FC Barcelona 3–0 Liverpool (2019 UEFA Champions League Semi-Final, First Leg)

Lore & Background

As winners, for the sixth time in their history, Liverpool earned the right to play in the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup, as well as against Chelsea, the winners of the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League, in the 2019 UEFA Super Cup, winning in both competitions. They also secured qualification for the group stage of the 2019–20 UEFA Champions League. As Liverpool had already qualified through their league position, the reserved berth was given to Red Bull Salzburg, the champions of the 2018–19 Austrian Bundesliga, the 11th-ranked association according to next season's access list. In March 2018, UEFA announced that a fourth substitution would be allowed in extra time and that the number of substitutes would be increased from 7 to 12. The kick-off time was also changed from 20:45 CEST to 21:00 CEST. The match was also the first Champions League final to use the video assistant referee (VAR) system.

In Their Own Story

Soft rain fell on the Camp Nou turf as the final whistle blew, signaling a 3-0 catastrophe for Liverpool. In the away end, silence reigned, broken only by the distant roar of Catalan celebration. Red shirts looked smaller and more defeated than ever before against the sea of blaugrana. 'It's over,' whispered one voice to another in the stands, a sentiment echoed by thousands without needing words. The journey home felt longer than usual, the weight of the deficit pressing down on every soul in the away section, unaware that history was about to be rewritten just four days later.

Reader's Guide

The 67,000-seat Estadio Metropolitano is the home of Atlético Madrid, who have occupied it since major renovations were completed in September 2017. Due to UEFA regulations regarding naming rights of non-tournament sponsors, the stadium was referred to as the 'Estadio Metropolitano' in all UEFA materials. This was the fifth European Cup/UEFA Champions League final held in Madrid, after the 1957, 1969, 1980 and 2010 finals, all held at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. For the first time, UEFA launched an open bidding process to select the venues of the club competition finals. The Wanda Metropolitano was selected as the venue by the UEFA Executive Committee on 20 September 2017, while the Baku Olympic Stadium was successful in its bid to host the 2019 UEFA Europa League Final.

Did You Know?

• Liverpool reached their ninth overall final, an English record, as well as their second in a row, having lost to Real Madrid in 2018.
• The match was the third Champions League final for manager Jürgen Klopp, who had lost both previous finals, with Borussia Dortmund in 2013 and with Liverpool in 2018.
• Tottenham Hotspur reached their first ever Champions League final, becoming the eighth unique finalist from England and the fortieth overall.
• The final was the 171st competitive meeting between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool, with a record of 79 Liverpool wins, 48 Tottenham wins and 43 draws.