Real Madrid’s Spanish defender Dani Carvajal (left) vies with Liverpool’s Scottish defender Andrew Robertson during the UEFA Champions League last‑16 first‑leg match at Anfield on 21 February 2023.
Vinícius Júnior and Karim Benzema each scored twice as Real Madrid produced a stunning comeback, overturning a 2‑0 deficit to thrash Liverpool 5‑2 in the first leg of their last‑16 tie. Darwin Núñez and Mohamed Salah had given the hosts a perfect start, echoing last season’s Champions League final. Vinícius struck twice to level the score by half‑time, and after Éder Militão gave Carlo Ancelotti’s side the lead, Benzema’s double put the holders well on their way to the quarter‑finals.
Madrid’s 1‑0 victory over Liverpool in Paris last May was marred by chaotic scenes outside the Stade de France that endangered supporters. An independent report published last week found UEFA bore “primary responsibility” for the organisational failures that “almost led to disaster”. UEFA initially tried to blame fans for arriving late, despite tens of thousands being held for hours outside the stadium. Liverpool supporters responded by drowning out the Champions League anthem with boos, while banners in the Kop stand targeted UEFA and the French authorities.
Once the match began, the players delivered the spectacle expected of two clubs with a combined 20 European Cups. Liverpool are still feeling the hangover from missing out on both the Premier League and Champions League by the finest of margins last season. Jurgen Klopp’s men sit eighth in the Premier League but briefly turned back the clock, exploding out of the blocks. Núñez produced a magical finish, flicking home Salah’s pass inside four minutes.
Thibaut Courtois broke Liverpool hearts in Paris with a string of stunning saves that earned him man‑of‑the‑match. Madrid had previously overcome two‑goal deficits against Paris Saint‑Germain and Manchester City on their road to a 14th European Cup last season, and they were forced to do so again by their normally solid goalkeeper. A loose touch from Courtois handed Salah Liverpool’s second on a plate, making the Egyptian the Reds’ all‑time top scorer in European competition with 42 goals.
Nevertheless, the defending champions showed remarkable resilience, turning the tie around in just over 30 minutes. Vinícius, the match‑winner in last season’s final, now has five goals in four appearances against Liverpool. He opened the comeback on 21 minutes with a shot into the far corner. Madrid still needed desperate defending from Carvajal and Militão to prevent Salah and Núñez from restoring Liverpool’s two‑goal lead in a goalmouth scramble.
A calamitous error from Alisson Becker gave Madrid an equaliser when his attempted clearance bounced off Vinícius and into an unguarded net. Only a brilliant last‑ditch challenge from Andy Robertson prevented Rodrygo from putting Madrid ahead before half‑time. In the second half, Liverpool’s defence proved even more brittle: Militão headed in Luka Modrić’s free‑kick, and Benzema’s shot deflected off Joe Gomez, leaving Alisson stranded for the fourth goal.
The fifth goal was not lucky but the result of a clinical team move. Modrić burst through midfield, fed Vinícius, who set up Benzema to round Alisson and slot the ball into the top corner.
The sides meet again on 15 March, but the second leg now appears little more than a formality after a night in which Madrid demonstrated why they remain the kings of Europe.
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