Champions League round of 16 soccer match between Liverpool and Real Madrid, February 21, 2023. Karim Benzema (right) of Real Madrid scores his team's fifth goal.
Prague – Real Madrid players outclassed Liverpool 5:2 in the first round of the Champions League. The defending champions soon lost by two goals in the replay of the last final, but Vinícius Júnior equalized before halftime and after the change of sides “Bílý ballet” completed the turnaround. Another striker, Karim Benzema, also scored twice. In today's second duel, Napoli won 2:0 in Frankfurt. Rematches are scheduled for March 15.
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Photo gallery: Football Champions League 2022/23
Núñez started the goal-scoring night at Anfield in the fourth minute. The Uruguayan striker made his way through Salah's center with an elegant foot and scored Liverpool's fastest home goal in the Champions League.
The “Reds” increased the score after less than a quarter of an hour. Courtois handled a bouncing ball in the penalty area with his feet, but when trying to play it off, he clumsily kicked it straight to Salah, who finished promptly. With his eighth goal in the Champions League season, the Egyptian gunner became the leader of the scorers' table and with his 44th goal in the millionaire competition he equaled the figures of the best African scorer Didier Drogba.
In the 21st minute, however, Vinícius Júnior reduced the score with a shot from the corner of the penalty area, and the same player equalized in the 36th minute after another big mistake by the goalkeeper. Alisson hit his teammate from the Brazilian national team in the legs while passing from the goal and the ball bounced into the net.
Both teams had many more chances during the first half and the attractive course continued even after the break. Right in the 47th minute, stopper Militao made a head turn after a standard situation. Shortly afterwards, last year's top scorer Benzema scored for the first time in the season, whose technical shot was deflected out of Alisson's reach by defender Gomez.
The “Reds” were unable to respond, on the contrary, Benzema added another in the 67th minute after a quick break intervention. The Ballon d'Or winner became the first player to score against Liverpool in the Champions League for the sixth time in his career. During the evening, he broke the recent record of Vinícius Júnior, who scored five times against Liverpool.
Liverpool lost to Real Madrid for the sixth time in their last seven matches. For the second time in history, he also conceded five times in a European Cup match, the first time it happened at Anfield.
Naples confirmed their form in Frankfurt and won their sixth competitive game in a row. Striker Osimhen opened the scoring shortly before the break with the tenth goal from the last nine matches, who corrected teammate Kvaracchelija's unconverted penalty.
For the winners of last year's Europa League, the effort to equalize was complicated by striker Kolo Muani, who received a red card in the 58th minute. Di Lorenzo soon took advantage of the power play and Frankfurt lost at home after five victories.
Results of the opening round of 16 of the Champions League football
Liverpool – Real Madrid 2:5 (2:2)
< p>Goals: 4. Núñez, 14. Salah – 21. and 36. Vinícius Júnior, 55. and 67. Benzema, 47. Militao. Referees: Kovács – Marinescu, Artene (all Romanian) – Irrati (video, It.). ŽK: Elliott – Vinícius Junior. Spectators: 52,337.
Lineups:
Liverpool: Alisson – Alexander-Arnold, Gomez (73. Matip), Van Dijk, Robertson – Henderson (73. Milner), Fabinho, Bajcetic (85. Elliot) – Salah, Gakpo (64. Firmino), Núñez (64. Jota). Coach: Klopp.
Real Madrid: Courtois – Carvajal, Militao, Rüdiger, Alaba (27. Nacho) – Valverde, Camavinga, Modric (87. Kroos) – Rodrygo (81) . Ceballos), Benzema (87. Asensio), Vinícius Junior. Coach: Ancelotti.
Eintracht Frankfurt – Napoli 0:2 (0:1)
Goals: 40. Osimhen, 65. Di Lorenzo. Referees: Dias – Soares, Ribeiro – Martins (video, all Portuguese). ŽK: Götze – Kim, Elmas. ČK: 58. Round Muani (Frankfurt). Spectators: 47,500.
Lineups:
Frankfurt: Trapp – Tuta (69. Knauff), Jakič, N'Dicka – Buta, Kamada, Sow, Max (90.+2 Lenz) – Lindström (69. Borre), Kolo Muani, Götze (81. Alidou). Coach: Glasner.
Naples: Meret – Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Kim, Olivera – Zambo Anguissa (80. Ndombélé), Lobotka, Zieliňski – Lozano (80. Elmas), Osimhen (84. Simeone), Kvaracchelija (84. Politano). Coach: Spalletti.
