Real Madrid are set to enter the Champions League Final on May 28 versus Liverpool. It will be a chance for them to win their 14th Champions League title. It would also be their fifth title in eight years, after the 12-year gap between 2002 and 2014.

As the final comes closer and closer, all eyes are pointed to Karim Benzema. With 44 goals across all competitions and 15 goals in the Champions League, the French veteran is sure to be the focus of Liverpool's defensive schemes.

However, Real Madrid's X-Factor in the Champions League final vs. Liverpool will not be Karim Benzema, it will be Vinicius Junior.

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Real Madrid's X-Factor: Vinicius Junior

Truth be told, a lot of Karim Benzema's success this year comes from Vinicius Junior being reborn practically. The Brazilian has 21 goals and 20 assists in all competitions this year. That is especially impressive when we consider the fact that in his previous three seasons in Real Madrid colors, Vini managed to score only 15 goals. This year, it has been an explosion and it has worked wonders for Real Madrid in many different aspects. However, it is exactly versus Liverpool last season when Vinicius showcased why Real Madrid paid such a huge sum in 2017 to bring him in.

Against Liverpool in the quarterfinals of the Champions League last season, Vinicius destroyed the Reds in the first leg. He scored two of the three goals, but it was his darting runs that impressed most. As a left winger, he kept Trent Alexander-Arnold occupied and limited his involvement offensively. The first goal came through a run behind the defense where the Liverpool center backs and TAA simply could not track Vini, and Real Madrid opened the scoring. Granted, there was no Joel Matip, Virgil van Dijk, or even Joe Gomez, but it was still an impressive showing for a then-still underwhelming player.

It will be a lot tougher this game, due to the return of van Dijk to the lineup, but some things have not changed. TAA is still the premier right back of Liverpool and is still questionable defensively. Vinicius is still rapid, but he can now also finish and he can set up his teammates, as showcased by his record. Liverpool are still playing a high defensive line, which can be exploited by faster players.

Enter Vinicius Junior.

Real Madrid will look to both Vinicius and Benzema for their opportunities in a match that no one really sees as being dominated or controlled by the Spanish club. However, the one that is most instrumental will be the Brazilian.

Benzema, however great he is, is a completely different player. The French striker will be looking to link up play and open up opportunities for his teammates because his major deficiency is his reluctance, at times, to create for himself.

However, the way he has been able to play on this level this season is by linking up with Vinicius, as some of these chances he puts Vini in end up being easy Benzema goals and finishes. Thus, for the Real Madrid game plan, it will be incredibly important for Vini to exploit the high defensive line and also how he links up with Benzema. If this connection works as well as it has all season, we could be looking at some more Real Madrid magic in the final of the Champions League.

So, it will be Vinicius who is the X-Factor for Real Madrid, though that will change over time in the game. It is important to mention that the way Real Madrid beat PSG, Chelsea, and Manchester City is by staying alive. Vinicius is huge in that regard, but his role diminishes over time, as his constant running on the right flank tires him out over time. Vini will be key and the X-Factor in terms of Real Madrid being in the game long enough, but it will be the job of Rodrygo and Eduardo Camavinga to use the tired Liverpool legs in the late second half to really attack them.

Despite this last part being true, we cannot underestimate how important Vinicius is for how Real Madrid plays. He tries to apply pressure on the backline, endlessly runs near the outline of the field, and does not waste opportunities as he once had a reputation for doing. His link with Karim Benzema will be critical for the first part of the game, and his ability to dart across the field even as the game goes on will do wonders in the latter sections of the game. All the attention will be on Benzema, but the Real Madrid X-Factor for the Champions League final versus Liverpool will definitely be Vinicius Junior.