UCL Big Match Feature: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Form (all competitions, most recent first): WDLDWW
Where they stand: 2nd in Liga, Copa del Rey semifinals
Liverpool
Form (all competitions, most recent first): LWWDLW
Where they stand: 6th in Premier League
Match Facts
A rousing first-leg comeback at Liverpool has put Real Madrid firmly in control of their Uefa Champions League round of 16 tie and on the verge of ending the English club’s interest in the competition for the third season running.
Beaten by Madrid in last season’s final, Liverpool roared out of the blocks at Anfield, early goals from Darwin Núñez (4) and Mohamed Salah (14) giving them the initiative. Madrid were level before the break, however, thanks to a double from Vinícius Júnior (21, 36) – the Brazilian scoring in this fixture for the third season in a row – before second-half strikes from Éder Militão (47) and Karim Benzema (55, 67) inflicted Liverpool’s first ever home first-leg defeat against non-English opposition in Uefa competition.
That was the first time Liverpool had conceded four or more goals at Anfield in Europe, and just the second time they had let in five in a European game – the other a 5-1 loss to Ajax in December 1966.
Before losing the first leg Liverpool had won five successive matches in the competition, since a heavy opening defeat at Napoli that meant they had to settle for second place in Group A behind their Italian opponents. Madrid, meanwhile, finished a point ahead of Leipzig in Group F, also suffering one defeat but winning four of their six fixtures.
Madrid have won the last two contests against their English opponents, in the 2020/21 quarterfinals and in last season’s final, although the Reds have also enjoyed their share of success against the Spanish side in the past.
Both clubs are looking to reach the quarterfinals for the third season in a row; neither has lost in the last 16 since 2019/20, and each boasts a strong record at this stage of the Uefa Champions League.
This is Real Madrid’s 300th match in the Uefa Champions League, group stage to final. They are the first club to reach that landmark.
Previous meetings
Vinícius Júnior scored the only goal in the 59th minute at the Stade de France on 28 May, giving Madrid their 14th European Cup – and their second at the expense of Liverpool.
The second of the teams’ three finals came at Kyiv’s NSC Olimpiyski on 26 May 2018, Zinédine Zidane’s Madrid becoming the first club to win three successive European Cups twice with a 3-1 victory against a Liverpool side managed, as now, by Jürgen Klopp. Benzema’s 51st-minute opener was cancelled out within four minutes by Sadio Mané, but two goals from substitute Gareth Bale (64, 83) – including a stunning overhead effort – took the trophy to Madrid again.
Bob Paisley’s Liverpool beat Madrid, coached by Vujadin Boškov, 1-0 in the 1981 European Cup final at the Parc des Princes in Paris, Alan Kennedy scoring the only goal nine minutes from time.
The clubs also crossed paths in the 2020/21 quarterfinals, Madrid winning 3-1 in the home first leg and progressing by the same aggregate score after a goalless draw at Anfield. Vinícius Júnior scored twice at the Santiago Bernabéu (27, 65) either side of Marco Asensio’s 36th-minute strike; Mohamed Salah’s 51st-minute reply was all Liverpool could muster.
The teams were paired in the 2014/15 group stage, Madrid winning both games with Benzema scoring twice in the first, a 3-0 away win. The Frenchman also got the only goal as Madrid won 1-0 in Spain two weeks later.
Liverpool beat Madrid 5-0 on aggregate in the 2008/09 round of 16. Rafael Benítez’s Reds won the first leg 1-0 in Spain before completing a comfortable aggregate victory with a 4-0 success back on Merseyside – still Madrid’s biggest Uefa Champions League defeat.
Madrid now have six wins to Liverpool’s three in the sides’ ten meetings, all in the European Cup. Madrid have scored 16 goals, six more than their English opponents.
What the coaches say
Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid coach: “The message to the team is simple: we have to try to play as well as possible, just like in the first leg. We won’t try to calculate anything, we have to be in the game from the first minute. We have to go into the game with maximum intensity and enthusiasm and try to win it. We won’t rest on the advantage we have. It will be an open game, we want to attack and play our best attacking football.”
Jürgen Klopp, Liverpool coach: “I said three weeks ago after the game that Madrid were through; now we know there’s a game to play. Even if there’s only a 1 per cent chance, we have to give it a try. We have nothing to lose, and it’s a better situation than when you can lose everything. Obviously I would prefer Carlo’s situation, defending a three-goal lead.”
