Liverpool news: Guillem Balague makes promising Gareth Bale Champions League claim
GARETH BALE is facing a battle to start in the Champions League final, according to Spanish football expert Guillem Balague.
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Real Madrid are looking to win the competition for the third consecutive year after beating the champions of France, Italy and Germany en route to the final.
However, they are up against a dogged Liverpool side, who have defied the odds to reach the final.
Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane have scored 29 goals between them in the competition this term.
But all the attention will be on Madrid's front three later this month.
Speculation is rife as to whether Bale will line up alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema in Kiev.
And Balague admits he is unsure whether the Welshman will beat Isco to a place in the starting lineup.
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Do they want to go on the front from the beginning? If that’s the case it will be Bale
"Nobody knows of course but quite clearly Cristiano Ronaldo starts and I think it’s alongside Karim Benzema. The doubt is Isco or Bale," he said during a Sky Sports Q&A.
"Do they want to go on the front from the beginning?
"If that’s the case it will be Bale.
"Do they want to control the game and take the sting out of Liverpool? If so it will be Isco.
"We’ll have to see which way they go in the next few days.
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"They’ve both done enough in the last few weeks to deserve to be in the line-up."
Bale has been heavily linked with a return to England in recent months, with a host of Premier League teams reportedly interested in his signature.
The former Tottenham forward has netted 18 goals for Madrid so far this season.
Liverpool take on the Champions League holders on May 26.