Real Madrid cruised into the Champions League quarter finals after the holders’ five-star display at Anfield meant a low-key 1-0 win at the Bernabeu was enough to emphatically knock Liverpool out of the competition.
The Merseysiders have produced heroic comebacks in the past, but it was never on the cards here as Karim Benzema netted the only goal of the game 12 minutes from time to secure a 6-2 victory on aggregate for Carlo Ancelotti’s Spanish champions.
Reds boss Jurgen Klopp had spoken about a one per cent chance coming into the second leg in Spain and it looked like he was going for it by naming four forwards in his starting line-up.
However, it was Real who had the better of the opening half with Alisson producing a miraculous point-blank save to deny Vinicius Jr before the goalkeeper’s fingertips flicked Eduardo Camavinga’s curling shot on to the crossbar.
Real had the more clear-cut chances in a tepid second period with Federico Valverde and Benzema wasting clear sights of goal before the latter finally broke the deadlock with a scruffy tap-in.
Liverpool did have opportunities in the first-half but offered little as the game wore on. They were were much more secure than at Anfield and will rue falling apart in that first leg after they had stormed into a 2-0 lead early on.
Real can now look ahead to Friday’s draw for both the quarter-finals and semi-finals of the competition.
Los Blancos will then switch their focus to Sunday’s El Clasico at Barcelona, while Liverpool do not play until April 1 when they visit Manchester City in the Premier League.
TALKING POINT
Real march on. There was to be no Istanbul-style recovery or a comeback like Liverpool’s more recent semi-final second leg demolition of Barcelona four years ago.
Instead, Real kept their bid for La Decimoquinta on course as Carlo Ancelotti once again got the better of both Klopp and Liverpool.
Real still have much to play for this season. The La Liga champions are nine points adrift of leaders Barcelona and play their major rivals in both the league and the semi final of the Copa del Rey (trailing 1-0 from the first leg), but you sense that the Champions League – as it always is – will be their No.1 priority and on this evidence they will again take some stopping.
As for Liverpool, a Last-16 exit was always on the cards following their collapse at Anfield in the first leg and they will now look to recover over the international break and hope to put together a consistent run in the final furlong of the Premier League season to fight their way back into the top four.
Player of the match
Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid). No goals on this occasion but once again the Brazilian led Liverpool’s defence a merry dance. Only some last-ditch defending and wonderful goalkeeping from Alisson denied him a goal but he did pick up an assist as he continues to thrive on the biggest of stages.
Player Ratings
REAL MADRID: Courtois 8, Carvajal 7, Nacho 7, Rudiger 8, Militao 8, Kroos 8, Valverde 8, Modric 8, Camavinga 9, Vinicius 9, Benzema 8. Subs: Asensio n/a, Vasquez n/a, Tchouameni n/a, Ceballos n/a, Rodrygo n/a.
LIVERPOOL: Alisson 8, Alexander-Arnold 6, Robertson 6, Van Dijk 6, Konate 7, Fabinho 6, Milner 7, Gakpo 6, Salah 6, Jota 5, Nunez 6. Subs: Elliott 5, Firmino 5, Oxlade-Chamberlain 5, Tsimikas n/a, Carvalho n/a.
Match Highlights
07’ – LIVERPOOL CHANCE! Salah forces a slip from Rudiger and plays in Nunez but the Uruguayan can’t slip his tame shot beyond Courtois.
15’ – REAL MADRID CHANCE! How did he stop that? Vinicius Jr’s face says it all as Alisson somehow denies him the opener with a point-blank save after a superb header across goal from Rudiger.
20’ – REAL MADRID CHANCE! Camavinga’s curling strike from 25 yards out clips the bar and bounces to safety after Alisson got the merest of touches to it.
33’ – LIVERPOOL CHANCE! Nunez takes on Carvajal and cuts in from the left before firing in a low, curving shot that Courtois just about tips past the far post.
54’ – REAL MADRID CHANCE! Valverde is sent clear but Alisson again produces a super stop before also denying Benzema. Liverpool counter with a two-on-one but Salah under-hits his pass to put Nunez clean through and Real survive.
64’ – REAL MADRID CHANCE! Valverde heads on to the top of the net after Modric had flicked the ball over Alexander-Arnold’s head and delivered a peach of a cross.
69’ – REAL MADRID CHANCE! Benzema rifles a shot from 10 yards over the bar after a brilliant run and pass from Vinicus Jr.
54’ – GOAL! – Real Madrid 1-0 Liverpool – (Real Madrid lead 6-2 on aggregate). Benzema taps into an empty net after Vinicius Jr missed his shot but managed to flick the ball from the floor into the Frenchman’s path.
Key Stat
Liverpool’s 6-2 aggregate loss to Real Madrid is their heaviest margin of defeat over two legs of a UEFA Champions League knockout tie.
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