Liverpool secure victory over holders Real Madrid in Champions League

Liverpool make it 5 wins out of 5 with 2-0 home win against Champions League holders Real Madrid

Liverpool have suffered a couple of painful defeats to Real Madrid in Champions League finals in recent years – 2018 in Kiev and 2022 in Paris. However Liverpool approached this group stage tie with plenty of confidence, riding high at the top of the Premier League along with a 100% record in their five previous Champions League group matches this season.

Mo Salah was looking sharp and a few sharp saves from Courtois kept Madrid in it. The All Whites and Kings of Europe looked second best all over the pitch. Diaz on the left and Mo on the right causing Madrid lots of trouble. Somehow though it remained 0-0 at halftime.

The second half got off to a flying start with a great move and a one two from Alexis Mac Allister and Bradley with Mac finishing it off low and hard into the bottom corner of the net. The Anfield crowd went wild in celebrations.

Madrid didn’t lie down though and Robertson made a rash tackle in the box and the referee pointed to the spot for a penalty to the visitors. Up stepped Mbappe and the massive Liverpool support held it’s breath. He struck it low and hard to Kelleher’s left but the keeper got down to get a strong hand to knock the ball wide. Anfield exploded again into a cauldron of noise with the score remaining at 1-0 to Liverpool.

Photo: Stephen Gormley (Red Eye Photo Agency)Five minutes later Salah was released down the right and sprinted into the box before being brought down – the referee again pointed to the spot. Salah hit the penalty low and hard to the keeper’s right but it kissed the post and went wide. For once the Anfield crowd went silent in disappointment.

Liverpool continued to keep up the relentless pressure. With 15 minutes left to go a short corner eventually led to the ball being crossed over to Gakpo who outjumped everyone to head a thunderbolt into the net to make it 2-0 to the Reds.

Liverpool have waited almost 16 years to beat Madrid (with 8 defeats and 1 draw since their last win in March 2009) and were deserved winners as they outplayed the Spanish giants with a relentless pace for the entire 90 minutes. They will gain additional confidence from defeating the current Champions as their fans dream of making it to another final in Munich at the end of May. For Madrid they go to Atalanta next, needing a win to have any hope of a top 8 finish.

 

Follow us on Twitter @ProstInt