Mohamed Salah has named his preferred opponents for this season’s Champions League final after Liverpool booked their place in the final in Paris with a 3-2 win (on 5-2 aggregate) away at Villarreal.
What had begun to look like a likely heartbreaking night for the Reds as they went in 2-0 down at half-time, level with Unai Emery’s side on aggregate, went through a total turnaround in the sensational second half to ensure Liverpool make the trip to Paris later this month.
Fabinho, Luis Diaz and Sadio Mane were among the goalscorers, while Salah registered an assist for Liverpool’s opening goal. The Reds will now face either Manchester City or Real Madrid at the Stade de France after their tussle on Wednesday at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Pep Guardiola’s side currently lead the La Liga giants 4-3 on aggregate after a tightly-contested, dramatic first leg at the Etihad last week.
Salah will be anxiously watching tomorrow night hoping fervently that Carlo Ancelotti’s side will emerge victors on Wednesday as he hopes to inflict revenge after the heartbreak in Kyiv in 2018.
The Egyptian told BT Sport: ” I want to play Madrid, I have to be honest. City is a really tough team, we played against them a few times this season.
“I think personally, I would prefer Madrid. We lost in the final to them so I want to play against them and hopefully win it.”
Salah left the pitch in tears in the 2018 final as he was forced off with an injury following a collision with Sergio Ramos. Liverpool went on to lose 3-1 at the hands of the Spanish giants.
Last season’s Champions League journey for the Reds came to an end at the hands of Real Madrid as they were defeated 3-1 on aggregate in the quarter-final stage. The 3-1 defeat away was followed by a 0-0 draw at an empty Anfield.