Whereas each Actual Madrid and Liverpool are rightly thought-about Champions League royalty, there can solely be one king.
Down by two targets after 14 minutes at Anfield, defending champion Madrid got here again to win 5-2 on Tuesday and take a commanding lead into the second leg of the spherical of 16 matchup.
Vinicius Jr. and Karim Benzema scored two targets every to stun the hosts — Liverpool conceded 4 targets in a house European match for the primary time — and ensure the Spanish big will take some stopping in its protection of the trophy.
“We performed with persona, we produced targets. We wish this Champions League once more,” Benzema mentioned. “And that produced a match which was pretty to play in and for individuals who have been watching.”
If something, this Madrid crew seems extra full than the one which beat Jurgen Klopp’s crew in final yr’s Paris remaining. But this win echoed the memorable comebacks that led to that record-extending 14th Champions League title.
There was the chaotic defending that allowed Liverpool to race right into a 2-0 lead as Darwin Nunez struck with a backheel within the fourth minute and Mohamed Salah doubled the benefit due to Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois’ blunder.
Then got here the rousing fightback, led by one in all European soccer’s rising stars in Vinicius and sealed by an growing older icon in Benzema.
Eder Militao was additionally on the scoresheet when he headed Madrid right into a 3-2 lead simply after halftime.
The 22-year-old Vinicius grew to become the youngest participant to attain two targets towards Liverpool at Anfield since Johan Cruyff for Ajax in 1966 when the Dutch nice was 19.
The Brazil worldwide is establishing himself as Madrid’s star participant and, within the face of a usually daunting Anfield ambiance, he rose to the event.
“Vinicius proper now for my part is probably the most decisive participant in world soccer, the person who could make the most important distinction and if he can maintain this consistency let’s hope he can proceed on this vein,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti mentioned.
Simply because the guests seemed at risk of buckling beneath the stress, Vinicius produced a second of magic together with his first purpose within the twenty first.
Exchanging passes with Benzema simply contained in the field, there didn’t look to be any apparent hazard till he flashed a low shot by way of a crowd of legs and into the underside nook.
Vinicius evened the rating within the thirty sixth when Alisson’s tried kick rebounded straight off him and looped into an empty web.
Whereas the purpose was a second of fine fortune, it was additionally a measure of the panic he sparked in Liverpool’s protection that Alisson was rushed into making the error.
Two minutes after halftime, Madrid took the lead when Militao headed in Luka Modric’s free kick from the left.
It went from unhealthy to worse for Liverpool because the 35-year-old Benzema, the inspiration for Madrid’s triumph final yr, received in on the act.
His shot was deflected off Joe Gomez within the fifty fifth to make 4-2 and he added and fifth when rounding Alisson within the 67th.
It had all began so properly for Liverpool, which went into the sport with confidence after back-to-back wins towards Everton and Newcastle within the Premier League.
These victories had sparked hope of an unlikely run in Europe and got here simply in time for the final word take a look at of attempting to halt Madrid.
Nunez struck early to shock the guests earlier than Salah capitalized on Courtois’ mis-control to faucet in from shut vary within the 14th.
The house followers have been rocking till Vinicius sparked a comeback that appears more likely to propel Madrid to the quarterfinals.
“I feel Carlo thinks the tie is over and I feel it as properly within the second,” Klopp mentioned afterward. “However the nearer you get to the sport, the larger our probabilities grow to be. Tonight 5-2 they’re fairly good in counter attacking and we’ve got to go there and take some dangers to attain three targets. We go there to try to win the sport.”