Logic or magic: What will define the final showdown?

How will things turn out in Paris tonight? The culmination of arguably the most captivating Champions League season in recent memory is set to be staged at the Stade de France with two of the most decorated clubs in history -- Real Madrid and Liverpool -- fighting for the ultimate glory.

For a football fan, it doesn't get any better than this since this stage of the tournament, the final, is where fans, even the neutral ones, all get ready to be overwhelmed. And rarely has it ever failed to deliver.

In fact, the two finalists have their own tales of the surreal from their illustrious past. From that night in Istanbul in 2005 to Sergio Ramos' '92:48' in Lisbon in 2014, both Liverpool and Real Madrid have had their moments of the unimaginable at this very stage of the tournament.

And when they meet again, in what would be a repeat of the 2018 final in Kyiv, it is only natural that expectations from around the globe would be soaring. 

Football pundits would probably have a clear pick for the winner -- Liverpool. And if logic is allowed to govern, it is hard to believe otherwise since Jurgen Klopp's team are a better side, with better harmony and cohesion between the players.

Even the man at the helm for Liverpool, Klopp, a master tactician, has brought back the glory days for the Reds -- ending their 30-year Premier League title drought and winning the club's sixth European title in 2019.

He now stands against Carlo Ancelotti who, before this magnificent season by current La Liga champions Real Madrid with one of their least decorated squads in history, was considered as someone to be eventually wiped out amid the fierce tactical battle that prevails and dictates the modern football era.

From every angle, Liverpool seems to be on the way to lifting their seventh European title and joining AC Milan. But on their way stands Real Madrid who, in every step of their way, have defied logic and justification to reach Paris.

If anything, Real Madrid made the act of defining them by logic look illogical. Not only once, but they also resurrected thrice from the brink of elimination -- each time turning the tables against the title contenders. They eliminated a star-studded PSG even after being down by two goals till the 60th minute of the final leg, then stunned the holders Chelsea before breaking Pep Guardiola and Manchester City's hearts in the final minutes -- defying logic and explanation on every occasion.

In the dramatic and seemingly scripted way that Los Blancos have made it thus far, a title only seems to be written in the stars for them. 

The game, however, will still be played on the field where only the action on the night will count instead of what had transpired in the past. It will boil down to the tactical approaches made, the tenacity, adaptability, sharpness, strength and the level of fatigue shown by the players out on the pitch.

Liverpool will be more concerned in this regard with their midfield brain Thiago Alcantara all but out of the UCL final showdown. Klopp said he will wait for a final scan but remained pessimistic about the Spaniard's participation.

While Liverpool will hope to get around this issue ahead of the final, Real Madrid must be pondering over ways to stop a relentless, high-pressing and ruthless Liverpool side. Real have arguably the most compact midfield in the world -- packed with maestros Toni Kroos and Luka Modric and the threatening Casemiro with Fede Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga as options for lending versatility. 

In the offense, they have Karim Benzema, the competition's top-scorer with 15 goals, leading the line along with the young Brazilian Vinicius Junior, who himself has been a sensation this season. 

With how Liverpool usually hound their opponents through Luis Diaz, Mohammed Salah from the flanks and Sadio Mane from the center, what should be worrying Los Blancos is their apparent lack of depth in the defense.

Sure, Liverpool will miss Alcantara's control and the piercing passes from the midfield but that will probably in no way have Salah bog down, especially now that he has openly vowed to avenge his injury-forced midway departure from the 2018 final. 

Liverpool, meanwhile, will have to be on their feet at all times, realise the moments when Real Madrid are having their moments in the game and thwart the brief spells of footballing brilliance and stop the undefinable from happening -- something that none of PSG, Chelsea and City could do despite their full knowledge of it. 

Will logic be finally able to trump magic? As it seems, Saturday night will serve the answers on a plate.