Form guide
Real Madrid
This is Madrid’s 27th Uefa Champions League campaign, a record they share with Barcelona – and an unrivalled 26th in a row. All 27 have now extended into the knockout rounds.
Madrid claimed their 14th European Cup in 2021/22. Carlo Ancelotti’s side had finished first in Group D on 15 points, winning five of their six games, before dramatic knockout wins against Paris Saint-Germain (0-1 a, 3-1 h), holders Chelsea (3-1 a, 2-3 h aet) and Manchester City (3-4 a, 3-1 h aet) ahead of their final defeat of Liverpool.
That made Ancelotti the first coach to win four European Cups; he had been level with Paisley and Zidane on three. The Italian is also the only coach to have taken a team to five finals.
Benzema, Dani Carvajal and Luka Modric all equalled Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of appearing in five Uefa Champions League final victories.
Benzema was top scorer in the 2021/22 Uefa Champions League on 15 goals; ten came in the knockout rounds, equalling Ronaldo’s record in 2016/17, also for Madrid.
Madrid were also Spanish champions in 2021/22, their 35th Liga title overall and a second in three years. It was only the fourth time they had won the league and the European Cup in the same season, after 1956/57, 1957/58 and 2016/17.
Ancelotti’s side have already claimed European silverware this season, goals from David Alaba and Benzema earning a 2-0 victory against Uefa Europa League winners Eintracht Frankfurt in the Uefa Super Cup in Helsinki on 10 August. It was Madrid’s fifth Super Cup victory, equalling the competition record of AC Milan and Barcelona.
The holders won their first three games in this season’s Uefa Champions League, at Celtic (3-0) and at home to Leipzig (2-0) and Shakhtar Donetsk (2-1), but took only one point from their next two before finishing with a 5-1 home victory against the Scottish champions.
The first leg of this tie was the first time Real Madrid had scored five goals in successive Uefa Champions League matches since 1998/99, when they beat Sturm Graz 6-1 and 5-1 in back-to-back group fixtures.
The Spanish side have won 12 of their last 21 home European games (D3 L6) although they have been victorious in 11 of the most recent 14 (D1 L2).
Having reached the semifinals or better for eight successive seasons between 2010/11 and 2017/18, Madrid lost in the last 16 against Ajax in 2018/19 and Manchester City the following season but have won the last two ties, making their overall record at this stage W11 L8.
Benzema has 18 goals in 24 Uefa Champions League games against English clubs, his largest tally against opposition from a single nation, including seven last season to overtake his 15 goals against German sides. His goals in the first leg of this tie were his first of this season’s competition. The Frenchman has scored 12 goals in his last seven knockout phase matches, finding the net in every game bar last season’s final.
Benzema has now scored six goals against Liverpool in the European Cup – more than any other player.
Benzema has equalled Lionel Messi’s record of having scored in 18 consecutive seasons in the Uefa Champions League and is the first player to score in 19 successive calendar years in the Uefa Champions League (2005–2023).
Madrid’s record against English clubs is now W21 D13 L16.
Madrid’s record in two-legged knockout ties against English clubs is W11 L6. Last season’s wins against Chelsea and Manchester City made it six aggregate victories in the last eight, although their last two Uefa Champions League campaigns before last season were both ended by Premier League opponents – Chelsea in the 2020/21 semifinals and City in the 2019/20 round of 16.
Including the 2021/22 final, this is the sixth time Madrid have been paired with English opposition in their last seven Uefa Champions League knockout ties.
The second-leg loss to Chelsea in last season’s quarterfinals is one of only four Madrid have suffered at home to English clubs; their record otherwise is W10 D7, although the second-leg win against Manchester City was only their second in their last six games against English visitors in Madrid (D2 L2).
Madrid have won 35 of the 37 ties in which they recorded an away first-leg win in Uefa competition, most recently against Chelsea last season having also beaten Atalanta in the 2020/21 round of 16 (1-0 a, 3-1 h). They had lost on the previous occasion, however, against Ajax in the 2018/19 Uefa Champions League round of 16 (2-1 a, 1-4 h), their first aggregate defeat when winning the away first leg since losing to OB Odense in the 1994/95 Uefa Cup third round (3-2 a, 0-2 h).
