A patriot also helped him. Liverpool broke Villarreal in the second half - Sports - Football - European Cups

FC Liverpool footballers triumphed in Wednesday’s first match of the semifinals of the Champions League 2021/2022 at the home stadium above FC Villarreal 2: 0.

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Photo: SITA/PA, Jon Super

Liverpool footballers celebrate the goal of Villarreal, which was scored by Sadio Mané.

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In the 53rd and 55th minutes, Pervis Estupinan’s own goal and Sadio Mané’s accurate goal decided the result. Revenge is on the agenda on Tuesday, May 3 in Spain.

Advancing in the final (May 28 at the Stade de France) he will meet the winner of a double match between Manchester City and Real Madrid. In the opening match, the English representative succeeded at home 4: 3.

First match semifinal LM 2021/2022:

FC Liverpool – FC Villarreal 2: 0 (0: 0)
Goals: 53. Estupinan (own), 55. Mane. ZK: Van Dijk – Estupinan, Lo Celso. Judge: Marciniak (POL)
Liverpool: Alisson – Alexander-Arnold (81. Gomez), Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson – Henderson (72. Keita), Fabinho, Thiago – Salah, Mane (73. Diogo Jota), Diaz (81. Origi)
Villarreal: Rulli – Foyth, Albiol, Torres, Estupinan (72. Trigueros) – Chukwueze (72. Dia), Parejo (72. Aurier), Capoue, Coquelin (57. Pedraza) – Lo Celso, Danjuma (86. Alcacer)

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Liverpool took on the role of big favorite, but Villarreal has already managed tactics with Juventus Turin and Bayern Munich in previous elimination rounds. He did not let himself roll over even in the introduction to Anfield, the home team had to defend themselves with patience as well as in the league general against Everton.

They developed initial signs of chances after the corner kicks, Mane got into the opportunity from the game, he did not direct the header up after the Salaha center. Rulli was tested by a shot from Diaza, the visitors’ keeper got it off twice. Henderson received a pass on the right side and sent a shot in the first hand, which bounced off the goal structure.

Liverpool stepped up the chances, Salah narrowly missed, Alexander-Arnold’s ending was blocked by Torres, and Diaza sent another shot to Rulli in places where none of the opponents finished. The guests tried to play in the 4 – 2 to 4 – 2 position, and the defenders knocked it home for Albiol.

Salah had two other options, first his call was blocked by Lo Celso and then he hit the ball in a more advantageous position. Villarreal was very close to giving Pareja after a corner kick that was nicely executed by Lo Celso.

The closest to the opening of the score was in the first half Thiago, who exchanged passes with Konat, after a few steps stretched and fired into the bar.

Even after the break, Villarreal’s players had a problem that after winning the ball, they could not hold it and very quickly returned it to the home team. They therefore had to rely on a fierce defense, which they managed to keep goalless for more than 50 minutes. Then Liverpool, which continued to dominate the statistics, took advantage of the dominance in the most important indicator.

Salah found Henderson on the right and opened the Estupinan score with his own goal. In less than two minutes and “The Reds” doubled the lead, Salah overcame the two defenders and pushed Mane into the penalty area, who timed his run perfectly and pushed the ball behind Rulli into the net with his right hand.

The locals were not satisfied, on the contrary, they felt a chance to build the most advantageous position in front of retaliation. One-way traffic to Villarreal’s goal continued and the guests tried to at least eliminate the damage – Albiol blocked Diaza’s dangerous shot.

The “yellow submarine” survived the best passage of the opponent in the match without the third goal collected and in the end the intensity of the home team decreased. However, next week the English club will be an even bigger favorite to advance than before the initial kick-off of the double match.