Two of European soccer’s largest heavyweights collide within the final 16 of the Champions League, with the Reds trying to overturn a three-goal deficit.
Actual Madrid vs. Liverpool
Champions League Final 16 Second Leg | Santiago BernabeuMarch 15, 2023 | 8pm (GMT)
Liverpool are looking for a miracle forward of a visit to the Spanish capital, following a devastating comeback which noticed the 14-time champions carry a 5-2 lead into the second leg of this final 16 conflict.
Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah fired Liverpool into an early lead in the course of the first leg at Anfield, however an impressed and ruthless Madrid aspect put daylight between the 2 groups and left the Reds with all of it to do in Spain.
Right here is all it’s worthwhile to know forward of the massive one.
1. “I feel the tie is over”
For a person who usually speaks with such a defiant tone, it was considerably stunning to listen to the supervisor seemingly write off Liverpool’s probabilities of a second-leg comeback towards the hosts.
Talking in his post-Madrid press convention at Anfield, Klopp admitted that there was a good distance again for the Reds after a self-destructive second-half show.
“I feel Carlo thinks the tie is over, and I feel it as nicely in second…,” stated Klopp.
“Tonight, with the 5 objectives, you see how good they’re at counter-attacking. Now we have to attain three objectives there, take some dangers, that may very well be a bit tough.”
2. Acquainted faces
It’s a fixture that we’ve got come to know all too nicely in recent times, assembly in 2018, 2021, 2022, and 2023.
It’s also truthful to say that we owe them one. Madrid have come away with the spoils on every of these events, in addition to finishing a gaggle stage double over the Reds within the earlier conferences in 2014.
You would need to go all the best way again to 2009 to search out Liverpool’s final conquer Europe’s most adorned aspect, a 5-0 combination win within the final 16 tie beneath Rafa Benitez.
3. ANOTHER document for Mo?
Mohamed Salah may turn out to be the highest-scoring African participant in Champions League historical past with a objective on the Bernabeu on Wednesday evening.
He’s at the moment tied with Didier Drogba on 44, and will additional cement his place within the competitors’s historical past by getting his title on the scoresheet towards Actual Madrid.
The Egyptian has made a behavior of rewriting the document books in current weeks, overtaking Robbie Fowler because the membership’s highest Premier League scorer with a brace towards Man United.
4. Gomez again after harm, Henderson out
It was a welcome sight to see Luis Diaz noticed because the gamers ready for a visit to Spain, however the Columbian won’t characteristic within the squad as he continues to edge in the direction of a full restoration from a knee harm which has stored him out of the aspect since October.
Thiago can even be out of motion till after the prolonged 17-day break which follows this sport, however Joe Gomez is again in competition after a four-game absence.
Jordan Henderson, in the meantime, has been dominated out completely having not made the aircraft whereas Stefan Bajcetic was not noticed in coaching on the eve of the conflict however travelled with the group.
Predicted Reds XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Bajcetic; Salah, Nunez, Gakpo; Jota
5. Vinicius Jr in devastating type
The person who broke Liverpool hearts in Paris final Might has been on fireplace for Los Blancos this season.
The Brazilian has netted 19 occasions in all competitions, together with six within the Champions League alone, and is the membership’s main goalscorer to this point in 2022/23.
The 22-year-old started Madrid’s struggle again at Anfield final month with two objectives earlier than the interval, making it three in his final two begins towards the Reds.
He’s actually a pressure to be reckoned with in the intervening time, particularly in tandem with Karim Benzema who has been handed match for the conflict, after all!
Predicted Actual XI: Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Nacho; Modric, Tchouameni, Kroos; Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius Jr
6. Militao cautious of Liverpool risk
Actual Madrid are on no account overlooking this one regardless of the three-goal they are going to be taking into the second leg.
Brazilian defender Eder Militao has stated within the construct up that the tie is way from over and that his teammates might want to produce knowledgeable show to be able to progress to the quarter-finals.
Militao stated: “Some individuals consider this tie is already completed however I’m anticipating an enormous evening between two of the golf equipment with the largest histories in world soccer.
“It’s sure that Actual Madrid have a really huge benefit however nonetheless, we should wait one other 90 minutes and the spherical will not be closed.”
7. First journey to the Bernabeu since 2014
It could come as a shock to listen to that the Reds haven’t confronted Actual Madrid at their house floor in 9 years, notably given the variety of occasions the edges have met over the previous couple of campaigns.
The final outing led to a 1-0 defeat for a much-changed Liverpool aspect, as Brendan Rodgers opted as a substitute to focus his efforts on an upcoming league assembly with Chelsea.
Since then, the edges have confronted one another at Anfield, three impartial venues for Champions League finals and even Actual Madrid’s coaching floor throughout constructing work on the Bernabeu in 2020/21.
8. Can it’s executed?
Liverpool will want a victory by 4 or extra objectives to be able to see themselves into the subsequent spherical of the Champions League.
A 3-goal win would take the sport into further time and probably penalties past that, which means that any slim probability of development might require a late-night end.
In opposition to European royalty corresponding to Madrid, it actually feels as if the duty could also be nearly past them on this event, nevertheless, the Reds have gotten a historical past of such scorelines towards Spanish giants.
Liverpool famously overturned a 3-0 deficit by beating Barcelona 4-0 within the 2019 semi-final, and again in 2009 demolished Madrid by the identical scoreline within the final 16 of the competitors.
After all, the job turns into much more troublesome by advantage of being away from Anfield, however there may be not less than some historical past on Liverpool’s aspect to cling to.
9. Referee watch
The person within the center can be Felix Zwayer.
The German has already officiated three video games within the Champions League this season and has taken cost of the Reds on two events, each of which coming in video games at house to Porto.
Zwayer options most prominently within the Bundesliga, however he additionally has 25 Champions League appearances to his title together with his first coming in Chelsea‘s 4-0 house win over Maccabi Tel Aviv again in 2015.
10. Observe all of the motion with us
The sport can be proven reside on BT Sport 1, with protection ranging from 7pm (GMT) forward of kickoff at 8pm.
You can too carry on prime of all the pieces that’s taking place with us!
Our reside weblog can be accessible from 7.15pm, we are going to hold you proper updated on all the pieces that’s taking place on the pitch in what is going to hopefully be a historic evening for the Reds!
It’s not over till it’s over.
