Real Madrid’s return to Anfield extends their Champions League romance

By Peter Hall

LIVERPOOL, England, Feb 21 (Reuters) – Real Madrid always seem to be saving the best for Europe, as Liverpool were the latest casualties in the kings’ notable 5-2 Champions League comeback defeat at Anfield.

Real Madrid, who didn’t give up last season and accepted their fate to win their 14th Champions League last season, it seems they haven’t lost their pulse in this competition.

While Liverpool were in many ways the architect of their own downfall, Real Madrid, who have a habit of running away when they’re in trouble, are giving their best in the Champions League.

Last year, Real Madrid, who lost 0-1 in the round of 16 first leg, came from behind with a 3-1 defeat at the Bernabéu against Paris Saint Germain, after slipping “in extremis “in the round of 16. thanks to a goal in the last minutes against Chelsea.

Manchester City managed a fine 4-3 victory in the first leg of last season’s semi-final but missed numerous chances to seal the tie, despite taking the lead in the second leg in Spain.

Two last-minute goals from Rodrygo extended the tie, with Karim Benzema capping off a stunning comeback with a decisive penalty.

After Real Madrid conceded two goals in 14 minutes at Anfield on Tuesday, Liverpool fans felt a sense of retaliation for the loss to Real Madrid in last season’s Champions League final, with the visitors subjected to a thundering atmosphere.

After losing 2-0, the “meringues” got back on track at Anfield, with two goals from Vinícius Jr. giving them revenge at half-time.

Real Madrid gave a lesson on how to finish a game and eventually draw.

Liverpool never had a chance to create trouble and stir up the crowd, while Real Madrid materialized three of their four chances in devastating fashion to surprise their rival, becoming the first team in League history champions to come back with a two-goal deficit and win by a difference of three.

“It’s not easy and even more so how the game started (…). With the 2-0 draw, I thought about what happened with Manchester City in the semi-finals last season and we still finished better than then. The team didn’t lose their minds,” said Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti.

“We didn’t lose confidence and little by little we took control of the ball and the game, always being very effective.”

Liverpool have conceded five goals in a European game at Anfield for the first time in their history, marking the third time this century that they have conceded five or more at home in all competitions.

There are six defeats in Madrid’s last seven clashes, including the 2018 and 2022 finals, with one second leg remaining for Jürgen Klopp’s side, which are enjoying a lackluster season.

“I told the guys right after the game that a loss is a loss if you don’t learn from it,” Klopp said. “If we allow this single party to be influential, we are really stupid.”

“Yes, we have to improve, but we also have to keep the good stuff. We gave away all five goals. We could have done better, but they (Madrid) obviously did it differently.”

“We go there and try to win the game. Whether it’s possible or not, I don’t know.”

(Reporting by Peter Hall; Editing in Spanish by Tomás Cobos)