Real Madrid turned class in a comprehensive 5-2 win over Liverpool in the first leg of the Champions League last 16 at Anfield on Tuesday night, with Vinicius Junior and Karim Benzema each scoring twice.
The rematch in last year’s final – which Real Madrid won – was sensational, with the 14-time champions scoring five unanswered goals after losing 2-0 to put qualification to the quarter-finals on an almost certain course.
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“We dedicate this win to our club honorary president Amancio Amaro [who died on Tuesday]”This win is for him,” Benzema said after the match. “We showed character and scored goals. We want the Champions League.”
“It was a nice game. We didn’t start well. After 15 minutes, we saw Real Madrid. Football is always difficult. They started the game better than us, with the support of their fans. We knew we had to do more. And we did it until the end.”
An interesting first half saw Liverpool jump to a two-goal lead with a fine shot from Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah from close range after a blunder by Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
The guests cut the gap half an hour ago through Vinicius, who cut to his right in the penalty area and hit a wonderful low ball past Alisson to make the score 2-1.
Another shocking ball from the goalkeeper led to Real Madrid’s second goal, as Alisson’s pass from behind was incorrect and bounced off Vinicius, bouncing over the Liverpool goalkeeper and rolling into the net to equalize the score before the break.
Despite a slow start, goals from Eder Militau and Benzema early in the second half saw Real Madrid lead 4-2 before the hour mark, silencing the Anfield crowd and leaving a bewildered Jurgen Klopp on the sidelines.
Benzema scored his second goal to finish off a neat Madrid counter-attack, with the France forward collecting a pass from Vinicius, slithering to his left past from Alisson and burying a shot into the top left corner.
“I played very little in the Champions League,” Benzema said. “I have to help my team with goals and assists. I played a good game. I played a lot of games last season and had an injury in the World Cup. It’s always difficult to reach your highest level, but little by little I’m getting better.”
Real Madrid have completely eliminated Liverpool, who conceded five goals in the Champions League for the first time in the club’s history, from the competition ahead of the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu on March 15.
“Many things can happen in football,” Benzema said. “We’re on the right track, but we’ll need another great game in Madrid.”
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