“We want this Champions League again,” Karim Benzema said after masters of Europe Real Madrid produced another magical night to become “favourites” for a 15th crown.
Within 14 minutes of a 2-0 win over Liverpool at an electrifying Anfield, many teams would have crumbled – but Vinicius Jr scored twice, Eder Militao scored a header and then Benzema twice. Did as Real won 5-2.
No away team has ever scored more than three goals at Anfield in a European tie. No one had come from two goals down to win a Champions League game by three.
Real is the Spanish word for Royal and Madrid are true European royalty. They have won 14 European Cups, including five in the last nine seasons. Two of those last wins were against Jurgen Klopp’s Reds.
“We played with personality, we scored goals – we want this Champions League again,” Benzema said. “And it produced a match that was great to play and watch.
“After those first 15 minutes we saw the real Real Madrid. Football at this level is difficult. They started better than us but it was a big game and we were ready.”
Newcastle and England legend Alan Shearer was impressed watching the game.
“Real Madrid don’t panic,” he said. “They’ve been through situations like this before and they believe their generation will see them through. It’s been incredible, incredible – because of their experience and knowledge, Real have got themselves back into the game. took
“Real Madrid have just destroyed Liverpool. You have seen a masterclass in how not to panic. It would take a brave man to bet against Real Madrid. Of course they can win it – yes.
“They are a club with a lot of experience. They have seen it all and done it all. They know what they have to do.”
Adam Lallana, now at Brighton, played for Liverpool in the 2018 final in Kyiv which Real won 3-1.
“I was surprised to see Real Madrid,” he said.
In La Liga, Real are eight points behind Barcelona – who also failed to get out of their Champions League group. But Carlo Ancelotti’s side have always been a different animal in Europe.
Dramatic comebacks were the theme of their success last season. They trailed 2-0 to Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16, trailed against Chelsea with 10 minutes to go in the quarter-finals and needed two last-minute goals from Rodrigo before beating Manchester City in extra time in the semi-finals. were Time
In the first leg of the City game, in Manchester, they were 2–0 down after 11 minutes and lost 4–3.
“Obviously we didn’t expect to start like this but 2-0 down I thought about the City away leg last year hoping we could do the same,” Ancelotti said. “But it turned out even better.
“Liverpool are a great team who hurt us in the first half so I’d say unfortunately it’s not a tie.”
