From “Liverpool” made “Al-Hilal” – Sport – Kommersant
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Four more clubs have started in the play-offs of the Champions League, including the finalists of the last season of the tournament – Liverpool and Real Madrid, who have now been drawn by lot to the 1/8 finals. Probably, few people expected that the English club, after two goals in the debut, would then concede five goals in a row and lose 2:5. In another match, Napoli beat Eintracht 2-0 in a foreign field and are also very close to qualifying for the next round.
The confrontation between the finalists of the last Champions League certainly aroused increased interest, and the fact that they have recently encountered certain difficulties seems to have only fueled it even more, adding unpredictability. “Real” after the New Year too far, by eight points, let go of its main competitor “Barcelona” in the national championship and now, apparently, it is unlikely to be able to win the champion title from it. Liverpool generally lost ground in the domestic arena sharply and so far flies past the next Champions League. However, just before the meeting with Real Madrid, the English club began to give encouraging signals, having won two victories in a row over Everton and Newcastle. And even his mentor Jurgen Klopp admitted: “I am very happy that we are playing with Madrid now, and not a few weeks ago.”
In addition, Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk recovered, forwards Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota, who have already managed to get game practice. Newcomer Cody Gakpo, bought after a successful performance at the World Cup as part of the Netherlands national team, also began to score. Unless the damage to Darwin Nunez did not fit into this optimistic picture, but they managed to put him on his feet. But Madrid suffered two serious losses in the face of sick Toni Kroos and Aurélien Chuameni, key performers in the center of the field, even if the first one appeared in the application, but only came out as a substitute in the very end. There were health problems and the top scorer of the royal club, Karim Benzema, but the French striker still stood up.
Liverpool took the lead already in the fourth minute, and a handsome goal scored. Mohamed Salah spotted Nunez in the penalty area and gave him such a convenient pass that the Uruguayan, who jumped out from behind defender Eder Militan, sent the ball into the net in a foppish heel. Such a debut clearly inspired the Anfield hosts, and soon Salah could upset Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibault Courtois for the second time, but, breaking through to the gate, shot wide. However, in the 14th minute, Courtois himself upset his partners and pleased Salah. Processing the transfer of Dani Carvajal, the Belgian made a technical marriage and simply gave the ball to the Egyptian, who struck a smashing blow on touch.
2:0 – Klopp probably did not even dream of such an advantage. And it evaporated very quickly. Vinicius Junior reminded Liverpool who brought victory to Madrid in the 2021/22 Champions League final. In the 21st minute, the Brazilian took advantage of the fact that Joe Gomez did not guard him tightly enough in the penalty area and reduced the difference. Then Vinicius almost hit the target with a similar kick with a twist to the corner farthest from him, but the goalkeeper of the Reds, Alisson, this time got the ball, stretching out to attention. True, in the 36th minute, Alisson practically repeated the mistake of his colleague Courtois. He also made a mistake after a standard pass back when he landed on the same Vinicius, who, without any hope of success, was pressing the Brazilian goalkeeper. And as a result, the ball flew into the open “gate” along an intricate trajectory – 2:2. And “Real” could even take the first half. The author of the double Vinicius in the counterattack led Rodrigo to an empty net, and only a desperate tackle by Andy Robertson saved Liverpool from the inevitable goal.
For such a game, it was already completely unclear what to expect in the second half. But it turned out that in the 47th minute the guests realized the third goal. Restless Vinicius earned a standard, Luka Modric performed a tricky cross into the penalty area at an unusually low height, and Militan headed the ball into the target. In response, the hosts tried to draw a penalty, but Nunez’s fall did not impress the referees – neither the main one, nor those who were sitting on VAR. But in the 55th minute, Real Madrid scored again. The goal was credited to Benzema, who hit after a pass with Rodrigo, but it was largely due to a rebound from Gomez. But in the 67th minute, Benzema had already done everything on his own, when Modric and Vinicius prepared a scoring chance for him. The Madrid captain withstood a masterful pause, sent Alisson to the buffet and sent the ball into the goal, which the field players were still trying to defend.
In much the same dashing style, Real Madrid recently ripped apart their rival in the final of the Club World Cup, but then they were opposed by the Saudi Al-Hilal, and here it was Liverpool. Having won 5:2 on the road, the team of Carlo Ancelotti, of course, already 99.9% guaranteed access to the Champions League quarter-finals.
In the pair “Eintracht” – “Napoli” the favorite was obvious. The club from Naples is having a magical season, leading in Italy with a 15-point lead over the closest pursuer and rushing at full speed to the long-awaited championship, which was won only in the days of the legendary Diego Maradona. And in the Champions League, everything went well for the Neapolitans. Nevertheless, Eintracht was a known danger, especially at home and given the crazy form of its striker Randal Colo Muani.
Although in relation to Napoli, the same could be said about the combination of Viktor Osimkhen-Khvich Kvaratskhelia, which demonstrates amazing efficiency. As a result, Osimkhen opened the scoring in the 40th minute, Kvaratskhelia helped Giovanni Di Lorenzo score in the middle of the second half, and Colo Muani got a direct red card followed by a disqualification for the second leg. And it’s still the Georgian midfielder did not realize a penalty. Luciano Spalletti’s team won 2-0 in Frankfurt am Main and is also confidently stepping into the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
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