With a goal from Benzema, Real beat Liverpool and reach the quarter-finals

The game: 1-0

Real knows these European evenings only too well to tremble. After their demonstration in the first leg against Liverpool (5-2), Carlo Ancelotti’s men won (1-0) in the knockout stages of the Champions League. Karim Benzema scored the only goal of the game (78th), but the Frenchman came out injured. Real rallies the quarter-finals.

The physiognomy of the first period did not look like a meeting sealed in advance. Without complex, the Reds quickly marked their desire to project themselves into the Real camp. From the 7th minute, an error of judgment by Rüdiger allowed Mohamed Salah to serve Darwin Nunez, but the Urugayen stumbled on a very solid Courtois throughout the game (see below). Real then responded with a recovery from Vinicius in the opposing six meters. The Brazilian saw his shot pushed back in an unacademic way by Alisson, author of a reflex which helped him to preserve his cage (14th).

Real in serene mode

The Merengue did not allow the tempo of the match to be dictated by their opponents. Carlo Ancelotti and his family did not fall into the trap of passive management. If Camavinga (20th) and Modric (22nd) did not find the target, because of the bar or a few centimeters, Liverpool’s offensives were not better concluded. And good for Madrid, because Jürgen Klopp’s game plan posed some problems at the White House. The end of the first period was indeed that of the Reds. Their pressing thwarted Real’s reminders, but this highlight did not materialize as expected. The locals could return to the changing rooms as they had left them: serene.

In the second half, Alisson once again emerged victorious from his duel, this time against Valverde (53rd). The next action, Salah, despite being in a two-on-one situation, measured his pass badly and in spite of himself annihilated a serious scoring opportunity.

Real then validated the observation that the C1 is its competition. With success after a slip, Vinicius managed during his fall to slip the ball to Benzema in front of the empty goal. The Frenchman was quick to push down the Reds who had no choice but to resign (78th). Only downside: the Frenchman, visibly affected, had to give up his place shortly after the action.

The last ten minutes will have been those of the status quo, and this, despite a consultation of the VAR for a potential hand from Tsimikas (90th + 2), the two teams left with the score of 1-0. Real goes to the quarter-finals while Liverpool risk having a complicated end to the season.

The fact: after his dumpling on the way, Courtois assured

The Belgian caught up brilliantly with his fault at the foot of the first leg. He notably made several decisive saves against Nunez (33rd) and Gakpo (36th), while lining up a reassuring clean sheet. A good omen for the rest of the competition.