CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Round Of 16

TUESDAY 7 MARCH

Benfica 20:00 Club Bruges (Agg 2-0)

Chelsea 20:00 Borussia Dortmund (Agg 0-1)

WEDNESDAY 8 MARCH

Bayern Munich 20:00 Paris Saint Germain (Agg 1-0)

Tottenham Hotspur 20:00 AC Milan (Agg 0-1)

TUESDAY 14 MARCH

FC Porto 20:00 Inter Milan (Agg 0-1)

Manchester City 20:00 RB Leipzig

(Agg 1-1)

WEDNESDAY 15 MARCH

Napoli 20:00 Eintracht Frankfurt (Agg 2-0)

Real Madrid 20:00 Liverpool (Agg 5-2)

Liverpool Real Madrid

Los Blancos Run Rampant As Liverpool Are Hit For Five

Klopp Laments as his side’s perfect start quickly unravelled into a horror show. Real Madrid completely took apart Liverpool in scintillating style in what has been regarded as one of the most impressive away performances in Europe for quite some time. A game which had absolutely everything looked at first to be a narrative of farcical goalkeeping errors before Real’s big boys showed up and took centre stage. Under the cosh and under two goals early on, the eminent Spanish giants emerged from the dead to level the tie and then go on to sink the reds.

Jürgen Klopp will be absolutely kicking himself. Squandering a 2-0 lead is bad enough. Squandering the whole tie is another story. When Darwin Núñez’ exquisite flick sent the Kop end into pandemonium in the 4th minute, Madrid really looked there for the taking. The first 15 minutes was a story of end-to-end, nonstop attacking, in which the reds came out on top. Cody Gakpo and Mohammed Salah were full of energy, spurred on by the deafening Anfield faithful they looked to build upon a fast start. And they did exactly that when Thibaut Courtouis put it on a plate for Salah ten minutes later, after a catastrophic muddling up of feet.

But Real Madrid are never down and out. Even when overcoming a two goal deficit under one of the most intense and hostile atmospheres in the world, they remarkably kept their cool. Courtesy of a fine driven finish from Vinícius Júnior, in which he picked his spot magnificently to bend it round Alison, the first step to redemption was underway. The full reprieve, however, came in quite mind-blowing circumstances 15 minutes later. If Courtouis’ mistake was poor, Alisson’s was inexplicable. Reciprocating the gift that his opposite number 1 had given to Liverpool, his cardinal error really was the turning point of the contest as the score line was restored to equal. Under pressure from Vinícius, he fluffed his lines, allowing the ball to ricochet straight off the Brazilian and into the net. Courtouis’ lapse of concentration went on to be spared, but Alisson lived to regret his error.

The first half was paradoxically sublime and absurd, as both sides showcased substantial quality, and equally an extreme lack of it. Goalkeeping howlers summed up how exposed both sets of defences were, as each of their touches was greeted by a derisive jeer from the respective opposition fans. Madrid almost snatched the lead at the end of the first half, Vinícius’ low cross agonisingly close to finding Rodrigo, saved by the heroics of Andy Robertson.

Despite Madrid having the momentum, the captivating encounter looked like it could have gone either way. The Red’s wind was soon taking out of their sails however, when Éder Militão made full use of Luka Modrić’ floated free kick with his bullet header early in the second half. Another mess at the back, this time it proved decisive as it sparked a landslide of goals in quick succession. Incessant pressing and aggression from the away side yielded mistakes, which Eduardo Camavinga and Federico Valverde expertly seized upon. As the Reds looked to make amends, huge gaps appeared in the centre of the park. Rodrygo latched onto Carvajal’s throughball, before playing a few one two’s with Vinícius and Benzema. The Frenchman’s shot was deflected off of Joe Gomez, who had a torrid time against the front three, to make it 4-2, as Alisson was left hopelessly rooted to the spot.

From then on Real exhibited a masterclass in conserving their lead, comprehensively keeping the Reds at bay and even adding another to add to mount Klopp’s woes. Like clockwork, Camavinga slotted in in front of the back four, Rodrygo dropped to add security, and Modrić and Valverde provided an outlet to play in Benzema and maintain a threat. Everything good that the away side did was orchestrated by the outstanding powerhouse Valverde, with his relentless running and surges of energy. Madrid were showing everyone how it’s done with delicate, intricate passing to take the game away from Liverpool.

Klopp looked to Firmino to remedy the situation, and commanded a very high line in a seemingly all or nothing approach to the last phase of the game. But all that changed was more gaps appearing, as committing too many forward took its toll. Modrić pounced on a loose ball as space opened up, drove tenaciously past the young Stefan Bajčetić, before sliding in Vinícius, who in turn laid it on a plate for Benzema. But with four players surrounding him, he still had it all to do. Taking three out with a feint, he grabbed his brace with a gorgeous, composed finish into the left corner. It really was the icing on the cherry on the cake for Ancelotti, who’s expression was still puzzling and indifferent as ever. No doubt though he will be absolutely buzzing with his team even if he doesn’t show it.

It really was a game for the archives, as the Reds have it all to do in Spain. A mountain to climb, but not one which is unprecedented as we all know too well. Technically we can’t write them off, but even Klopp knows this ones as good as done. This Madrid side really are the best in the business.