Taff choice for Brooks
ward header that was brilliantly beaten out by Karius.
Karim Benzema gobbled up the rebound, but was offside.
It looked harsh on the Frenchman, although Ronaldo had certainly strayed a fraction beyond the last defender to meet the initial cross.
Liverpool had another let-off two minutes after the break when James Milner played the ball into Isco’s path and the midfielder hooked his shot against the bar when he should have scored. But Madrid were ahead in the 50th minute when Karius made a mistake that will haunt him for ever.
The German collected Toni Kroos’ overhit ball and tried to roll a pass to Dejan Lovren.
But Benzema was lurking and he instinctively stretched out a leg to block the ball and send it rolling 20 yards into the unguarded goal.
Karius claimed he had been impeded, but it was horrible slip in concentration.
However, Liverpool were level within five minutes. Lovren met Milner’s right-wing corner with a powerful downward header and Mane smuggled himself ahead of Navas to steer the ball home.
Zidane sent on Bale to replace Isco – and scored within three minutes.
Mane hit the post as Klopp’s men tried bravely to rouse themselves a second time.
But then Bale took aim from distance and Karius had no excuse for letting the ball slip embarrassingly through his hands.