Vini The Star, Phil Unfolding
It was a night to forget to Liverpool and their fans when they crumbled 3-1 to Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal tie. It was a totally disappointing night for the Liverpool team, a shadow of what we saw against Arsenal over the weekend. Deservedly, Real took the lead in the 26th Minute after a deep defence-splitting pass from Toni Kross was well controlled with the chest by Vinicus Jr, who then fired into Alissson's bottom right corner. It was a deserving lead giving that Real has been dominant in the opening minutes of exchange. The second was more fortuitous as Alexander Arnold, whose defensive quality has been greatly criticized over the years and was partly culpable for the first goal, headed a lose ball back towards his goalkeeper after finding himself on the wrong side. Marcos Asensio was never going to reject the opportunity as he lobbed the on-rushing Alisson before slotting home under pressure from Andy Robertson. It could have been game over for the English Champions in the first half after another error, this time, Kabak, put Asensio through, but his shot from a tight angle was sparingly parried by Alisson to keep his team in the game. Liverpool were given a lifeline back into the game after the interval when Mohammed Salah was quick to react to a Diogo Jota shot deflected off Luka Modric and slotted pass Thibaut Courtois from close range. Real Madrid who had their captain, Sergio Ramos watch from the stands found a worthy stand-in captain in Karim Benzema after a fine play from the Frenchman put Luka Modric through into the Liverpool box. The former World Footballer of the Year picked a perfect pass to the foot of Vinicus Jr who hit a low one-time shot past Alisson on the near post. A lot of people felt Alisson should have dealt better with the ball. Although, Jurgen Klopp complained about the circumstance leading to Real's second goal, where he felt Sadio Mane was fouled at the other end, he accepted, just like a lot of pundits posit that their performance was below par. Liverpool now have a hard task of scoring two unreplied goals to progress or at least match the scoreline to drag the match into extra time in the second leg. Good enough, they have a crucial away goal. A tough but doable task. Their fellow English side, Manchester City will head to Germany for the second leg of their tie against Borussia Dortmund with a 2-1 advantage. Having opened the scoring through Kevin De Bruyne, Dortmund got the crucial away goal with their first attempt in the game after 84 minutes. A lovely attacking play finished by Marco Reus after being put clean on goal by Erling Haaland, who was for most part of the game isolated upfront with Man City commanding proceedings and not allowing their visitors any time on the ball. A 90 minute Phil Foden strike ensured that Man City take the slender advantage into the second leg. The England youngster who has been having an outstanding season was eventually rewarded for his hardwork on the night. Pep Guardiola will really be relishing the chance of progression, having been eliminated at the this stage of the competition in the last three seasons.
Vini The Star, Phil Unfolding
It was a night to forget to Liverpool and their fans when they crumbled 3-1 to Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal tie. It was a totally disappointing night for the Liverpool team, a shadow of what we saw against Arsenal over the weekend. Deservedly, Real took the lead in the 26th Minute after a deep defence-splitting pass from Toni Kross was well controlled with the chest by Vinicus Jr, who then fired into Alissson's bottom right corner. It was a deserving lead giving that Real has been dominant in the opening minutes of exchange. The second was more fortuitous as Alexander Arnold, whose defensive quality has been greatly criticized over the years and was partly culpable for the first goal, headed a lose ball back towards his goalkeeper after finding himself on the wrong side. Marcos Asensio was never going to reject the opportunity as he lobbed the on-rushing Alisson before slotting home under pressure from Andy Robertson. It could have been game over for the English Champions in the first half after another error, this time, Kabak, put Asensio through, but his shot from a tight angle was sparingly parried by Alisson to keep his team in the game. Liverpool were given a lifeline back into the game after the interval when Mohammed Salah was quick to react to a Diogo Jota shot deflected off Luka Modric and slotted pass Thibaut Courtois from close range. Real Madrid who had their captain, Sergio Ramos watch from the stands found a worthy stand-in captain in Karim Benzema after a fine play from the Frenchman put Luka Modric