Madrid Makes Magic
02/22/2023
By: Jeff Yoder
Real Madrid Rally to Crush Liverpool (5-2) in Rematch of 2022 Champions League Final
The Champions League continued its Leg 1 action in the Round of 16 on Tuesday, and things shifted for two high-profile clubs in the blink of an eye. Liverpool led Real Madrid (2-0) at Anfield just 14 minutes into one of the most anticipated matchups of the Round of 16 — the two finalists from last year’s Champions League finale — but the defending champs were just waking up. Real Madrid fired back to even things up by halftime thanks to a pair of goals by Vinicius Jr. (2-2), including a wild clearance deflection, before a second-half blitz. Eder Militao scored the go-ahead goal on a set-piece header just minutes into the second half, and Karim Benzema smashed home two of his own in a runaway win that nearly seals a quarterfinal birth for Los Blancos barring a miracle by Liverpool in Leg 2. Over in Germany, Napoli dominated Eintracht Frankfurt in a lopsided opening match that was expected. Both losing sides still have hope in Leg 2, but the light is dim.
Yesterday’s Highlights
Real Madrid def. Liverpool (5-2)
Napoli def. Eintracht Frankfurt (2-0)
Today’s Schedule
RB Leipzig vs. Manchester City (3:00 pm ET)
Inter vs. FC Porto (3:00 pm ET)
Additional Storylines
The Athletic: How Real Madrid Rallied From 2-Goal Deficit to Thrash Liverpool
Telegraph: Liverpool Suffer Worst-Ever Home Defeat in Europe as Real Madrid Run Riot
Photo: Michael Regan / Getty Images