UCL

As it happened: Benzema sinks Liverpool comeback hopes

Faruq Ibrahim 22:43 - 15 March 2023

Real Madrid vs Liverpool Champions League Round of 16 second-leg 1-0. Karim Benzema with the only goal of the game.

This is the end of our coverage. Thank you for going on this journey with me. I hope you enjoyed it. Do not forget to follow us on our social media pages. @Pulsesportsng on Twitter and Pulse Sports Nigeria on Facebook.

FT THOUGHTS (Real Madrid 1-0 Liverpool): Real Madrid continue to show the premium they place on the Champions League in a dominant display over two legs against one of the most accomplished teams in the competition, despite their form in LaLiga.

It's back to the drawing board for Liverpool now, and they will now focus squarely on qualifying for next season's competition, as their race for the top four in the Premier League is as difficult as it has ever been.

Karim Benzema also continues his impressive scoring form in the knockout stages of the Champions League; the French striker has only failed to score once in his last eight appearances in the knockout stages of the Champions League, last season's final against Liverpool.

Real Madrid continue their impressive record against Liverpool in recent times; they have now beaten the Reds in seven of their last eight encounters, with two of them being in Champions League finals.

Klopp: "Being 5-2 down is not a great result if you want to go through. You need to have a special performance and we couldn't do that tonight."
Klopp: "Real Madrid had the best chances, Alisson made two fantastic saves. The right team went through, we have to admit that. Knockout stages are like this. It's not what we wanted but it's what we got."

This man here has mastered the act of dominating a midfield

Short pass✅
Long pass✅
Diagonals✅
Weight of pass✅

Toni Kroos is 1 of the last true orchestrator in the modern game,he is part of a dying breed

Today he showed elegance and class, and controlled the entire thing 🫱🏻‍🫲🏼 pic.twitter.com/KJVhDZVKqP
— Leonard Onochie (@leonardnoch) March 15, 2023

⚠️ | QUICK STAT

For the first time in the last six seasons, Liverpool failed to create a single big chance in a #UCL knockout stage match.

An underwhelming end to the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League campaign for The Reds.#RMALIV pic.twitter.com/8EzBpxzclG
— Sofascore (@SofascoreINT) March 15, 2023

⚠️ | QUICK STAT

Karim Benzema's last 8 appearances in the #UCL knockout stage:

⚽️⚽️⚽️ v PSG
⚽️⚽️⚽️ v Chelsea
⚽️ v Chelsea
⚽️⚽️ v Manchester City
⚽️ v Manchester City
🚫 v Liverpool
⚽️⚽️ v Liverpool
⚽️ v Liverpool

Real Madrid's no. 9 extends a truly incredible run! 🔥#RMALIV pic.twitter.com/vzDtyurN6M
— Sofascore (@SofascoreINT) March 15, 2023

Darren Fletcher and Steve McManaman thinking that Real Madrid playing YNWA is a ‘classy touch’ when it’s clearly just Madrid taking the piss is quite funny. #RMALIV
— Noah Robson (@noahrobson_) March 15, 2023

Vinicius Jr vs TAA Highlights 1080p #RMALIV pic.twitter.com/bcsCzf0FNK
— Ptit stylo🇲🇦 (@khrmmmmm) March 15, 2023

19 - @realmadriden have qualified for the @ChampionsLeague quarter-finals for the 19th time and only Bayern Munich have done so more in the history of the competition (21, including this edition).

Habit.#RMALIV pic.twitter.com/8bSFeZpPy1
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) March 15, 2023

😍♥️ What a classy touch from Real Madrid

🔴You'll Never Walk Alone at Santiago Bernabéu#RMALIV #LLL
🧡🇪🇸⚽ pic.twitter.com/U4s3hDiLcK
— La Liga Lowdown 🧡🇪🇸⚽️ (@LaLigaLowdown) March 15, 2023

Best moment of this game?

At the final whistle when You'll Never Walk Alone blasts over the Bernabeu tannoy and the Real Madrid fans applaude it magnificently, joining in the song with scarves over their heads.

That is respect from a classy club. #LFC #RMALIV
— David Maddock (@MaddockMirror) March 15, 2023

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Trent Alexander-Arnold has been dribbled past more times (5) than any other player this campaign in the UEFA Champions League inside the first 45 minutes. Vini Jr is having fun. #UCL #RMALIV #RealMadridLiverpool pic.twitter.com/7sWTTHOMKm
— Mozo Football (@MozoFootball) March 15, 2023

⚪️ Los Blancos are through!

⚽️A late goal by Karim Benzema puts the final 6-2 in the aggregate

😄 Definitely thought this game was going to have more goals, especially after the first mins

🧤Alisson, Courtois and some bad shots made sure that didn't happen#RMALIV #LLL
🧡🇪🇸⚽ pic.twitter.com/ZOd4xZixah
— La Liga Lowdown 🧡🇪🇸⚽️ (@LaLigaLowdown) March 15, 2023

FULL-TIME! REAL MADRID 1-0 LIVERPOOL. Karim Benzema's strike helped Madrid win 1-0 on the night, and 6-2 on aggregate

No penalty confirmed after referee went to the monitor, but Tsimikas receives a yellow soon after for a silly challenge on Ceballos.

Late penalty check for Handball by Tsimikas. Rodrygo should be scoring that any which way.

Ancelotti made five substitutions and Hazard did not make it despite the healthy lead.

