Liverpool F.C. and Tottenham F.C. set to play an all-English Champions League Final

Barcelonas Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring his sides third goal during the Champions League semifinal, first leg, soccer match between FC Barcelona and Liverpool at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, May 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring his side’s third goal during the Champions League semifinal, first leg, soccer match between FC Barcelona and Liverpool at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, May 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

By Marcel Carrasco

An all-English championship will take place during the 2019 UEFA Champions League Final when Liverpool F.C. and Tottenham Hotspur F.C. meet in Madrid.

Liverpool is a five time champion with their most recent in 2005 against A.C. Milan. The Reds have been the runner up three times, including last year’s loss to Real Madrid C.F. 

This will be Tottenham’s first ever final appearance in the Champions League. The Spurs are a two-time winner of the Europa League. 

Liverpool v. Barcelona

First leg quick recap:

Barca and Liverpool met up at Camp Nou where the Blaugrana defeated the Reds 3-0. Forward Lionel Messi scored two goals for Barca including his trademark free kick goal. Forward Luis Suarez opened the scoring with a goal at the 26-minute mark, and in the second half Messi scored his brace. 

Second leg recap:

An inspired Liverpool came from behind to defeat F.C. Barcelona 4-0 on Tuesday and delivered one of the best memories in recent Champions League history. The Reds booked their ticket to Madrid in a 4-3 aggregate score.

Forward Divock Origi provided LFC with the opener seven minutes into the match, then midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum added goals at the 54 and 56 minute marks. Origi sealed the historic comeback with Liverpool’s fourth goal at the 79-minute mark. 

Wijnaldum had a great performance at Anfield, and Origi was a surprise hero after forward Roberto Firmino and winger Mohamed Salah were ruled out due to injury.

The Reds’ victory drew comparisons to the 2005 Champions League final when Liverpool scored three goals in six minutes during the second half to tie Milan. The match went on to a penalty shootout where the Reds beat I Rossoneri 3-2.

Ajax v. Tottenham 

First leg quick recap:

Ajax traveled to London where they played Tottenham at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Midfielder Donny Van de Beek gave the visitors the lead at the 15-minute mark.

Second leg recap: 

Tottenham made a second half comeback to book their ticket to the championship match. The Spurs fell in a 0-2 deficit, but forward Lucas Moura finished three times to level Ajax. With a tied aggregate score of 3-3, the match tipped in favor of Tottenham with the away-goal count.

Defender Matthijs de Ligt opened the scoring for Ajax with just five minutes into the match before midfielder Hakim Ziyech added a second goal.

 Moura sealed his second-half hattrick with a stoppage time left footed shot past Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana to move the Hotspurs one win away from their first ever Champions League crown. This was Moura’s first career hat-trick in Champions League play.

The meet up between the English teams will be the second time an all-English Champions League final has been played. This will also mark the seventh time a Champions League final has been played by teams from the same country. 

Kick off is set for 2:00 p.m. June 1 at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid.