'Madrid aren't the only side with quality' - Wijnaldum sends Real warning

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'Madrid aren't the only side with quality' - Wijnaldum sends Real warning image

Georginio Wijnaldum insists Real Madrid must be aware of Liverpool's quality ahead of the Champions League final.

The Reds will lock horns with the reigning champions in the showpiece event in Kiev on May 26 after defeating Roma 7-6 on aggregate in a thrilling semi-final.

Real - who were 4-3 aggregate winners over Bayern Munich in the other semi-final clash - are chasing a third-straight Champions League victory, while Liverpool are aiming for a sixth success.

And Wijnaldum says both sides will bring class to the table when the two teams collide in what is expected to be a mouth-watering tie between two of European football's all-time greats.

“Everyone in the Champions League has quality,” said Wijnaldum after Liverpool's semi-final second-leg clash with Roma on Wednesday.

“We have to be aware of their [Real] quality, but they have to be aware of ours. They are not the only team with quality, or the only team that can win games.”

Liverpool have downed Porto, Manchester City and Roma en route to their first Champions League final since 2007, with Real getting the better of Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus and Bayern.

And while Wijnaldum is adamant every Champions League side boasts quality, he says Cristiano Ronaldo's Real are the toughest test Liverpool could have possibly faced in the final.

HD Wijnaldum Van Dijk

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He continued: “They're probably the biggest test we could have had, the biggest I’ve had as a player.

“It’s going to be difficult, but for both clubs.”

Wijnaldum was on the scoresheet as Liverpool lost 4-2 in the semi-final second leg against Roma - his first away goal since moving to England in 2015.

But the Netherlands international insists his long wait for a goal on the road was not a big deal for him, adding: “Yeah, it’s great, but people make it bigger than it is.

“There are players who never score!”

Liverpool head straight into another big game on Sunday as they take on top-four rivals Chelsea in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge.

Jurgen Klopp's men will wrap up their Premier League campaign against Brighton at Anfield before jetting off to Kiev to take on Real.

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