Real Madrid advance to Champions League quarter finals at expense of Liverpool again

Real Madrid ended Liverpool’s Champions League dreams again following last year’s Final victory in Paris by defeating them 6-2 on aggregate in this year’ Round of 16 stage.

Liverpool had a very difficult task ahead of them in the second leg in Madrid after losing the first leg tie 5-2 at Anfield, despite leading that match by two goals after just 20 minutes. To achieve the Miracle in Madrid they would have to win by three goals on the night and then win a penalty shoot out.

In a fairly even first half in Madrid both teams had their chances. Toni Kroos had a shot from 20 yards that flew inches over the bar. Liverpool’s Brazilian keeper Allison made a great save from close range from Junior. Liverpool had their chances too with Nunes shooting straight at Courtois in goals for Madrid. Mo Salah was constantly looking sharp and clipped a beautiful ball into Jota who should have made it 1-0 to the English side.

In the second half Madrid kept the ball a lot more and as the minutes rolled by you could see the Liverpool players knew that their slim chance were disappearing. In the 78th minute Madrid sealed the tie on the night with Junior coming in on the left slide before passing the ball over to Benzema who could not miss from six yards out. If Madrid had their shooting boots on it they could have added more goals but they had full control of the game and cruised into the quarter finals with a 1-0 victory on the night and 6-2 over the two legs.

There was a nice touch from Madrid at the end of the match when they played “You’ll never walk alone” with the Madrid fans giving the Liverpool team a standing ovation. This was probably more in recognition that this once great Liverpool side have pushed Madrid all the way in finals in Paris and Kiev in the past five years.

Liverpool need to look to the future and may have to take a few steps back before they take steps forward. It will take all their fighting spirit to make top four this season in the Premier League and be in this great competition next season.

For Madrid the dream lives on for making it an incredible 15 European Cup wins and who would bet against them. The Spaniards reward for the win is a place in the quarter finals against another English side Chelsea who overcame Borussia Dortmund.

 

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