Croatia to have player in Champions League Final for 10th year in a row

Luka Modrić (Screenshot)

Croatia will have a player in the UEFA Champions League final for the 10th year in a row after the semi-final match ups were revealed. 

With Real Madrid beating Liverpool in one quarter-final and Chelsea beating Porto, Luka Modrić and Mateo Kovačić will face each other with one guaranteed to make the final.

(Photo credit: Светлана Бекетова/Soccer.ru/CC)

Modrić was superb again in Real’s 3-1 victory on aggregate against former champions Liverpool, whilst Kovačić watched his side from the stands on Tuesday night after picking up an injury in the team’s final training session. 

In the second semi-final, PSG will face Manchester City.

Croatians in the Champions League Final 

2012 – Ivica Olić (Bayern Munich)

2013 – Mario Mandžukić (Bayern Munich)

2014 – Luka Modrić (Real Madrid)

2015 – Ivan Rakitić (Barcelona)

2016 – Luka Modrić, Mateo Kovačić (Real Madrid)

2017 – Luka Modrić, Mateo Kovačić (Real Madrid), Mario Mandžukić (Juventus)

2018 – Luka Modrić, Mateo Kovačić (Real Madrid), Dejan Lovren (Liverpool)

2019 – Dejan Lovren (Liverpool)

2020 – Ivan Perišić (Bayern Munich)

A Croatian player also has won the title for the last eight years in a row. 

Mario Mandžukic scored in the final against Borussia Dortmund to help Bayern Munich secure the title back in 2013. 

The following season Luka Modrić won his first Champions League with Real Madrid, followed by Ivan Rakitić with Barcelona the next season. In 2016, 2017, and 2018, Modrić and Kovačić claimed the trophy with Real Madrid. Dejan Lovren won it with Liverpool in 2019 and last season Ivan Perišić lifted the trophy for Bayern. 

The semi-finals will be played on 27/28 April and 4/5 May.