Reds have a Real battle in return leg
Egyptian nets precious away goal to set up crunch Anfield battle
A 3-1 victory against Liverpool orchestrated by Toni Kroos and ignited by the verve of Vinicius Jr placed Real Madrid in pole position to progress to the Champions League semi-finals.
The venue was an empty training ground, world-class defenders were reduced to spectators through injury and neither side sit at their domestic summit, but with a combined 19 European Cups between them, this fixture was unmissable.
It was designed by Kroos, electrified by Vinicius Jr and largely shaped by Liverpool’s catalogue of mistakes, but Mohamed Salah offered the tie some hope with an away goal.
Real owned the first half, their majesty making a mockery of fearful markers and the opposition’s game plan.
Liverpool’s selection — the inclusion of Diogo Jota and Naby Keita — smelt of courage: the intention to suffocate their opponents with energy, high-pressing and rapid transitions.
Criticism of Real Madrid this season has circled around their tendency to be one-paced and uncomfortable when pressured and the theory was the speed and decisive edge of the forward and progressive play of the midfielder would punish that.
The reality was a world apart.
Jota, chosen ahead of Roberto Firmino, did not match the Brazilian’s excellence at forcing opponents into the pressing trap, closing spaces and sniffing the opportunity to thieve possession.
He did not impede Kroos for Real’s opener. The midfielder received possession halfway inside his own half, and under zero pressure delivered a stellar pass over Liverpool’s defence towards Vinicius Jr.
The 20-year-old controlled it well with his shoulder, dissecting Nathaniel Phillips and Trent Alexander-arnold, and drove his finish past Alisson. It was all too easy from Real and ridiculously awful from Liverpool.
By that point, Vinicius Jr already had the visitors on toast but the Spaniards elevated their toying with them.
Liverpool were making unforced errors all over the pitch, anaemic when they got on the ball and atrocious when defending against it. Chief among their errors was to play a high line with no desire to press the man in possession.
When the man in possession is Kroos, you’re rolling out the welcome mat for him to decorate the match and take it away from you.
The 31-year-old happily obliged. Again, gifted time and space, he lofted a pass down the inside left towards Vinicius Jr from near the halfway line.
Alexander-arnold arrived before the attacker, but headed the ball across the face of the danger area, straight to Marco Asensio. Alisson half-thwarted him, but the Spain international followed up to make it 2-0.
As Real sprayed it around with panache, Liverpool were panicking and creating defensive issues.
Ozan Kabak erred with a backpass, Alisson saved from Asensio and the defending Premier League champions were fortunate the scoreline hadn’t ballooned.
The only mention of Keita, bar from the reference of his spot in the starting XI, is that Klopp hooked him on 42 minutes. It was a display of nothingness.
Thiago replaced him to compose Liverpool’s midfield and help them gain some control.
The Merseysiders actually showed an attacking pulse at the start of the second half and were rewarded for it.
A driving run from Gini Wijnaldum ended with a pass to Jota just outside the area. His shot was snuffed out by Luka Modric, but the ball broke for Salah and the Egyptian got the better of Thibaut Courtois.
The game opened up with Liverpool’s desperation to up their offensive ante leading to opportunities, but also them getting shredded on the counter.
Ferland Mendy made a vital interception to deny Sadio Mane, while Alexander-arnold stopped Vinicius Jr in a break that Real seemed destined to score from.
Their third did quickly materialise from the resulting corner.
Liverpool were static as Modric supplied a square pass to Vinicius Jr. His first-time hit went through the legs of Phillips, before permeating Alisson’s hands.
Liverpool’s passiveness was picked apart, with Real almost pausing to pick the perfect ball and finish. And so, the clash ended with the same scoreline as the 2018 Champions League final between the teams. This time, however, Liverpool were their own villains.
REAL MADRID: Courtois, Vazquez, Militao, Nacho, Mendy, Kroos, Casemiro, Modric, Asensio (Valverde 70), Benzema, Vinicius Jr (Rodrygo 85).
Subs not used: Marcelo, Lunin, Odriozola, Isco, Mariano, Altube, Arribas, Chust.
LIVERPOOL: Alisson, Alexander-arnold, Kabak
Jump for joy: Marco Asensio of Real Madrid celebrates his side’s second goal against Liverpool (Firmino 82), Phillips, Robertson, Keita (Thiago 42), Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Salah, Jota (Shaqiri 81), Mane.
Subs not used: Milner, Adrian, Oxlade-chamberlain, Jones, Tsimikas, Davies, R Williams, Davies, Cain.
Referee: Dr Felix Brych (Germany)
Man of the match: Vinicius Junior
Match rating: 8/10
(© The Independent)