Benzema reaffirms the pass to the quarterfinals
The solitary goal from the Frenchman at the end of the clash at the Bernabéu consummates the tie against an inoffensive Liverpool
MADRID, 15 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Madrid got a pass to the quarterfinals of the Champions League this Wednesday after beating Liverpool (1-0) at the Santiago Bernabéu, in a duel in which the whites finished off the work done in the first match and they were reunited with their best European version thanks to a solitary goal from Karim Benzema at the end of the match.
Carlo Ancelotti’s pupils, who knew how to defend the huge 2-5 lead achieved at Anfield, were able to control a duel in which they did not suffer the dreaded ‘red’ rock and roll and in which they had the best chances to reach the quarterfinals of the maximum continental competition for the third consecutive campaign.
At the Santiago Bernabéu, Liverpool tried to ‘shake up’ the duel from the start to raise doubts in the whites, who, far from being intimidated, did not want to speculate either. Darwin Núñez had the first in his boots after a good counter mounted by Salah, but Courtois ended up disrupting the action. The Madrid reply was not long in coming with another counterattack, but this time neither Vinicius nor Benzema came to the finish.
Start of a frantic match that did not let up with another clear chance for the Brazilian before the 15th minute cleared by Alisson and with a shot off the crossbar by Camavinga shortly after. From then on, the forces equalized again, lowering the pulse rate of a match that alternated dominance with the ball.
Darwin tested the Belgian goalkeeper again from the front, getting a good hand from the Uruguayan’s shot, and although Liverpool tried with the occasional timid approach, the first half came to an end without much movement on the scoreboard.
After the break the same script continued, with Real Madrid this time striking first through Valverde. The ‘Pajarito’ failed in the one-on-one against Alisson, who was also skillful in the rebound to get the ball from Benzema. Good minutes from the white team that woke up the Bernabéu again with a genius from Modric on the left that Valverde did not finish with a header.
The dominance of the madridistas was absolute, without giving options to a Liverpool unable to overcome the midfield and far from the win they needed to reach the quarterfinals. Thus, after minute 80, Carlo Ancelotti’s team found the prize at his insistence. Benzema, who continued his good run against the English team, scored his third goal of the tie after picking up a good assist from Vinicius after slipping in the area.
With the income of Anfield and the defensive solidity, Madrid ended up closing a clash without surprises to continue in search of the fifteenth European Cup.
DATASHEET.
–RESULT: REAL MADRID, 1 – LIVERPOOL, 0. (0-0, at halftime).
–LINEUPS:
REAL MADRID: Courtois; Carvajal (Lucas Vázquez, min.86), Militao, Rüdiger, Nacho; Modric (Ceballos, min.81), Kroos (Tchouameni, min.84), Camavinga; Valverde, Benzema (Rodrygo, min.81) and Vinicius (Asensio, min.84).
LIVERPOOL: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konaté, Van Dijk, Robertson (Tsimikas, min.91); Milner (Chamberlain, min. 73), Fabinho; Gakpo (Carvalho, min. 91), Salah, Jota (Firmino, min. 57) y Darwin Núñez (Elliott, min. 57).
–GOL:
1-0, min. 80: Benzema.
–REFEREE: Felix Zwayer (ALE). Admonished Tsimikas (min.93) for Liverpool.
–Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. 63,127 viewers.