Real Madrid duo Karim Benzema and Vinicius Jr have risked being left with egg on their face ahead of the Champions League final.
The pair have been leading lights for Los Blancos and need to conjure up some more magic if they are to topple Liverpool, who will head to the Stade de France as favourites. The final will be a repeat of the 2018 showpiece, which was won 3-1 by the Spanish side in Kyiv.
Since then Liverpool have claimed the Champions League whilst Real Madrid's last triumph remains their 2018 victory. Benzema has been a star performer as Carlo Ancelotti's side have continued to comeback during the knockout stages, seeing off PSG, Chelsea and Manchester City.
Their victory over Liverpool back in 2018 left a sour taste in the mouths of some. Mo Salah was forced off through injury after a clash with Sergio Ramos. Loris Karius' errors also played a major part in the result, but ahead of the rematch Madrid stars have not been shy in speaking their mind.
Vinicius Jr is in no doubt that, if the LaLiga champions match their opponent's intensity, they will come out on top. The Brazilian said: "Hopefully they play with all of them. We want an amazing match between two teams with all their players. With 100 per cent concentration. And both fighting for the most important thing, which is the Champions League.
"We watch a lot of Liverpool games. They are a great team with a lot of strength and a lot of intensity. If we match that against them... we will win for sure."
Benzema meanwhile, scorer of successive hat-tricks in games against Chelsea and PSG, is many people's tip for the Ballon d'Or. He scored the opener in the 2018 final and has notched 15 times in this year's competition. The Frenchman commented that the Reds, whilst being an impressive outfit, have not evolved in the last four years.
"They're very good,” he explained. “They haven't changed much over the years. But in the end we have to look at our game. And if we do our thing, then what happens happens. I'm confident."
Salah has been vocal in his desire to exact revenge on the Spanish giants, especially after his own absence back in 2018, as the club look to make up for their Premier League disappointment. He said: "I'm very motivated, motivated through the roof, after what happened last time [2018 final] and Sunday - everyone is motivated for this. We fight for this and everyone is excited."
Whilst there is no shortage of motivation for Liverpool, Vinicius Jr and Benzema's comments risk coming back to bite them if Jurgen Klopp's side come out on top.
