Champions League final: Virgil van Dijk and Karim Benzema’s battle of will and skill can define Liverpool vs. Real Madrid

As you would expect for a game of just incredible magnitude, there will be mouthwatering matchups across the field when Liverpool take on Real Madrid in Saturday’s Champions League final.

Don’t expect to see either player take a backwards step when Madrid left-winger Vinicius Jr faces up to Liverpool’s right-back and creative fulcrum Trent Alexander-Arnold. The midfield battle between Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara – providing the Liverpool duo can get close to full match sharpness following recent fitness setbacks – and pass masters Luka Modric and Toni Kroos promises to be intriguing, while on the left-hand side of Madrid’s defence Ferland Mendy must repel a fired up Mohamed Salah with revenge in his nostrils.

But it is the joust in the other penalty area that captures the imagination more than any other. Michael Owen might have been over-egging things slightly when he declared Virgil van Dijk to be the greatest central defender of all time earlier this month, but his claim to being the best in the position right now is pretty iron-clad. Facing him at the Stade de France this weekend will be Karim Benzema. There is not a number nine in world football with a more impressive body of work or breadth of impeccable skills than Real Madrid’s star frontman.