Real Punish Liverpool In UCL First Leg Tie
07 April, 2021
UEFA Champions League
Result: Real Madrid 3-1 Liverpool
Date: 06 April 2021
Venue: Estadio Alfredo di Stefano
Vinicius Junior bagged a brace as Real Madrid claimed a 3-1 make an impression on Liverpool found in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final.
Los Blancos were without regular centre-rear pairing of Sergio Ramos, who's out injured and Raphael Varane, who tested posive for Covid-19. Meanwhile, Diogo Jota acquired a start before Roberto Firmino for the Reds, alongside recalls for Naby Keita and Georginio Wijnaldum.
The hosts came near to going ahead in the 13th minute after Ferland Mendy beat his marker in the left wing to deliver a cross within the box but Vinicius Junior guided his header just simply vast of the far post.
Vinicius got his reward right before the half-hour mark with a low volley within the box after superbly controlling a long ball from Toni Kroos.
Marco Asensio doubled the lead for Madrid with nine minutes left of the first stanza after an expensive back headed go by Trent Alexander-Arnold sent him clear on goal and he cheekily lofted the ball over goalkeeper Alisson.
Liverpool almost conceded the third goal right before the break from another rear go by Ozan Kobak towards Alisson that was intercepted by Asensio but his low shot across goal was saved by the Brazilian shot-stopper.
Jurgen Klopp's charges had a quick response following the break, seeing as Mohamed Salah pulled a goal back six minutes within the second stanza and got them an away goal with a close range strike.
However, Vinicius Junior restored a two-goal lead for Los Blancos and got his brace in the 65th minute with a first-time strike inside box that went through the legs of Nathaniel Phillips and got away from Alisson's grasp at his close to post.
Zidane's troops were denying Liverpool momentum, slowing down the tempo of the meet in the closing stages before Klopp made a good double tactical change in the last ten minutes, as Firmino came on for Kobak and Xherdan Shaqiri replaced Jota.
However, the Spanish giants could actually hold off waves of attacks from the Reds because they will now have a 3-1 lead in to the second leg at Anfield.
Source: www.soccerladuma.co.za
TAG(s):