Thibaut Courtois explains why Champions League final will be 'harder' for Liverpool than Real Madrid

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has sent a warning to Liverpool for the Champions League final.

The Reds booked their place in the final earlier this week after they beat Villarreal 5-2 on aggregate. Goals from Fabinho, Luis Diaz and Sadio Mane secured a 3-2 second leg victory in Spain.

A day later, Real Madrid faced Manchester City in their semi-final second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu. City were minutes away from reaching the final for the second year running, before a late brace from Rodrygo and an extra-time penalty from Karim Benzema won it for Madrid, 3-1 on the night and 6-5 on aggregate.

Liverpool will take on Real Madrid in the final at the Stade de France in Paris on May 28. It will be the third final for the Reds within the last five seasons.

Courtois played a key role in helping Real Madrid reach the final. The goalkeeper made a crucial save in extra time against Man City to keep the Spanish giants ahead.

Looking ahead to the final, Courtois believes Liverpool’s battle for multiple trophies in the final weeks of the season hands Real Madrid a marginal advantage. The Belgium international also acknowledged that the Reds will be tough opponents.

“Liverpool are playing really amazingly this season, so it will be a really hard game,” Courtois told beIN Sports.

“The only good thing for us is that we aren’t playing anymore for anything, we can rest really well for that game, whereas they are playing for the Premier League, so for them it will be a bit harder.

"But we just need to keep training well and do our best and hopefully win it.”