Real Madrid have not lost to Liverpool in 14 years and that was to be the case this time around, despite what looked like a triumph for coach Jürgen Klopp’s side at the start. In the repeat of the 2022 final, Real were 2-0 down after a quarter of an hour and goals from Darwin Nunez (4th) and a serious goalkeeper error by Thibault Courtois, which Mohamed Salah took advantage of (14th).
But Real not only turned the game around, they actually outclassed the bottom of the table in the English Premier League. Vinicius Junior (21st, 36th), Eder Militao (47th) and Karim Benzema (55th, 67th), also with a brace, caused a spectacle and the clear Real victory. However, Austria’s star David Alaba had to leave the field injured in the 26th minute.
“We want the title”
“That was an important game for us. We want to win the title in the Champions League,” said Real’s double goal scorer Benzema, summing up the evening for his team. “We showed who we are and scored the goals we needed. We struggled at the start and Liverpool were better but we managed to turn things around. We’re in a good position now, but football can be dangerous, we have to finish it at home.”
The mood at Liverpool was correspondingly different. “It’s hard to summarize this game just after the match,” said Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson. “It’s mixed feelings. Frustration with the result but we played well for much of the first half and it was unfortunate that it was a draw at the break. But we made too many mistakes and Real punished us for each one.”
Fireworks in front of and in the stadium
In Liverpool, fans of the “Reds” got the guests in the mood for the game with fireworks on the night of the match day. Real wanted to respond on the field, but caught the 0-1 after less than four minutes. Salah found Nunez with a well-timed pass, and the Uruguayan, who had just started offside, completed a wonderful heel. Thibaut Courtois in the Real goal just looked after the ball.
Alaba faced Salah as a left-back. At 0:2 the Viennese were not to blame. Courtois tried to process a back pass from Dani Carvajal, but the ball bounced off the Belgian’s knee in front of the Egyptian’s feet. This maneuvered the leather into the empty goal. Real’s false start was complete as Liverpool saw their rising form in the Premier League confirmed.
Real strikes back
The defending champion only faltered briefly and found his way back into the game through Vinicius Jr. The Brazilian made room and defeated his national teammate Alisson with a well-placed shot into the far post. The exchange of blows continued. Salah and Nunez were close to 3-1 in a tumult in the Madrid penalty area. Alaba, who has been fighting for his fitness since the beginning of the year, injured himself in the action and had to leave the field after 26 minutes. According to the first information, it should be a wound in the rear right thigh.
As a spectator, Alaba saw Vinicius Jr. accept another goalkeeper gift to make it 2-2. Alisson shot the striker in the foot as he tried to clear it, and the ball bounced into the goal from there. The score was 1:1 for major goalie mistakes. Neither team wanted to slow down, counter-attacks were launched with full vigour. In stoppage time in the first 45 minutes, Liverpool’s Andy Robertson saved with a toe from Rodrygo, who was ready to score.
Benzema and Co. unstoppable
Real, who played their 15th competitive game in Liverpool in 2023, finally proved their comeback skills after a change of sides thanks to great efficiency. Eder Militao stole away from a Modric free-kick and completed with a well-placed header, left completely alone.
Benzema finally left the Real fans who had traveled with them in awe: his shot on goal was decisively deflected by Joe Gomez. The French didn’t have enough and followed up with a lot of overview. Liverpool conceded their sixth defeat against Real in the past seven meetings. The traditional club had never conceded four goals in a European Cup home game.
