. He is a big-game player with a track record of stepping up when it matters most. If Ronaldo brings his A-game then Liverpool are in trouble.
Most players would suffer by comparison, but Firmino has been in excellent form as part of Liverpool’s attacking trident and he there’s no reason he can’t be just as influential for Klopp’s side.
Ronaldo – 9
Firmino – 8
Cristiano Ronaldo is gunning for his fifth Champions League title and Roberto Firmino his first
Karim Benzema vs Sadio Mane
Two very different players. Benzema, the powerful, goal-poaching Frenchman who has survived in this Madrid team when many thought he wouldn’t.
Mane, the quick-as-a-flash winger from Senegal, whose pace and ability to spot an opening will keep Madrid on the toes.
Both men are more than capable of coming up with a goal, just in different circumstances.
Benzema – 8
Mane – 8
Karim Benzema can be a deadly finisher but Sadio Mane’s pace will prove difficult to deal with
TOTALS
Real Madrid – 85.5/110
Liverpool – 80.5/110