Real Madrid submits Liverpool and continues its European march

MADRID (AP) — Liverpool have found no escape to attempt a historic comeback. And Real Madrid moved into the quarter-finals in search of a 15th European Cup.

The English never came close to overcoming a three-goal deficit after the first leg against the defending champions at the Santiago Bernabéu, losing 1-0 on Wednesday.

Karim Benzema scored the late goal and Madrid progressed to the knockout stages for the third successive edition with a 6-2 aggregate victory after winning 5-2 in England last month, turning a 2- 0 unfavorable in the first 15 minutes. .

“We had a three-goal lead and we didn’t slow down,” said Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti.

Liverpool attempted something never before achieved in the Champions League, overturning a three-goal loss on the road. Only five times the team that lost at home managed to turn the tide in the tournament.

“It was not the night to achieve the miracle,” said Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. “We expected a different kind of match.”

The only time Madrid were wrecked in a Champions League draw after winning away in the first leg was in 2019 when they succumbed to Ajax in the Round of 16. They have also won six of their last seven meetings against Liverpool in the tournament, the other ending in a draw.

Napoli beat Eintracht Frankfurt 3-0 in the other round of 16 on Wednesday, joining Madrid, AC Milan, Bayern Munich, Benfica, Chelsea, Inter and Manchester City in the quarter-final draw. final Friday.

“Whoever wants to win the Champions League will have to beat Madrid and Manchester City,” Klopp said.

Benzema scored from the heart of the box after receiving a lay-up from Vinicius Junior in the 79th minute. He limped off during the goal celebration but later said it was a minor blow and he would be available for Sunday’s clásico against Barcelona at the Camp Nou.

The French striker, who missed the game against Espanyol for the domestic tournament last weekend, has scored 13 goals in his last eight matches in the Champions League round of 16.

“It was a difficult game. But at the beginning we showed that we wanted to go forward,” Benzema said. “You always have to suffer. The important thing is to win and get to the next round”.

Liverpool entered the pitch with a determined attacking roster and showed their intentions early on. Uruguay striker Darwin Núñez only asked Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to counterattack in the seventh minute of action.

It was an open game at the Bernabéu and Madrid started to generate chances. Eduardo Camavinga came close to scoring after 20 minutes with a shot from outside the box that chipped the crossbar after being deflected by Alisson Becker. The Liverpool goalkeeper also blocked a shot from Vinicius and another in the second half from Uruguayan midfielder Federico Valverde.

On one side of the pitch, Klopp kept asking his team to push. But the passage of minutes made it clear that Liverpool were facing a lost cause.