through into the Liverpool box. The former World Footballer of the Year picked a perfect pass to the foot of Vinicus Jr who hit a low one-time shot past Alisson on the near post. A lot of people felt Alisson should have dealt better with the ball. Although, Jurgen Klopp complained about the circumstance leading to Real's second goal, where he felt Sadio Mane was fouled at the other end, he accepted, just like a lot of pundits posit that their performance was below par. Liverpool now have a hard task of scoring two unreplied goals to progress or at least match the scoreline to drag the match into extra time in the second leg. Good enough, they have a crucial away goal. A tough but doable task. Their fellow English side, Manchester City will head to Germany for the second leg of their tie against Borussia Dortmund with a 2-1 advantage. Having opened the scoring through Kevin De Bruyne, Dortmund got the crucial away goal with their first attempt in the game after 84 minutes. A lovely attacking play finished by Marco Reus after being put clean on goal by Erling Haaland, who was for most part of the game isolated upfront with Man City commanding proceedings and not allowing their visitors any time on the ball. A 90 minute Phil Foden strike ensured that Man City take the slender advantage into the second leg. The England youngster who has been having an outstanding season was eventually rewarded for his hardwork on the night. Pep Guardiola will really be relishing the chance of progression, having been eliminated at the this stage of the competition in the last three seasons.
Vini The Star, Phil Unfolding
It was a night to forget to Liverpool and their fans when they crumbled 3-1 to Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal tie. It was a totally disappointing night for the Liverpool team, a shadow of what we saw against Arsenal over the weekend. Deservedly, Real took the lead in the 26th Minute after a deep defence-splitting pass from Toni Kross was well controlled with the chest by Vinicus Jr, who then fired into Alissson's bottom right corner. It was a deserving lead giving that Real has been dominant in the opening minutes of exchange. The second was more fortuitous as Alexander Arnold, whose defensive quality has been greatly criticized over the years and was partly culpable for the first goal, headed a lose ball back towards his goalkeeper after finding himself on the wrong side. Marcos Asensio was never going to reject the opportunity as he lobbed the on-rushing Alisson before slotting home under pressure from Andy Robertson. It could have been game over for the English Champions in the first half after another error, this time, Kabak, put Asensio through, but his shot from a tight angle was sparingly parried by Alisson to keep his team in the game. Liverpool were given a lifeline back into the game after the interval when Mohammed Salah was quick to react to a Diogo Jota shot deflected off Luka Modric and slotted pass Thibaut Courtois from close range. Real Madrid who had their captain, Sergio Ramos watch from the stands found a worthy stand-in captain in Karim Benzema after a fine play from the Frenchman put Luka Modric through into the Liverpool box. The former World Footballer of the Year picked a perfect pass to the foot of Vinicus Jr who hit a low one-time shot past Alisson on the near post. A lot of people felt Alisson should have dealt better with the ball. Although, Jurgen Klopp complained about the circumstance leading to Real's second goal, where he felt Sadio Mane was fouled at the other end, he accepted, just like a lot of pundits posit that their performance was below par. Liverpool now have a hard task of scoring two unreplied goals to progress or at least match the scoreline to drag the match into extra time in the second leg. Good enough, they have a crucial away goal. A tough but doable task. Their fellow English side, Manchester City will head to Germany for the second leg of their tie against Borussia Dortmund with a 2-1 advantage. Having opened the scoring through Kevin De Bruyne, Dortmund got the crucial away goal with their first attempt in the game after 84 minutes. A lovely attacking play finished by Marco Reus after being put clean on goal by Erling Haaland, who was for most part of the game isolated upfront with Man City commanding proceedings and not allowing their visitors any time on the ball. A 90 minute Phil Foden strike ensured that Man City take the slender advantage into the second leg. The England youngster who has been having an outstanding season was eventually rewarded for his hardwork on the night. Pep Guardiola will really be relishing the chance of progression, having been eliminated at the this stage of the competition in the last three seasons.