Liverpool do not look to have given up, Real Madrid are not defending like they have a four-goal lead either.

Is that the knockout punch? 👊

Vinicius Jr and Benzema combine to score for Real Madrid.

6️⃣-2️⃣ on aggregate.

📺 Stream #UCL LIVE: https://t.co/Tg69y0EeUL pic.twitter.com/FasT3EMIIz
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) March 15, 2023

Vinicius showed determination, setting up his captain while on the floor. Surely no way back for Liverpool now.

Goallllllllllll Hala Madriddddd

Sweeping move by Liverpool, but it ends poorly. Klopp was visibly angry, and rightly so.

The once-entertaining game has morphed into a drab fest.

This game looks headed for a goalless draw, over 1.5 in the mud. I say this hoping commentator's curse will strike.

No one literally no one Allison Becker against Real Madrid tonight #UCL #RMALIV pic.twitter.com/WYnoIpxf2p
— lina (@luxlina_) March 15, 2023

Allison continues to frustrate Real Madrid efforts.

'56' Surely Kopp has not given up on this tie has he? He has just brought off Darwin Nunez and Jota for Firmino and Harvey Elliot.

Liverpool are looking even more vulnerable as they start to commit more bodies forward to force the issue.

'52' CHANCE Valverde put through on goal, but Allison won the battle of nerves in the 1v1 situation.

Osimhennnnnnn. Brace for the Best striker in the world.

All you need to know about the game so far

Liverpool have started this half brightly.

Second-half is underway

HALF-TIME Reactions

🇧🇷 Vinícius Júnior had 4 successful dribbles in the first half, more than any other player on the field. #RMALIV pic.twitter.com/Sk3geI9Lic
— Football Talk (@FootballTalkHQ) March 15, 2023

15th March 2021:
Levante 4-0 Real Madrid

15th March 2022:
Real Madrid 0-4 Barcelona

15th March 2023:
Real Madrid ?-? Liverpool

👀 pic.twitter.com/AZ90FXKCC4
— Troll Football (@Troll_Fotballl) March 14, 2023

Goalless at the break. #RMALIV | #UCL pic.twitter.com/fT0ayUCaLw
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 15, 2023

Osimhen good enough for Real Madrid — Jose Peseiro

Osimhennnnnnn. No, he does not play for Madrid, not yet at least. He has just scored a brilliant header against Frankfurt to put Napoli 3-0 up on aggregate.

Vinicius having a terrific game against Trent, if only he can replicate this versus Ronald Araujo.

Real Madrid will feel like they only need to avoid conceding before half-time and the tie is theirs, if it was not already.

The far side of the screen is where all the action is happening. Vini ripping through Liverpool’s defence on that side, and Salah and now Nunez returning the favour on the same flank.

Jota is still rusty as hell — a concerned Liverpool fan

It's shooting practice for Real Madrid today. Modric with the attempt this time. Not as close as Camavinga's but close enough to make you gasp.

📸 Alisson with an excellent save to deny Camavinga. #RMALIV pic.twitter.com/TnScPonQJ8
— Football Talk (@FootballTalkHQ) March 15, 2023

Apparently it was a save by the Brazilian, sending the ball onto the bar.

'22' WOODWORK What a strike by Eduardo Camavinga, what a strike. Allison was well beaten, but as the cliche goes, his best friend came to his rescue

Liverpool enjoying a good spell of possession, if only they only needed to score one.

'18' Salah tees up Jota, but the Portuguese sends the ball to Lisbon.

TAA marking Vinicius 😬👀 pic.twitter.com/Wt9Ufl45GD
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) March 15, 2023

Vinicius is having fun. He is dancing through the Liverpool defence like the Bernabeu is Rio and the Champions League is a carnival.

🧤 Alisson at his very best!

How he kept this one out we don’t know 🤯

📺 Stream #UCL LIVE: https://t.co/Tg69y0EeUL | #RMALIV pic.twitter.com/eJaZ1lmGdN
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) March 15, 2023

📸 - INSANE SAVE BY ALISSON TO DENY VINICIUS! pic.twitter.com/fkBtovMpY2
— 𝐀𝐅𝐂 𝐀𝐉𝐀𝐗 💎 (@TheEuropeanLad) March 15, 2023

'13' CHANCE Real Madrid went very close to making it 6-2 on aggregate, but Allison was alert to prevent Vinicius.

'8' Liverpool are back with their defensive errors, and they were nearly made to pay, but the ball fell slightly behind Benzema on a square attempt.

Liverpool started on the front foot, but Real Madrid have slowly played their way into the game.

We are underway.

Time for warm-ups ⌚#RMALIV pic.twitter.com/oMgzMeKxIA
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 15, 2023

Taking a look around before #RMALIV 👋 pic.twitter.com/5EF5Zu7AId
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 15, 2023

Real Madrid on a big Champions League night. you can almost feel it.

🎶 You can almost hear the anthem, can't you? 😍#UCL pic.twitter.com/STqeffkCH9
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) March 15, 2023

🔢👕 Dressing room? READY! #UCL pic.twitter.com/Ukaw0WxWOH
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) March 15, 2023

🧤✨ ALLEZ, @thibautcourtois! ✨🧤#UCL pic.twitter.com/yML2RsOt4f
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) March 15, 2023

Uefa asking Salah to come and take his revenge against Real Madrid tonight pic.twitter.com/ie0ECFXng7
— Troll Football (@TrollFootball) March 15, 2023