This is only the second time Madrid have won 5-2 in the away first leg, having beaten Danish side B1909 Odense in the 1964/65 European Cup preliminary round (4-0 h).
Madrid’s record in four Uefa penalty shoot-outs is W2 L2:
5-6 v Crvena vezda, 1974/75 European Cup Winners’ Cup quarterfinal
3-1 v Juventus, 1986/87 European Cup second round
1-3 v Bayern München, 2011/12 Uefa Champions League semifinal
5-3 v Atlético de Madrid, 2015/16 Uefa Champions League final
Liverpool
Liverpool reached their tenth European Cup final in 2021/22, and their third in five seasons. They missed out on their seventh title, however, suffering their fourth final defeat and second at the hands of Madrid.
Klopp’s side had finished first in Group B, winning all six games to become the first English club to go through a Uefa Champions League group campaign with maximum points. They stretched that run of victories to seven at Inter in the round of 16 first leg (2-0) and progressed despite a 1-0 home defeat, subsequently ousting Benfica (3-1 a, 3-3 h) and Villarreal (2-0 h, 3-2 a) on their way to the Saint-Denis final.
This is Liverpool’s 15th Uefa Champions League campaign; they have reached the final five times, lifting the trophy in 2005 and 2019.
Liverpool went down 4-1 at Napoli on Matchday 1 this season but scored 16 goals in winning their next five fixtures, including a 7-1 success at Rangers and a 2-0 home win in the reverse fixture against Napoli on Matchday 6, although that was not enough for them to overtake the Italian side after each finished with 15 points.
The Merseyside club had finished first in their section for three seasons in a row before coming second to Napoli this time round.
Salah is now the top scorer in this season’s Uefa Champions League with eight goals, one more than Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappé with Vinícius Júnior on six. The Egyptian has scored in all of Liverpool’s last six matches in the competition.
Second to Manchester City in the 2021/22 Premier League, one point behind, the Reds beat Chelsea on penalties in the finals of both the FA Cup and English League Cup, both of which finished goalless.
A 3-0 win at Ajax on Matchday 5 this season made it 13 victories in Liverpool’s last 17 away Uefa Champions League matches (D1 L3). They have won eight of the last nine, the exception that Matchday 1 defeat in Naples.
The Merseyside club are in the round of 16 for the sixth season in a row and the 11th overall; their record is W8 L2. Both defeats have come as holders: against Benfica in 2005/06 (0-1 a, 0-2 h) and Atlético de Madrid in 2019/20 (0-1 a, 2-3 h aet).
Liverpool’s last three Uefa Champions League campaigns, and four of the last five, have ended in defeat against clubs from Madrid, their losses to Real Madrid in 2017/18, 2020/21 and 2021/22 and their elimination by Atlético in 2019/20.
No non-Spanish team has eliminated Liverpool from a European competition since they lost on penalties to Besiktas in the 2014/15 Uefa Europa League round of 32.
Last season’s wins against Atlético in the group stage (3-2 a, 2-0 h) and Villarreal in the semifinals have made it six victories in Liverpool’s last 20 fixtures against Spanish clubs (D3 L11) – a sequence that also includes a 3-1 loss to Sevilla under Klopp in the 2016 Uefa Europa League final.
The defeat against Atlético in the 2019/20 round of 16 ended Liverpool’s perfect record against Spanish clubs in two-legged European Cup knockout ties; they had won all the previous four, but were then beaten in the next as well, by Real Madrid in 2020/21. Their overall record in two-legged knockout ties with Liga sides in Uefa club competition is now W10 L4.
The Matchday 3 success at Atlético last season ended Liverpol’s seven-game run without a win away to Spanish sides (D1 L6), since a 1-0 victory at Real Madrid in 2009, the subsequent second-leg victory at Villarreal making their overall away record in Spain W9 D5 L8. Furthermore, they defeated Tottenham in the 2019 Uefa Champions League final in Madrid.
This is only the second time Liverpool have lost a home first leg in Uefa competition, the other coming against Chelsea in the 2008/09 Uefa Champions League quarterfinals (1-3 h, 4-4 a). The Reds did also lose 1-0 at home to Leeds in the 1970/71 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup semifinal first leg (0-0 a).
