Facts and figures about this year’s Kyiv UEFA Champions League final

Domenic Aquilina Saturday, 26 May 2018, 14:00 Last update: about 7 years ago

A general view of the NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium ahead of the UEFA Champions League Final between Real Madrid and Liverpool. Photo © Brendan Moran - UEFA/UEFA via Sportsfile

The big football showdown has finally arrived.

On Saturday evening in Kyiv, Ukraine, current holders Real Madrid and the reds from Liverpool will give way to claim the highest accolade in European club football - the UEFA Champions League Trophy - or as many joke about - The Big-Eared Silverware!

Come what may it has to be a well-contested final. But away from the final itself it is always interesting to get to know the facts and figures behind the trophy itself and this year's final in the Ukraine capital, Kyiv.

The Venue

NSC Olimpiyskiy is located not far from the city centre, close to Palace Ukraine and Bessarabsky Market.

* First opened on 12 August 1923
* Demolished and rebuilt many times - most recently in preparation for UEFA EURO 2012
* Hosted five matches at UEFA EURO 2012, including a quarter-final and the final
* Second-largest stadium in eastern Europe
* UEFA capacity of 63,000
* Original design by L.V. Pilvinsky; redesigned by Gerkan, Marg and Partners in 2008

The UEFA Champions League Trophy in all its' splendour. Photo © Domenic Aquilina

The Trophy

The current UEFA Champions League trophy stands 73.5cm tall and weighs 7.5kg.

Under a rule introduced in 1968/69, any club that won the competition five times in total or three years in a row was allowed to keep the cup, with that club then starting a new cycle from zero. That rule was changed prior to the 2008/09 season, and the original trophy now remains with UEFA, with the club being awarded a replica instead. As a result, Real Madrid CF, AFC Ajax, FC Bayern München, AC Milan, Liverpool FC and FC Barcelona all have a version in their trophy rooms.

The current trophy is the fifth version of the current design. It was commissioned by UEFA general secretary Hans Bangerter after Real Madrid were allowed to keep the original in 1967.

It was designed and made in Berne by Jürg Stadelmann.

Andriy Shevchenko (L) in the AC Milan colours during the exciting 2005 UEFA Champions League Final in Istanbul against Liverpool. Photo © Domenic Aquilina

2018 UCL final Ambassador: Andriy Shevchenko

Andriy Shevchenko remains a household name in world football. Ironically he took part in the thrilling 2005 Champions League Final in Istanbul, Turkey when Liverpool themselves claimed the trophy beating Andriy's side AC Milan on penalty kicks. With both teams tied at 3-3 after full time, and with Liverpool leading on penalties 3-2, Shevchenko's penalty was parried by Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzey Dudek and hand over Liverpool's fifth European title.

* Date of Birth: 29 September 1976 (41 years old)
* Club record in UEFA competitions: 143 UEFA Champions League matches played; 64 goals scored
* Winner of UEFA Champions League in 2002/03 (AC Milan)
* Winner of UEFA Super Cup in 2003 (AC Milan)
* Joint top scorer in 1998/99 UEFA Champions League (8 goals; FC Dynamo Kyiv) and top scorer in 2005/06 competition (9 goals; AC Milan)
* 111 caps (48 goals) for Ukraine

"It's been a long time since Ukraine has experienced a football event as big as the UEFA Champions League final. Consequently, there is huge interest among the public, and a lot of hard work has gone into preparing for the match, with national authorities, the FFU and city authorities pulling out all the stops. Everyone will do their utmost to ensure a final of the very highest quality and meet the expectations of everybody who comes to the city - guests, players, officials and, of course, fans," said Andriy Shevchenko.

Competition Stats

From a total of 124 matches played in the 2017-18 edition (the Final will be the 125th), 397 goals have been scored to date - an average of 3.20 a match and a goal every 28 seconds.