Real have been Liverpool’s evil demon in the Champions League for the past five years, having won two finals (2018, 2022) and a semi-final qualifier against the Reds (2021) and that amazing run seems to have continuity.

The first act against the two teams for the ’16’ of Europe’s top interclub competition was odd proof as Carlo Ancelotti’s side played with the air of European and world champions, pulverizing Jurgen Klopps 5-2 to take first team to score five goals against the Reds in a European competition.

The Reds siphoned onto the pitch and with the momentum of the crowd they pushed Real on the ropes with goals from Nunes (4′) and Salah (16′) but the Merengues’ response came and it was stunning. Vinicius scored twice in the first half (21′, 36′) to wipe out the home side’s advantage in added time, while the second half was followed by a collapse in the English defense and a crazy game from Spain.

Militao completed the turnaround early in the second half (47′) before Benzema took over, last season’s Champions League top scorer (15 goals including 10 knockouts) beating Allison twice and incredible, space-grabbing but still playable form made time entirely realistically 2-5.

A result that marks Liverpool’s heaviest defeat in Europe at Anfield (and conceded five goals in the Champions League for the first time) and puts Real close to qualifying for the ‘8’ – ahead of the return leg at the Bernabeu on 15 March – to continue the frantic run to defend their title, but also to include the 15th European star in their kit.

The match

Liverpool arrived with a knife in their teeth from the first second with a smothering press from the Courtois box and were only rewarded in the 4th minute. Salah came out from the right and put in a directional cross with his left, Nunez flew into the heart of Real Madrid’s defense and shot the ball into the net with a masterful back-heel (1-0).

It was Liverpool’s fastest goal at Anfield at Champions League level (3-11), while Nunez became just the fourth Uruguayan (after Salagueta, Godin and Cavani) to score in the competition against Madrid.

In the 11th minute, Klopp’s side landed the second goal, Salah sent the ball wide of the left post with a great individual performance, with the Momentum Red exclusive and the 2-0 a matter of time. minutes to be precise when Courtois made a fatal error in the 14th minute after, instead of clearing the ball, he unsuccessfully tried to control it, feeding Salah and allowing the Egyptian to find the net and at 42 Goals To become Liverpool’s top scorer in European history.

The hosts had touched on perfection in the first 20 minutes but when you meet Real a moment of inactivity can hurt you and that’s exactly what happened to the Reds when the European champions came back into play with Vinicius in the 21st minute with Vinicius in the back to find and execute an unimaginable diagonal shot into the penalty area past Alisson to make it 2-1.

Liverpool then made it 3-1 with Núñez (saved on the line by Carvajal) but the goal in the 21st minute had given the Spaniards a boost, who had great chances within two minutes to score with Vinicius (Alisson saved in the 30th minute). . Minute) to equalize for Valverde (his shot went wide in the 31st minute) so that the equalizer finally came in the 36th minute.

Gomez turned the ball back and Alisson got…Courtois, with the Brazilian trying to throw it away but throwing it at Vinicius, who tried to push it, the ball countered and landed at the far post of the Reds’ hearth.

What is impressive is that the Brazilian striker scored 5 goals in Real’s shirt in four games against Liverpool and became the top scorer in Champions Cup/Champions League history against the Merseyside team.

There was almost a complete reversal in injury time of the riveting first half, with Madrid hiding the ball with Valverde and Vinicius and Rodrigo creating a huge chance with a set piece from high in the small space, but Robertson was met with a self-victim in the Corner so that the two teams go to the dressing room in absolute balance.

What didn’t happen at the end of the first half did happen at the start of the second, however, when Real put the Liverpool defense into a trance and punished them in an exemplary manner in the 47th minute, while Modric took a free-kick from the left and the unmarked Militao writes that 2-3 with a header from the small field, like in training.

A few minutes later, the Reds demanded a penalty when Carvajal pushed Nunez in the back when trying to head into Real space and later in the phase the European champions scored another “goal”, which Benzema shot at 55 minutes, the ball finds Gomez’s foot and changes direction to trick Alisson and make it 2-4.

Those goals forced Klopp’s side to find a goal to stay alive in the qualifying hunt, but he left too many gaps at the back and paid dearly with Real’s fifth goal and Benzema’s second.

The Merengues quickly countered a disorganized center in the 67th minute but also a stunned Liverpool defense as Modric fed Vinicius and Benzema who dribbled past Alisson to make it 2-5 amid an apotheosis from the Spaniards’ Excursion fans achieve.

Minutes later, Klopp brought on Matip and Milner to protect his defense worn down by the wild mood of the European and World Champions, with both teams slowing down and not changing the scoreline in the final 20 minutes.

The 5-2 lead went through to the final and sealed one of the most impressive upsets in European football history as Real showed their strength and became the first team to score five goals against Liverpool in European competition.

LIVERPOOL: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez (73′ Matip), Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Bycetic (85′ Elliott), Henderson (73′ Milner), Nunes (64′ Zota), Salah, Hakpo (64′ Firmino)

REAL: Courtois, Carvajal, Militao, Riedinger, Alaba (27′ Nacho), Modric, Kamavinga, Valverde, Rodrigo (81′ Tembayo), Benzema (87′ Asensio), Vinicius