The repeat of last year’s CL final turned into a fiasco for Liverpool FC. Real Madrid overran the Reds despite the horror start in their own stadium.
Liverpool – Magical night at Anfield but not for Liverpool FC! Last year’s re-release Champions-League-Finals turned into a fiasco for Jürgen Klopp and his team. Real Madrid overran the Reds despite the horror start and won the round of 16 first leg 5-2.
The Royals were able to celebrate five times at Anfield. © PAUL ELLIS / AFP
“We’ve been waiting for the next Champions League game for so long, so we want to enjoy it,” said the German LFC coach before the duel.
At least for the neutral fan, he could not have chosen more suitable words, because the game immediately kept what the sonorous names of both teams promised. The Reds, in particular, rushed across the pitch at great speed right from the start and were rewarded early on.
Henderson picked up Salah on the right wing, who pulled in and served Darwin Nunez at the perfect moment. What followed was top class: the 80 million new signing skilfully jumped over the ball and performed magic with the right heel, which was technically demanding and worth seeing, to take a 1-0 lead over the goal line (4th minute). A tailor-made start for the Klopp team!
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The guests from Spain, who seemed overwhelmed, initially couldn’t cope with the full-throttle football from the English – and then, to make matters worse, last year’s final hero shot a giant buck.
Thibaut Courtois actually had enough time after a back pass from Carvajal, but the acceptance of the Belgian goalkeeper quickly became a slapstick insert. Salah stood by, thanked him for the gift and flicked the ball into the net with his outside instep (14′).
Mohamed Salah (right) had an easy time at his booth to make it 2-0. © PAUL ELLIS / AFP
Alisson also fails, Real Madrid turns the game against Liverpool
Vinicius Junior equalized with his double pack, but was also able to thank LFC goalkeeper Alisson. © PAUL ELLIS / AFP
The lead of the Merseyside squad was fine after the outstanding initial quarter of an hour, but the royals managed to catch up out of nowhere. After a one-two with Benzema, Vinicius Junior put the ball dry into the bottom right corner from a half-left position (21′).
Then it got even weirder. After Bajcetic lost the ball in midfield, Valverde tried a long ball that Gomez ran off and put back to keeper Alisson.
The Brazilian goalkeeper followed an unfortunate example from his opponent and slammed the failed tee shot directly into Vinicius’ foot, who only had to look after the arc lamp to make it 2-2 (36th).
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The gripping encounter hardly came to a rest and it stayed that way even after the change of sides. Shortly after the restart, Eder Militao headed a Modric free-kick from the left powerfully and untenably into the net and turned the game around completely (47′).
A little later, the home side had to cope with the next blow in the neck. Rodrygo and Benzema combined through the red lines with great ease, the latter then trying his luck. Gomez deflected what was actually a harmless shot, and the ball hopped into the box for the Madrilenians’ fourth strike (55′).
Jürgen Klopp experienced a busy evening on the sidelines. © PAUL ELLIS / AFP
Eder Militao (2nd from right) is happy with his colleagues about his header goal for the lead. © PAUL ELLIS / AFP
Karim Benzema doubles for Real Madrid, Liverpool on the verge of elimination
What a game! Karim Benzema (right) was also allowed to celebrate at Anfield. © PAUL ELLIS / AFP
The Klopp squad was then clearly aware of the uncertainty and disappointment associated with the course of the game, but Real did not give up.
After a quick counterattack, Benzema then put together his brace. The star clipper drove the ball deep into the LFC half, was served again in cooperation with Vinicius, skilfully left Alisson standing and hit the top left corner to make it 5: 2 from the guests’ perspective (67th).
The lid was finally on, the defending champions brought the lead across the finish line with a lot of ball control, Liverpool seemed to be trying to limit the damage.
The hoped-for revenge for the 1-0 defeat in last season’s CL final was a long way off after this wild emotional roller coaster ride.
Champions League round of 16 first leg stats between Liverpool and Real Madrid
FC Liverpool – Real Madrid 2:5 (2:2)
lineups
FC Liverpool: Alisson – Alexander-Arnold, Gomez (73. Matip), Van Dijk, Robertson – J. Henderson (73. Milner), Fabinho, Bajcetic (85. Elliott) – Salah, Gakpo (64. Roberto Firmino), Nunez (64 . Jota)
Real Madrid: Courtois – Carvajal, Militao, Rüdiger, Alaba (27. Nacho) – Valverde, Camavinga, Modric (87. Kroos) – Rodrygo (81. Ceballos), Benzema (87. Asensio), Vinicius Junior
referee: István Kovács (Romania)
Tore: 1:0 Nunez (4.), 2:0 Salah (14.), 2:1 Vinicius Junior (21.), 2:2 Vinicius Junior (36.), 2:3 Militao (48.), 2: 4 Benzema (55.), 2:5 Benzema (67.)
yellow cards: Elliott (1) / Vinicius Junior (1)
