Liverpool vs Real Madrid: the economic tactics off the pitch

Analysis: the economic tactics that drive the Champions League finalists are as much a part of this fixture as the players

By Simon Chadwick, EM Lyon and Paul Widdop, University of Manchester

Liverpool against Real Madrid in the Champions League final is a fixture for fans to savour – two giants battling it out for one of the most prized trophies in the game. And regardless of the result, some will also see this match as a win for soccer over geopolitics and big money.

For these two sides making it to the final means that other powerful teams were knocked out along the way. There is no Manchester City, a club much criticised for the lavish resources it receives from the Abu Dhabi governnment. There is no Paris St-Germain, which is funded by the vast wealth of Qatar. No sign of Chelsea either, the defending European champions, who until recently enjoyed the financial backing of a billionaire with strong connections to Russian leaders and Russian gas.

So perhaps this year's Champions League final is indeed a victory for purists – a chance to support traditional clubs, untainted by the vast wealth and questionable politics of their rivals.

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From RTÉ Soccer Podcast, Stephen Elliott, Gary Rogers and The Independent chief football writer Miguel Delaney join Raf Diallo and James McMahon to preview the Champions League final

But before a wave of nostalgia washes over anyone, it is worth remembering that Liverpool versus Real Madrid is not a simple matter of old fashioned sporting values