Actual Madrid loved a high quality night within the Champions League quarter-finals, successful their first leg tie over Liverpool 3-1.
It was a tricky first half for the guests. Karim Benzema fired an early warning shot straight at Alisson, whereas Vinicius Junior headed broad after some good work down the left from Ferland Mendy.
On the twenty seventh minute, Vinicius gave Actual Madrid the lead with an actual second of high quality. Toni Kroos discovered the Brazilian with a pinpoint 50-yard go. The winger immaculately introduced the ball down on his chest and fired into the underside nook along with his proper foot.
Ten minutes later, Los Blancos doubled their lead. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s interception from Kroos’ go went straight to Marco Asensio, who lifted the ball over Alisson and tapped in from no additional than a yard out.
It was a objective marred by a little bit of controversy. Within the construct up, Sadio Mane gave the impression to be bundled over by Lucas Vazquez. The incident was ignored by the officers and VAR, permitting the objective to face.
Nonetheless, this was no excuse for the Reds, who confirmed nearly no risk within the opening interval. They ended the primary half with out registering a single shot.
Jurgen Klopp’s males got here out within the second half wanting way more motivated, and shortly discovered a method again into the tie. Diogo Jota’s shot was deflected into the trail of Mohamed Salah, who transformed in off the bar.
This started a wave of Liverpool stress as they went in the hunt for an equaliser. Mendy produced a powerful sort out in his personal field to disclaim Sadio Mane from Jota’s pull again.
This sort out proved to be decisive, as Actual Madrid restored their two-goal lead simply moments later. Luka Modric discovered Vinicius within the field, and the 20-year-old bagged his second of the sport, firing into the underside nook through the gloves of Alisson.
From then on, it was a quiet affair. The away aspect tried to discover a second objective, however had been unable to beat Actual Madrid’s backline – regardless of the absence of Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane.
The sport completed 3-1, giving Los Blancos a commanding lead going into the second leg. The reverse fixture will likely be performed on Wednesday April 14 at Anfield.
Man of the Match – Vinicius Junior
Toni Kroos was influential in each of Actual Madrid’s first half objectives, so might have simply been given this award. Nonetheless, two objectives on a giant evening – that’s troublesome to disregard.
Vinicius hasn’t all the time produced the products since arriving on the Bernabeu, and sometimes struggles to reside as much as the hype. Nonetheless, he was on hearth towards Liverpool, offering a relentless risk.
His first objective is one which any world class ahead can be happy with. The run, the contact, the end – all three had been executed to perfection.
The second was maybe a contact lucky; you’d anticipate a goalkeeper of Alisson’s high quality to maintain it out. Nonetheless, it was an important second within the recreation, and places his aspect in a powerful place going into the second leg.
Trent Alexander-Arnold – one step ahead, two steps again?
Trent Alexander-Arnold has been the main target of a number of chat since his omission from Gareth Southgate’s newest England squad. Heck, Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher devoted a complete part of Monday Night time Soccer to the right-back.
It appeared just like the Englishman had made the proper response to his exclusion from the Three Lions camp over the weekend. His inch-perfect cross discovered Diogo Jota for the opening objective on the Emirates, as Liverpool went on to win 3-0.
In Spain, nonetheless, issues weren’t so comfy. His poorly positioned header gifted Marco Asensio the chance to make it 2-0, which the Spaniard duly took. And, typically, he had a tricky time coping with Vinicius and Mendy down the left.
It wasn’t all unhealthy from the teenager. He nonetheless performed a number of the passes that we’ve come to anticipate from him, together with one glorious volleyed cross to Jota. However that aspect of his recreation has by no means been doubtful.
One in every of Neville’s greatest considerations over the 22-year-old had been whether or not he would have the ability to deal with the video games that his aspect doesn’t dominate – the video games the place he can be tasked with defending greater than attacking.
On the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano, Alexander-Arnold got here into a kind of kinds of video games, and he struggled. If he’s to regain his place in time for Euro 2020, he must step it up in video games like these.
Learn additionally: Champions League Quarter-Finals 2020/21: Outcomes and UCL Highlights