Real Madrid skipper Sergio Ramos: Liverpool match will be "tough"

Sergio Ramos has admitted that Real Madrid face a "tough" final hurdle in their quest to win a third successive Champions League crown.

The Spain international has featured in 10 of Los Blancos' 12 matches in this season's competition, including in knockout-round games against Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus and Bayern Munich.

Having overcome three domestic champions en route to the final, Ramos insists that Madrid are now an even stronger side than the one that retained their title just under 12 months ago.

"[The knockout rounds] were one of the toughest possible routes to this great final and getting there is reward for all the hard work we've put in," he is quoted as saying by Marca.

"It should be taken into consideration that we've knocked out PSG, Juve and Bayern who were among the favourites to win this competition. I think it's made us stronger, both in general terms and mentally, ahead of what will certainly be a tough final."

Madrid have suffered two defeats in the 2017-18 Champions League - 3-1 to Tottenham Hotspur and 3-1 to Juventus, though they still went through 4-3 on aggregate in the latter of those matches.