Wasteful Liverpool Go Home, Real Madrid Progress
There were no surprises at Anfield on Wednesday night in the second leg of the Champions League quarterfinal tie between Liverpool and Real Madrid with the game ending in a barren draw and the Spanish Champions moving on to the last four.
With the first leg having ended 3-1 in favour of Real Madrid, Jurgen Klopp's men knew they had a lot to do if they were to qualify. Real Madrid have a profligate Liverpool and an in form Thibaut Courtois to thank for their progression.
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Liverpool's 15 shots on the night was second best to only Man City on the night, which shows how much firepower the Reds brought into the night but how they failed to manage a single goal remains mystery.
The former champioms could have had two goals in the first 10 minutes of the game. First, with less than 120 second played, Mohammed Salah saw his low shot saved by the outstretched leg of Courtois in goal, before a James Milner effort from outside the box came off the crossbar.
It was Real Madrid's turn to threaten as Karim Benzema picked Ozan Kabak's pocket from the centre and after a beautiful run into the box, could only hit the side of the poll and a follow up effort from first leg star, Vinicius Jr was well saved by Alisson Becker.
Giorgino Wijnaldum, Roberto Firmino, Diogo Jota, all missed glorious chances to score and give their team a lifeline back into the game. It was a very unlucky night for them.
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Real knew what they needed to do and did well to contain their hosts but should have also scored goals to kill any hope of Liverpool coming back. Karim Benzema first hitting the poll, before putting a free header into the ground right from six yards out.
The Zinedine Zidane-led side will be eyeing their fourth Champions League title in six years, having won three of the last five, consecutively in 2017, 2018 and 2019, when they face a resurgent Chelsea underbThomas Tuchel in the semifinal with the first leg at home in their makeshift home at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano