As it happened: Benzema sinks Liverpool comeback hopes

UCL As it happened: Benzema sinks Liverpool comeback hopes

Faruq Ibrahim 20:43 - 15.03.2023

Real Madrid vs Liverpool Champions League Round of 16 second-leg 1-0. Karim Benzema with the only goal of the game.

  • FT THOUGHTS (Real Madrid 1-0 Liverpool): Real Madrid continue to show the premium they place on the Champions League in a dominant display over two legs against one of the most accomplished teams in the competition, despite their form in LaLiga.
  • It's back to the drawing board for Liverpool now, and they will now focus squarely on qualifying for next season's competition, as their race for the top four in the Premier League is as difficult as it has ever been. 
  • Karim Benzema also continues his impressive scoring form in the knockout stages of the Champions League; the French striker has only failed to score once in his last eight appearances in the knockout stages of the Champions League, last season's final against Liverpool.
  • Real Madrid continue their impressive record against Liverpool in recent times; they have now beaten the Reds in seven of their last eight encounters, with two of them being in Champions League finals. 
  • Klopp: "Being 5-2 down is not a great result if you want to go through. You need to have a special performance and we couldn't do that tonight."
  • Klopp: "Real Madrid had the best chances, Alisson made two fantastic saves. The right team went through, we have to admit that. Knockout stages are like this. It's not what we wanted but it's what we got."
  •  FULL-TIME! REAL MADRID 1-0 LIVERPOOL. Karim Benzema's strike helped Madrid win 1-0 on the night, and 6-2 on aggregate
  • No penalty confirmed after referee went to the monitor, but Tsimikas receives a yellow soon after for a silly challenge on Ceballos.
  • Late penalty check for Handball by Tsimikas. Rodrygo should be scoring that any which way.
  • Ancelotti made five substitutions and Hazard did not make it despite the healthy lead.
  • Liverpool do not look to have given up, Real Madrid are not defending like they have a four-goal lead either.
  • Vinicius showed determination, setting up his captain while on the floor. Surely no way back for Liverpool now.
  • Goallllllllllll Hala Madriddddd
  • Sweeping move by Liverpool, but it ends poorly. Klopp was visibly angry, and rightly so.
  • The once-entertaining game has morphed into a drab fest.
  • This game looks headed for a goalless draw, over 1.5 in the mud. I say this hoping commentator's curse will strike.
  • Allison continues to frustrate Real Madrid efforts.
  • '56' Surely Kopp has not given up on this tie has he? He has just brought off Darwin Nunez and Jota for Firmino and Harvey Elliot.
  • Liverpool are looking even more vulnerable as they start to commit more bodies forward to force the issue. 
  • '52' CHANCE Valverde put through on goal, but Allison won the battle of nerves in the 1v1 situation.
  • Osimhennnnnnn. Brace for the Best striker in the world.
Allison and Courtois Lively in Real Madrid vs Liverpool
All you need to know about the game so far
  • Liverpool have started this half brightly.
  • Second-half is underway
  • HALF-TIME Reactions
  • Osimhennnnnnn. No, he does not play for Madrid, not yet at least.  He has just scored a brilliant header against Frankfurt to put Napoli 3-0 up on aggregate.
  • Vinicius having a terrific game against Trent, if only he can replicate this versus Ronald Araujo.
  • Real Madrid will feel like they only need to avoid conceding before half-time and the tie is theirs, if it was not already.
  • The far side of the screen is where all the action is happening. Vini ripping through Liverpool’s defence on that side, and Salah and now Nunez returning the favour on the same flank.

Jota is still rusty as hell — a concerned Liverpool fan

  • It's shooting practice for Real Madrid today. Modric with the attempt this time. Not as close as Camavinga's but close enough to make you gasp.
  • Apparently it was a save by the Brazilian, sending the ball onto the bar.
  • '22' WOODWORK What a strike by Eduardo Camavinga, what a strike. Allison was well beaten, but as the cliche goes, his best friend came to his rescue 
  • Liverpool enjoying a good spell of possession, if only they only needed to score one.
  • '18' Salah tees up Jota, but the Portuguese sends the ball to Lisbon. 
  • Vinicius is having fun. He is dancing through the Liverpool defence like the Bernabeu is Rio and the Champions League is a carnival.
  • '13' CHANCE Real Madrid went very close to making it 6-2 on aggregate, but Allison was alert to prevent Vinicius.
  • '8' Liverpool are back with their defensive errors, and they were nearly made to pay, but the ball fell slightly behind Benzema on a square attempt.
  • Liverpool started on the front foot, but Real Madrid have slowly played their way into the game.
  • We are underway.
  • Real Madrid on a big Champions League night. you can almost feel it.

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