After a start to the game with serious defensive errors and an error by Thibaut Courtois that cost two goals, by Darwin Núñez and ‘Mo’ Salah in fourteen minutes, the Brazilian Vinícius led Real Madrid’s reaction with a double that tied the game at half-time against Liverpool at Anfield in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16. The match ended 5-2.
It is the first time that Liverpool have conceded five goals at home in the Champions League, coming back from two goals behind, with a reaction full of authority and braces from Vinícius Junior and Karim Benzema plus a goal from Eder Militao. The Uruguayan Federico Valverde played the 90 minutes.
Liverpool’s stormy exit raised defensive doubts for Real Madrid, who were losing after four minutes, after a backheel from Darwin Núñez and an error by Thibaut Courtois that gave Salah a 2-0 lead. The Real Madrid reaction was started by the Brazilian Vinícius Junior, with a brace in fifteen minutes, to equalize at half-time.
And in a football display in the second half, Real Madrid left the knockout round of the Champions League practically doomed, with a header from Militao and the first goals in the tournament by Karim Benzema to close the rout.
Text and Photo: EFE
