Simply magical. Madrid fans will never forget this match, a recital to go down in history, hours after the death of a white legend such as he is Amancio Amaro. He Liverpoolone of the greats of the Old Continent, there were never five goals at Anfield in European competition… until the Real Madrid. It was the night. It was D-Day.
And that thing started very ugly because Ancelotti’s men were losing 2-0 after fifteen minutes. He painted white tragedy in The Kopp. But nothing could be further from the truth because Madrid tied with a double from Vinicius Junior in just 15 minutes. As if he were Raphael, the Brazilian saw that he was going to have his “big night” in the city of the Beatles. There, outside our borders, there are no racist episodes or provocations worth, at least with Vini. The white 20 went into stellar mode and was the best of the night.
Incredible but true: Madrid had managed to tie a game that had been very uphill, but the best was yet to come. There was not only the comeback, but also the visitor’s win with a recital included. Military tied as soon as they returned from the locker room, portraying the defensive weaknesses of the redsy Benzema He also signed up for the double with two goals in just over ten minutes, the second fantasy.
Tragedy, what tragedy?
Madrid, which was resuming its fetish competition more than three months later, fell asleep on the Anfield pitch against a very plugged-in Liverpool, at least from the start. saved a emotional minute of silence for Amancio, authorized by UEFA, but the whites accused stage fright in the early stages of the match, gripped by an opponent who did not hesitate to punish first. He did it with a goal from Darwin Núñez, finishing off a medium pass from Mohamed Salah from the right with his heel. the egyptian came out on fire and shortly after he found his goal, taking advantage of a tremendous singing by Courtois. Incredible that the Belgian, one of the best goalkeepers in the world, would make a mistake of that caliber, but that’s how it was: he controlled Bree’s with his chest, but he slipped and left the ball dead to a Salah who did not forgive in the small area.
They painted rough for the whites, but this Madrid is capable of the best and the worst. And tonight it came out expensive at Anfield. Especially since Ancelotti has a huge player in his squad named Vinicius Junior. If Salah was plugged in, the Brazilian was not going to lag behind. He appeared in the white 20 when his team needed him the most, when Liverpool exercised their superiority. Also in the center of the field, where Camavinga was more erratic than usual. But Vini was there in minute 20, with no time for the reds They will enjoy their comfortable advantage, to close the gap with a huge shot that surprised Alisson.
Liverpool, still ahead, did not lose heart and had a clear chance to strike again, but neither Salah nor Darwin Núñez managed to beat Courtois in the small area. A play that left the bad news in the visiting ranks of the David Alaba’s injury, replaced by Nacho Fernández in the middle of the first half. The entry of the youth squad gave more solidity to the white defense and it was Madrid, against all odds, who came up. Vinícius put Alisson to the test, who avoided the equalizer with a great save.
But the Brazilian goalkeeper went from hero to villain in a flash, in just five minutes, with a sung that made it 2-2. If Courtois had messed it up before, Alisson was not far behind and also failed to get the ball out, hitting with vinicius so close that the ball bounced off the striker and went straight into the local goal. A brace from the 20th Real Madrid player to equalize a truly crazy clash that could have gone into the break with 2-3 on the scoreboard after a book counterattack: Fede Valverde enabled Vinicius and he yielded to Rodrygo without opposition, although Robertson providentially appeared in the last minute moment to put the boot just enough and frustrate the shot of the 21 visitor. 2-2 after a spectacular first half and everything to decide around the locker room.
second part to the story
A second part that began with Real Madrid much more in tune. The whites displayed an enormous punch to overcome the game in no time. It was from set pieces, in a corner kick taken by Modric that Military, who signed an excellent game, continued with an unstoppable header at the near post for Alisson. An action that left the defense in evidence redespecially to a Joe Gomez who had a night to forget. And it is that Liverpool, despite the return of one of the best central defenders in the world such as Van Dijk, offers a lot of fragility in his rear.
This time, yes, everything was going to face a Madrid that gave a real recital in the second half, silencing Liverpool and earning the ‘olés’ of the fans who wrapped him up tonight at Anfield. Missed for appearing Benzema. The Frenchman, barely participatory until then, joined the party and did it in style, with a brace in just over ten minutes: on minute 55 he finished off something forced, but was fortunate that the ball hit Joe Gomez, misleading Alisson and putting land in the middle with the 2-4.
In the middle of the second half, he signed a fantasy goal, stopping time, cutting his rival and beating the Brazilian goalkeeper with a spectacular left-footed shot. An action that was born from the boots of Luka Modric, who tonight has shown his best version of the season, and had continuity with Vinícius, who enabled Karim so that the Frenchman he will take off his top hat and do magic.
From there, Madrid he dedicated himself to sleeping the game to defend his rent at Anfield. Also with the changes, giving Ancelotti entry to Ceballos, Marco Asensio and a Toni Kroos who finally joined the cause at the last minute after overcoming gastroenteritis. A huge triumph to honor the memory of Amancio, take a giant step towards the quarterfinals and, incidentally, load up on morale with a view to Saturday’s derby at the Santiago Bernabéu against Atlético de Madrid. Three in one. You couldn’t ask for more on a magical night for Real Madrid fans.
Datasheet
Liverpool, 2: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold; Van Dijk, Gomez (Matip m.73), Robertson; Bajcetic (Elliott, m. 85), Fabinho, Henderson (Milner, m. 73); Gakpo (Firmino, m.64), Salah y Darwin Núñez (Diogo Jota, m.64)
Real Madrid, 5: Courtesy; Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Praise (Nacho, m.27); Valverde, Camavinga, Modric (Cross, m.87); Rodrygo (Ceballos, m.81), Benzema (Asensio, m.87) and Vinicius
Goals: 1-0, m.3: Darwin Núñez; 2-0, m.15: Salah; 2-1, m.20: Vinicius; 2-2, m.35: Vinicius; 2-3, m.47: Militation; 2-4, m.55: Benzema; 2-5, m.66: Benzema
Referee: Istvan Kovacs (Romania). He showed a yellow card to Vinícius (m.60), from Real Madrid; and Elliott (m.93), from Liverpool
Incidences: First leg of the round of 16 of the Champions League played at Anfield stadium (Liverpool) in front of 52,337 spectators. A minute of silence was observed in memory of Amancio Amaro, former player and honorary president of Real Madrid, who passed away this Tuesday
