Sports

Champions League: Real Madrid thrash Liverpool 5-2 at Anfield

Real Madrid produced a stunning comeback from two goals down to earn a devastating 5-2 victory over Liverpool in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie at Anfield on Tuesday.

In a re-run of last year’s final, the first half was played at a ferocious pace, with the hosts racing into a fourth-minute lead through a superb Darwin Nunez flick – the quickest goal Liverpool have ever scored at Anfield in the Champions League.

Anfield erupted 10 minutes later when an horrendous miscontrol from Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois left Mohamed Salah with the simple task of slotting the ball home to make it 2-0.

READ ALSO: Osimhen fires Napoli to victory in Champions League last 16

Yet just as they did on several occasions en route to their 14th European Cup crown last season, Real quickly turned things around, with Vinicius Jr. scoring one sublime strike and one fluke goal after another goalkeeping mistake to level the match by halftime.

A bullet Eder Militao header completed the turnaround for Real early in the second half, sapping all the life out of Anfield in the process.

The hosts’ misery was not done there, however, as Karim Benzema’s double ensured Liverpool shipped five goals at home for only the third time this century in all competitions, leaving them with a monumental task to reach the quarter finals.

The sides meet again on March 15, 2023, but the second leg now appears little more than a formality on a night Madrid showed why they remain the kings of Europe.

The Star

Segun Ojo

Recent Posts

IPMAN to Nigerians: We have enough fuel, avoid panic buying

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has urged Nigerians to avoid panic buying,…

3 hours ago

3 Premier League talking points

Liverpool swept four points clear at the top of the Premier League as Mohamed Salah's…

3 hours ago

Honda, Nissan begin merger talks

Honda and Nissan are on Monday, December 23, 2024, likely to unveil a pact to…

3 hours ago

FG lifts ban on mineral exploration in Zamfara after 5 years

After more than five years of security restriction, the Federal Government has lifted the ban…

3 hours ago

UBA GMD Alawuba calls for public-private collaboration

The United Bank for Africa (UBA) Group Managing Director/CEO, Oliver Alawuba, has stressed the need…

4 hours ago

Premier League: Liverpool thrash Tottenham in 9-goal thriller

Liverpool moved four points clear at the top of the Premier League after both Luis…

16 hours ago

This website uses cookies.