Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp relishes in Champions League draw against Real Madrid

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says their Champions League clash with Real Madrid is ‘one we should all be excited about’.

The Reds were drawn against Los Blancos – the side that defeated them in the 2021 Champions League final in May – on Monday afternoon in the round of 16 draw.

Despite the fact the two sides have met in the final of the competition twice recently, Klopp has suggested that the two-legged affair ‘is proper Champions League’. 

Jurgen Klopp is optimistic about a clash with Real Madrid in the Champions League round of 16

The two sides will face each other in the competition for the second time this calendar year

Speaking to the club website, Klopp said: ‘The first thing that we can say about this draw is it is proper Champions League. This is a tie that speaks for itself and one that we should all be excited about.

‘I know we have played Real Madrid in a couple of recent finals but it is not so often that our two clubs have met in a two-legged tie so now we can look forward to this happening.

‘Real’s European record is the best around. We know this. But we also know that ours is not too bad. On top of this, we know that we have Anfield and everyone knows what this means.’

The Reds have a notoriously strong record at home and was a driving factor when they overcame a 3-0 deficit to overcome Madrid’s rivals Barcelona in 2019. 

Vinicius Jr’s goal separated the two sides when they met in the competition’s final in May

The Liverpool boss continued: ‘It is a really good draw. A really exciting draw. The games themselves are still a few months away but it does not take a great deal of imagination to think what the atmosphere will be like at both games.

‘There is a lot of football to be played before this, of course, so we will focus on each game as it comes but yes, this draw has given us something special to look forward to.’

It was just six months ago when these two sides met in the final of Europe’s most prestigious competition – where Madrid emerged victorious thanks to a Vinicius Jr goal.

And, in 2018, the two sides met in the final where Gareth Bale scored a dramatic brace off the bench – including that infamous bicycle kick – to beat the Reds 3-1. 

Gareth Bale scored a sensational overhead kick against the Reds in the 2018 final

Elsewhere in the draw, there were a number of enticing fixtures for the Premier League clubs involved – though Liverpool’s is arguably the toughest. 

Manchester City will face RB Leipzig, Spurs will travel to AC Milan and Chelsea will play against Borussia Dortmund.

The most notable fixture away from the English clubs involved is the clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich. 

Jurgen Klopp will be hoping his side can finally get the better of their Spanish opponents