Champions, Liverpool resurrect with Salah and Manè, Leipzig ko

Two defensive flaws by the Germans and in 5 ‘the Reds build the victory of the first leg of the round of 16 played in Budapest

Klopp’s Liverpool is reviewed and Leipzig crumbles. The Reds win 2-0, in Budapest, the first leg of the first knockout round of the Champions League (decisive goals from Salah in the 53rd and Mané in the 58th minute) and mortgage the passage of the round. In 2021, Klopp’s team had kept a clean sheet in only one of the 10 games played before today. Nagelsmann, on the other hand, can complain about the individual mistakes of his team, clumsy and awkward at the two goals of the English.

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The race

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The two teams line up on the mirror, with the 4-3-3 with Adams, Olmo and Nkunku in attack for Leipzig, the usual Salah, Firmino and Sané for Liverpool. The game was very lively and fast right from the start, with Olmo nearly taking the lead in the 5 ‘: Angeliño broke through on the left and put the ball in the middle, Olmo, diving, hit the ball with his head, sending it to the post. Liverpool can be seen in the 16 ‘, when Salah, launched by Alexander-Arnold, fails to beat Gulacsi with a soft touch. Opportunities arrive abundant: on 18 ‘Alisson is good on Sabitzer, on 24’ it is Mané who is imprecise with his head. Liverpool also tried in the 33rd minute with Robertson, who almost surprised Gulacsi with a lob from 35 meters, with the Germans who, however, seemed to lose certainty from minute to minute.

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The recovery

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In the second half it is Leipzig, in the 48th minute, to become dangerous first (Nkunku, left alone against Alisson, shoots sensationally at the Brazilian goalkeeper), but it is Liverpool who are cynical by exploiting the first two occasions: in the 53rd minute Sabitzer makes a mistake a pass and surprises Klostermann, who gets burned in speed by Salah, good at beating Gulacsi out. At 58 ‘the doubling arrives: Mukiele punches the intervention and allows Mané to find himself alone against the opposing goalkeeper and to make the 2-0. The Reds control the advantage, lower the pace and give Leipzig only one chance in the 80th minute, when Angeliño hits badly from a very good position and does not frame the goal. For Leipzig, after an excellent group stage (12 points won like PSG, Manchester United forced to “relegation” to the Europa League), a clear defeat arrives. Liverpool take a decisive step towards the quarterfinals after difficult weeks and three consecutive Premier League knockouts.

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