Real Madrid has qualified for the semi-finals of the Champions League on Wednesday evening at the expense of Liverpool. A week after the 3-1 victory on home soil, the team of trainer Zinedine Zidane had more than enough with a goalless draw at Anfield, where Björn Kuipers wielded the whistle: 0-0. Liverpool definitely deserved a goal, but thanks to an excellent performance by Thibaut Courtois, Real Madrid did not have to go to extremes. The Spanish top club plays against Chelsea in the semi-finals of the tournament.
Liverpool had to score twice and started reuniting with Real Madrid with great conviction. Manager Jürgen Klopp’s whirlwind start also almost resulted in an early opening goal. In the first eleven minutes, Courtois made an excellent save on attempts by Mohamed Salah and James Milner and in between Roberto Firmino just fell short to cash in on a cross from Sadio Mané.
Casemiro takes revenge ??
Is Kuipers drawing the right card here? ??#ZiggoSport #UCL #LIVRMA pic.twitter.com/9y0PllJUyI
– Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) April 14, 2021
Real Madrid, in turn, struggled to keep the ball in the team and create danger, but were very close to the important away goal after twenty minutes. A change of direction by Ozan Kabak by Karim Benzema ended on the aluminum. Towards half time Liverpool pushed more and the 1-0 was in the air again. Mane was a foot length short to work a cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold behind Courtois and a shot by Georginio Wijnaldum went a meter over the goal.
After just forty seconds in the second half, Courtois once again proved his worth for Real Madrid. After a pass from Alexander-Arnold, Firmino cut himself in shooting position, but did not get the ball behind the goalkeeper. Liverpool managed to push Real Madrid back in their own half, but that didn’t result in dangerous moments and Klopp opted to bring in Thiago Alcántara and Diogo Jota after an hour of play.
Vinícius Júnior failed to decide the battle a few minutes later. Face to face with Alisson Becker, the Brazilian did not get the ball past his compatriot and into the goal. Liverpool’s answer was a shot by Firmino blocked by Eder Militao. In the last fifteen minutes, Real Madrid made a better impression in possession, but the real urge to move forward was missing. Yet Benzema was again close to a goal when he headed the ball over Alisson and onto the roof of the goal after a cross from Álvaro Odriozola. In extra time, Courtois was again important when he kept Salah from scoring after a misstep by Ferland Mendy.