LIVERPOOL: Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior each scored twice in Real Madrid's stunning Champions League comeback from 0-2 down to defeat Liverpool 5-2 on Tuesday in the first leg of their last 16 match at Anfield.
In a rematch of the Champions League final from last season, Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez had provided the hosts with an excellent start.
After Eder Militao had given Carlo Ancelotti's team the lead, the holders were level by halftime thanks to two goals from Vinicius, and Benzema's double put the holders well on their way to the quarterfinals.
Blockbuster — UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) 1677016915000 "We suffered a lot early on, you can't start games like that," Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti stated. "Fortunately the team had a cool head."
"Today we were very efficient at the front. We were able to create chances whenever we broke Liverpool's press.
After coming so close to winning an unprecedented quadruple last year, Liverpool's disastrous season is made worse by defeat.
The team led by Jurgen Klopp is currently in eighth place in the Premier League and appears to have no real chance of winning anything this season.
"I think Carlo thinks the tie is over and I think it is too in the moment," stated Klopp. "#UCL https://t.co/cYeEhXJ9i8 — UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) 1677015541000 We will get to the game in three weeks and take our chances.
"We attempt to win the game when we go there. I don't know if it's possible, but we'll try."
When the two teams met in Paris in May, Madrid won by a score of 1-0. However, tumultuous scenes outside the Stade de France put the lives of fans in danger.
A chorus of boos from Liverpool fans drowned out the Champions League anthem, and a number of banners in the Kop stand targeted UEFA and the French authorities.
The players put on a show that was typical of a matchup between two teams that have won a total of 20 European Cups.
In order to explode out of the blocks, Liverpool briefly reversed the clock to some of their best nights under Klopp.
A thrilling #UCL night was captured by @oppo in #UCLshots https://t.co/4ZXc30GMx — UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) 1677021514000 Nunez scored after just four minutes with a magical finish.
On their way to a 14th European Cup, Madrid overcame two-goal deficits against Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain, but their normally strong goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois forced them to do so again.
The Egyptian became the Reds' all-time leading goal scorer in European competition with 42 thanks to a loose touch from the Belgian.
However, the defending champions once more displayed remarkable resiliency to break the tie in just over 30 minutes of play.
Ancelotti added, "Obviously we didn't expect to start like we did but at 2-0 down I thought about the City game in the semi-final last year in the hope that we could do the same."
"The outcome was even better."
Vinicius has scored five goals in four matches against Liverpool, including the match-winning goal in the championship game last season.
In the 21st minute, the Brazilian shot into the far corner to initiate the comeback.
Alisson Becker's attempted clearance bounced off Vinicius and into an unguarded net, giving Madrid an equalizer thanks to yet another disastrous error from one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
Militao was given a free header at the start of the second period to turn in Luka Modric's free kick, breaching Liverpool's weak defense once more.
Alisson was left stranded when Benzema's shot deflected off Joe Gomez, scoring the fourth goal for the Spanish giants.
The visitors' fifth goal was unlucky, as a shrewd team move decimated Liverpool.
Vinicius was fed by Modric as he broke through the middle of the field. Vinicius set up Benzema to calmly round Alisson and score into the top corner.
On March 15, the teams will play again, but the second leg now seems like nothing more than a formality on a night when Madrid showed why they are still Europe's best team.