Champions League – Liverpool was embarrassing against Real Madrid

The players of Real Madrid lost 0:2 after the opening quarter of the first round of 16 match of the Champions League with Liverpool. However, the fourteen-time champion of the Champions League turned the nightmare into a fairy tale and handed the English team the biggest defeat (5:2) at Anfield in the history of the European Cups.

Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema contributed two goals to the victory, becoming the first player to score in the Champions League in nineteen consecutive calendar years (2005-2023).

THEY STARTED IN BIG STYLE

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Liverpool FC – Real Madrid

Source: Reuters

“The Reds” started the match in style. In the 4th minute, the Uruguayan forward Darwin Nunez made an effective 5-footer, and in the opening quarter, Mohamed Salah made it 2:0, taking advantage of a huge hesitation by goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. “It was a bit unlucky. I controlled it well and at first I wanted to pass but I saw that Salah had stopped so I thought I would go for my right foot but it bounced off my knee.” the Real goalkeeper was quoted by the AFP agency.

The 30-year-old Egyptian became Liverpool’s top scorer in European competitions with 42 goals, surpassing club legend Steven Gerrard (41). In total, he scored 44 goals in the Champions League during his career, equaling Didier Drogba’s record for African players.

OVERCOME THE LEGEND

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Liverpool FC – Real Madrid

Source: Reuters

The “White Ballet” was able to consolidate before the break and start a spectacular turnaround. In the 21st minute, the home defense offered too much space to Vinicius Junior, who fired a shot past Joe Gomez and reduced the score to 1:2. At the age of 22 years and 224 days, Vinicius became the youngest away player to score twice against Liverpool at Anfield in European competition. Before him, Johan Cruyff did it in the Ajax jersey. (19 years and 233 days).

“It’s not easy to win like this, especially after the start of the game. We never lost our confidence and gradually gained control of the ball. Vinicius Junior gave an incredible performance.” said Real coach Carlo Ancelotti.

The Brazilian winger made his mark even in the 36th minute, when he scored perhaps one of the easiest goals in his career. While attacking goalkeeper Alisson Becker’s pass, his compatriot shot him directly in the legs and the ball bounced into the goal. However, Liverpool’s youngest player in the Champions League, Stefan Bajčetič (18 years and 122 days), is also partly to blame for the situation, who believed too much in the opponent’s attacking half a few seconds before the goal when he took the ball into a crowded area.

“The best was the beginning from our side, we played great. We practiced full-field football, we caused huge problems for the opponent in all areas and we led 2:0. The whole first half was good from our side, apart from the goals we conceded.” said Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp in a post-match TV interview.

Real got on the horse and scored a quick goal for the hosts after the change of sides. Liverpool’s defense defended the standard situation very poorly when, after poor communication when taking over the players, they did not catch the movement of the advancing Eder Militao, who had no problem directing Luka Modrič’s fierce cross into the goal. “Before the second half, we told ourselves that we had a chance and we could change something. But then the first situation came after returning from the dressing room and we conceded a goal. I don’t know if the free kick was preceded by a foul, but we have to accept it. The conceded goal didn’t help us, especially against a team that has exceptional and sophisticated counter-attacks. There is definitely a lot to take from this match.” added Klopp.

EMBARRASSING AND EMBARRASSING

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Liverpool FC – Real Madrid

Source: Reuters

The defender of the “eared” trophy did not let Liverpool do practically anything in the second act. Karim Benzema got to speak twice more, who was first helped by a run from the defender Gomez and in the 67th minute closed the game at 5:2 after excellent work by the tireless Modric, who took advantage of Fabinho’s hesitation and launched a quick counterattack.

“Real will always fight until the end. I think Liverpool are not the same team as last year, they are more vulnerable at the back.” said Benzema, who became the first player to score in the Champions League in nineteen consecutive calendar years (2005-2023). He has already scored six goals for Liverpool in European cup competitions, which is more than any other player. The French finisher dedicated the triumph to former Real Madrid honorary director Amancio Amaro, who died at the age of 83 on Tuesday.

Liverpool have never conceded more than four goals at Anfield Road in European Cups before and former English club defender Jamie Carragher described the heavy loss as shameful: “I’ve never seen a team come to Anfield and destroy Liverpool like that. It’s embarrassing and embarrassing.”