Real Madrid deservedly overcame Liverpool 3-1 in their UEFA Champions League (UCL) quarter-final first leg tie at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium on Tuesday night.
In a repeat of the 2018 UCL final, it was a de-ja-vu performance from Liverpool who lost by a similar scoreline.
The Reds gifted Real Madrid a goal while 20-year-old Vinicius Junior scored twice in arguably his best match for the 13-time UCL champions.
Eder Militao and Nacho paired in central defence in place of injured Sergio Ramos and COVID-19-hit Raphael Varane, while Liverpool drafted in Jota to spearhead the attack ahead of Roberto Firmino.
Advertisement
Los Merengues started confidently in contrast to the visitors who let Karim Benzema shoot straight at Alisson Becker while Vinicius’ headed wide.
The erratic Brazilian youngster would break the deadlock in the 28 minutes following a raking long pass from Toni Kroos.
From his own half, the experienced German midfield maestro put the ball between two defenders and Vinicius timed his run to perfection before hitting the ball on the bounce for a well-deserved 1-0 lead.
Advertisement
Real Madrid were well on top, finding spaces in Liverpool’s porous defence, and eventually doubled their lead on 37 minutes, no thanks to Trent Alexander-Arnold’s mistake. The right-back nodded another Kroos deep ball short of his goalkeeper, allowing Marco Asensio to pounce and in flash chipped Alisson before skillfully tapping into an empty net for a 2-0 halftime lead.
Liverpool had no shot on target in the first half but their first of the second period halved the deficit, scoring a crucial away goal. Salah was picked out by a rampaging Jota and the Egyptian striker put it beyond Thibaut Courtois on 51 minutes for his sixth UCL goal of the season.
Bizarrely, from a Real throw-in, Liverpool allowed Modric through and the experienced Croatian rolled it to Vinicius who slotted low into the far corner for 3-1 with his second of the night on 65 minutes.
Real Madrid slowed down the pace of the game and saw out the comfortable win on Zidane’s 50th UCL game as manager, taking a two-goal advantage to next week’s second leg in England.
Advertisement
In the other match of the day, Phil Foden’s late winner ensured Manchester City overcame Borussia Dortmund 2-1 at the Etihad stadium. Kevin De Bruyne gave City a first-half lead but Marco Reus converted an assist from Erling Haaland before Foden finished off the Germans with a first-time curling shot into the bottom corner.
Dortmund had a goal dubiously ruled offside and would fancy their chance in the return leg next week.
RESULTS
- Real Madrid 3-1 Liverpool
- Manchester City 2-1 Borussia Dortmund
Advertisement
Add a comment
