Champions League Final: How Real Madrid, Liverpool reached Kiev

For Real Madrid, a spot in the Champions League final has become something of an annual event. For Liverpool, it's been a long time coming.

Though both are brand names on the international soccer scene, Saturday's matchup in Kiev, Ukraine, pits the current giant of the club world against a former one whose most successful Champions League run came in the 1980s — before anyone on the current club was born.

Making their 16th appearance in the final and fourth in five years, Real Madrid look to increase their title record to 13 while trying to become the first side to win three straight championships since Bayern Munich (1974-76). Liverpool, meanwhile, are making their eighth final appearance but first since 2007, two years after winning their fifth title.

Here's how they got there.

Coming through the club

Real Madrid: The defending champs also earned qualification to the 2017-18 Champions League by claiming their 33rd La Liga championship last season. They've also qualified for next season's tournament after finishing third in Spain's premier league, following Atletico Madrid and runaway winners Barcelona.

Liverpool: The Reds secured their Champions League berth with a fourth-place finish last season in the English Premier League. That meant Liverpool, who again finished fourth in England's top-flight this term, needed to win a playoff round tie against Germany's 1899 Hoffenheim. Which they did, 6-3 on aggregate.

Road to Kiev

Real Madrid: A return trip to the final was not easy for Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. Madrid finished second to Tottenham Hotspur in their group after drawing and losing to the English side. But Madrid made it through, then handled Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16. However, after winning the first-leg of the quarterfinals 3-0 over Juventus in a 2017 title rematch, the Whites went down 3-0 in the second before Ronaldo's successful, yet controversial, penalty in the 98th minute provided the defining moment of the tournament for the title holders, who advanced 4-3 on aggregate. In the semifinals, Madrid opened with a 2-1 victory over Bayern Munich, then clinched their final spot by holding off the more superior German side in a 2-all draw.

Liverpool: Paced by the "Thrilling 3" of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane, plus some help from then-Red Philippe Coutinho, Liverpool scored 23 goals to win their group. The production continued with a 5-0 aggregate smashing of Porto, and arguably their two best performances all season in beating runaway Premier League champs Manchester City 3-0 in the first-leg of the quarterfinals and 2-1 in the second. After downing upstart Roma 5-2 to open the semifinals, Liverpool looked too lax at times in the second but advanced despite a 4-2 loss.

What it will mean to win it all

Real Madrid: A 13th Champions League title might seem second nature for Los Blancos, but that's not the case. After underachieving in La Liga and the rocky road it survived to reach Kiev, winning the Champions League will be an example of perseverance and determination for the best club in the world.

Liverpool: The Reds continue to play second, third or even fourth fiddle domestically, but that pain will be eased with victory over Madrid. This proud franchise has a chance to again be in the conversation among the best in the world, and can become a shining example that it's possible to ride offense to a championship.