Karim Benzema scored for Real Madrid to win 1-0 against Liverpool and qualify for the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday 6-2 on aggregate.
After the last 16 first leg at Anfield in February left Madrid sitting comfortably with a three-goal advantage, Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp said his side only had a one per cent chance of turning the tie around.
He caused bleeding at the Santiago Bernabeu, but it doesn’t look like a comeback of the kind he did against Barcelona in 2019, or AC Milan in the 2005 final.
Madrid have now knocked Liverpool out of the Champions League for three consecutive seasons, including beating them in last year’s final.
“It was a complicated game, but from the start we showed that we wanted to go through, and we are in the quarter-finals,” Benzema told Movistar.
“Suffering is part of football these days. Everyone wants more, but sometimes you have to suffer in a game – the most important thing is to win and pass.
The record 14-time winners showed their determination to keep Liverpool going long, with defenders Eder Militao and Antonio Rudiger determined to shut down the visitors, along with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Defending champions Madrid could have extended their lead, barring some outstanding stops by Liverpool stopper Alisson Becker and some unusual finishing.
In the first leg, Madrid lost, Vinicius Junior and Benzema scored twice each – neither was decisive.
But when he finally joined for the Madrid champions after 78 minutes, Vinicius slipped as he tried to shoot, but the ball went into Benzema’s path with ease.
Madrid’s strength has only seen the captain weaken after a goal in the middle of an injury-plagued season – Benzema said it was just a knock on the shin and Carlo Ancelotti confirmed he will be fit to face Barcelona in Sunday’s Clasico.
“Madrid controlled the whole game, Ali had to make two sensational saves to keep us in the game,” Klopp told reporters.
“Madrid are incredible and that’s why the better team will go through to the next round.”
– No magic –
Liverpool’s Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah (L) vies with Real Madrid’s Brazilian defender Eder Militao during the UEFA Champions League last 16 leg soccer match between Real Madrid CF and Liverpool FC at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on March 15, 2023. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO/AFP)
Liverpool, who have been very inconsistent this campaign, were delighted to beat Manchester United 7-0 in the Premier League, but could not produce the same magic under the lights of the Bernabeu.
Klopp started with Diogo Jota alongside his usual attacking trio of Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo, using his firepower as much as possible to try to make a comeback.
The first chance of the game fell to Nunez but Courtois thwarted the Uruguayan, who was fed by Salah.
At the other end, Madrid sliced Liverpool on multiple occasions, and Alisson produced a stunning save to deny Vinicius from point-blank range.
Eduardo Camavinga crashed a long-range effort against the crossbar, Alisson got a fingertip.
The Brazilian goalkeeper made further saves from Vinicius, Fede Valverde and Benzema as Madrid took control of the game.
Camavinga impressed in midfield and eventually helped set up Benzema’s goal, with a forward pass that pushed him forward.
“I told you some small details, like I know that the two Liverpool central defenders play open, there is space in the middle, and that’s how we scored,” added Benzema.
The striker has now scored seven times in the Champions League against Liverpool, more than any other player.
Benzema is key to Madrid’s bid to lift the trophy for the sixth time in 10 seasons, if he can stay fit.
Madrid played the classic Liverpool song “You’ll Never Walk Alone” at the end of the game, a classic touch but also showing Liverpool never let them down.
Ancelotti said Madrid were full of confidence after their incredible run to last season’s final.
“We have more confidence, because what happened last year, it gives us a lot of confidence,” said the Italian.
“We saw that in this match, against a strong team, we did well in the two games.
“But later, with confidence, we couldn’t reach the semi-finals. We had to play amazing football… as always, the Champions League is very complicated and we have to compete until the end.