Real Madrid and Liverpool set for Paris rematch

Champions League final in four years seemed to be on the cards but Real Madrid's incredible late comeback against Manchester City on Wednesday has set up a rematch between the Spanish club and Liverpool in Paris on May 28. Madrid's epic European campaign hit new heights as they came back from the dead against Pep Guardiola's City, trailing 1-0 on the night and 5-3 on aggregate before a Rodrygo brace in the 90th and 91st minutes forced extra time.

Karim Benzema then converted a penalty five minutes into the extra half-hour to make it 3-1 on the night and 6-5 on aggregate for Carlo Ancelotti's side who then held on to secure their final spot, four days after reclaiming the Spanish title. Their defeat of City came after they recovered from 2-0 down on aggregate to knock out Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16, and then also fought back to beat Chelsea in extra time in the quarter-finals.

Madrid's extraordinary triumph on Wednesday followed 24 hours on from Liverpool's 3-2 win away at Villarreal, in which they came back from two goals down on the night to win 5-3 on aggregate. The final at the Stade de France will be a repeat of the 2018 showpiece, when Gareth Bale's stunning double secured a 3-1 win for Real Madrid in Kiev and gave them their record-extending 13th European Cup.

Seven members of the Real team involved that night four years ago also featured against City on Wednesday, just as seven Liverpool players in 2018 played in the win at Villarreal. "We have a score to settle," wrote Mohamed Salah on Twitter as the Liverpool forward kicked off the hostilities early.