Liverpool’s record in five Uefa penalty shoot-outs is W4 L1:
4-2 v Roma, 1983/84 European Cup final
3-2 v AC Milan, 2004/05 Uefa Champions League final
4-1 v Chelsea, 2006/07 Uefa Champions League semifinal
4-5 v Besiktas, 2014/15 Uefa Europa League round of 32
5-4 v Chelsea, 2019 Uefa Super Cup
Links and trivia
Ancelotti has now faced Liverpool 17 times (W10 D4 L3) as a manager, including in two Uefa Champions League finals during his time in charge of AC Milan. His side lost the 2005 final in Istanbul on penalties having led 3-0 at halftime but beat the Reds 2-1 in Athens two years later. Ancelotti’s Napoli side were also paired with Klopp’s Liverpool in the Uefa Champions League group stage in 2018/19 and 2019/20 (W2 D1 L1).
Ancelotti was Chelsea manager between 2009 and 2011, winning the 2009/10 Premier League and FA Cup double. The Italian was also in charge of Liverpool’s local rivals Everton between 2019 and 2021, his four games against Liverpool as Toffees manager ending with the record W1 D2 L1; the sole victory, a 2-0 success on 20 February 2021, was Everton’s first Premier League win at Anfield since 1999.
Ancelotti has faced Klopp 11 times as a coach (W6 D3 L2) and is unbeaten in the last seven (W4 D3). His Madrid side ousted Klopp’s Borussia Dortmund in the 2013/14 Uefa Champions League quarterfinals on their way to lifting the trophy (3-0 h, 0-2 a).
Klopp oversaw four games against Madrid as Dortmund coach in 2012/13. After a 2-1 win in Germany and 2-2 draw in Spain in the group stage, the teams met again in the semifinals, Dortmund going through despite a 2-0 away second-leg defeat having won 4-1 at home, Robert Lewandowski scoring all four of Dortmund’s goals. Benzema was on target for Madrid in the second leg.
Fabinho was on loan at Madrid in 2012/13, making one appearance for the senior side in what proved his only season at the club before joining Monaco.
Have also played in Spain:
Adrián (Real Betis 1998–2013, Alcalá 2008 loan, Utrera 2009 loan)
Thiago Alcántara (Barcelona 2005–13)
Diogo Jota joined Atlético from Paços de Ferreira in 2016 but never made a first-team appearance before signing for Wolves in 2019 after loan spells with Porto and the English club.
Have played in England:
Luka Modric (Tottenham 2008–12)
Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea 2014–18)
Eden Hazard (Chelsea 2012–19)
Dani Ceballos (Arsenal 2019–21 loan)
Modric faced Liverpool eight times with Tottenham (W5 D1 L2) and scored once, a penalty in a 2-0 victory at Anfield in May 2011.
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Hazard has faced Liverpool 18 times, scoring LOSC Lille’s goal in a 1-0 home win in the 2009/10 Uefa Europa League round of 16 first leg, a tie the English club won 3-1 on aggregate. He scored six goals against Liverpool in 16 meetings while at Chelsea (W5 D8 L3).
Have played together:
Toni Kroos & Thiago Alcántara (Bayern München 2013/14)
David Alaba & Thiago Alcántara (Bayern 2013–20)
Thibaut Courtois, Eden Hazard & Mohamed Salah (Chelsea 2014)
Thiago and Alaba were both part of Bayern’s Uefa Champions League-winning side in 2019/20 having played together under Ancelotti in 2016/17.
International teammates:
Rodrygo, Vinícius Júnior, Éder Militão & Alisson, Fabinho, Roberto Firmino (Brazil)
Dani Carvajal, Marco Asensio, Lucas Vázquez, Dani Ceballos, Nacho & Thiago Alcántara (Spain)
Aurélien Tchouaméni, Eduardo Camavinga & Ibrahima Konaté (France)
Federico Valverde & Darwin Núñez (Uruguay)
Modric converted his shoot-out spot kick past Alisson as Croatia eliminated Brazil from the 2022 Fifa World Cup on penalties in the quarterfinals after a 1-1 draw.
Predicted line-ups
Real Madrid: Courtois; Carvajal, Éder Militão, Rüdiger, Nacho; Modric, Tchouaméni, Kroos; Valverde, Benzema, Vinícius Jr
Misses next match if booked: none
Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konaté, Van Dijk, Robertson; Elliott, Fabinho, Milner; Salah, Gakpo, Darwin Núñez
Misses next match if booked: Alexander-Arnold