Defending champions Real Madrid advanced to the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals with a 6-2 aggregate win over Liverpool in the round of 16.
UEFA Champions League
Result: Real Madrid 1-0 Liverpool (Real won 6-2 on agg.)
Date: 15 March 2023
Venue: Santiago Bernabeu
Madrid were boosted by the return of Karim Benzema, who joined Vinicius Junior and Federico Valverde upfront. The Reds, meanwhile, brought back Diogo Jota, to add to the attack of Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez.
Liverpool were more on the ball in the early stages but Los Blancos had the better chances as Antonio Rudiger forced a save from goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and Eduardo Camavinga was denied the opener by the crossbar midway into the first stanza.
Carlo Ancelotti's charges were happy to stay deep in the latter phase of the first stanza as the Reds were desperate to break the deadlock but they just could not get clear chances and Madrid went to the break with a 5-2 lead on aggregate.
The English side were forced to defend in the early stages and Jurgen Klopp had to make a double-attacking changes just before the hour-mark as Harvey Elliot and Roberto Firmino were introduced in places of Jota and Nunez.
Los Blancos continued to have better opportunities as Vinicius Junior had a one-on-one chance with 21 minutes to go but scooped his shot over the bar after a through ball by Luka Modric.
Madrid eventually broke the deadlock 12 minutes before time after he was set up by Vinicius Junior to score from close-range and that took the game completely away from Liverpool, who lost 6-2 on aggregate in the end.
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