Liverpool claimed a 2-0 win over Real Madrid on Wednesday evening in the fifth round of the Champions League.
Liverpool’s goals came courtesy of Mac Allister in the 52nd minute and Cody Gakpo in the 77th.
With this win, Liverpool climbed to 15 points, solidifying their place at the top of the standings, while Real Madrid stayed at 6 points, positioned in 24th place.
The game kicked off with Liverpool applying early pressure. Darwin Núñez unleashed a shot that was initially saved by Real Madrid’s goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois. The rebound created a dangerous moment but was skillfully cleared off the line by young defender Raúl Asensio in the 3rd minute.
Luis Díaz had a promising chance in the 9th minute, but his effort from inside the box lacked precision and rolled wide of the right post.
Thibaut Courtois made a brilliant save in the 23rd minute, denying Darwin Núñez’s powerful shot inside the penalty area, using his reflexes to prevent Liverpool from taking the lead.
In the 32nd minute, Mac Allister delivered a cross into the box, where Núñez met it with a header, but the ball sailed just wide of Courtois’ right post. Moments later, in the 33rd minute, Courtois was called into action again, saving a header from Luis Díaz inside the penalty area.
The pressure from Liverpool continued in the 36th minute, with Curtis Jones firing a shot from the edge of the box, but it flew just over the crossbar. The first half ended with no goals on the board.
The second half began with a powerful shot from Cortes in the 47th minute, which deflected off Eduardo Camavinga before passing just wide of Courtois’ left post.
Mohamed Salah was involved in a controversial moment in the 48th minute when he went down in the area following a challenge from Real Madrid’s defense.However, the referee dismissed the appeals for a penalty, signaling that no foul had occurred.
In the 50th minute, Darwin Núñez unleashed a rocket from outside the area, but Courtois was equal to it, making another excellent save.
Finally, in the 51st minute, Liverpool broke the deadlock. Mac Allister received a pass from his teammate Bradley inside the area and fired a shot into the bottom-right corner, past Courtois, to give Liverpool a 1-0 lead.
Eduardo Camavinga was forced off with an injury in the 56th minute, prompting Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti to bring on Dani Ceballos as his replacement.
Moments later, in the 58th minute, Liverpool’s Andrew Robertson tackled Lucas Vázquez inside the penalty area, and the referee awarded a penalty to Real Madrid. Kylian Mbappé stepped up to take it, but Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher made a stunning save, diving to his left to deny Mbappé’s attempt and keep the score at 1-0.
In the 68th minute, Ferland Mendy fouled Mohamed Salah inside the box, resulting in a penalty for Liverpool. Salah took the spot-kick, but his shot went wide of the right post, missing a golden opportunity to extend Liverpool’s lead.
In the 77th minute, Liverpool doubled their advantage through Cody Gakpo. Robertson delivered a perfect cross into the box, and Gakpo leaped to head the ball past Courtois, securing a 2-0 lead for Liverpool.
Real Madrid struggled to find a response, and in the dying moments of stoppage time, Luis Díaz nearly added a third goal for Liverpool, but Courtois made another excellent save to keep the scoreline from worsening.
