Igor Stimac, India’s national football team coach, thinks it will be foolish to ignore Real Madrid in the Champions League final against Liverpool on Saturday. “Liverpool are stronger at the moment but there is something special about Real Madrid this season. Whoever writes them off might be surprised at the end,” the Croat told The Telegraph.

Juergen Klopp’s men are being billed as favourites but going by Real’s last-minute miraculous escapes and Karim Benzema’s red-hot form, it will not be a surprise if the Madrid side return from Paris with their 14th European Cup triumph.

“They have so much experience in such games, but to win this final they need to find a way to respond to Liverpool’s speed and aggression,” he added.

Former ATK Mohun Bagan coach Antonio Lopez Habas said the final is 50:50 simply because it’s very difficult to predict the outcome of a game like this. “(Real) Madrid are more creative in the midfield but Liverpool have the physical strength. You just can’t predict a game like this,” Habas said from Madrid.

“This is the second most important tie after the World Cup final. And so the quality of the players will define the result. If Madrid have Benzema, (Mohamed) Salah is with Liverpool,” Habas added.

Stimac agrees that the Champions League is a different ballgame altogether. “The best football clubs are in action and that makes it all the more difficult,” he said.

Both Stimac and Habas heaped praise on Klopp.