Champions League Final: Which Squad Has the Best Pedigree?

In a game as closely matched as the upcoming Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid, even the slightest of edges over the other side could prove crucial to victory. In the case of this season's curtain closer, to be played in Paris, one major factor may be the pedigree of the two squads - more specifically, which team has the most experience of playing in and, most importantly, winning a Champions League final?

Both sides boast a wealth of experience and more than their fair share of winners' medals, but as this analysis by Statista can reveal, it's Liverpool that have the edge in this department. When looking at the players in each squad which have played at least some part in this season's Champions League campaign, an impressive 64 percent of Liverpool's players have played in and won a final in the competition (most of which in 2019). Real Madrid on the other hand has incorporated more players with less experience at the sharp end of European football since their last victory in 2018.

That win in 2018 was against Liverpool, however - another aspect likely to be playing on the minds of some of the players in the lead up to the match. Of course it remains to be seen how significant the psychological impact of this will all be. If you believe in omens, though, the last Champions League final that Real Madrid lost was in 1981. Against Liverpool. In Paris.