Liverpool VS Atletico Madrid (Anfield)
Round of 16th, 2nd leg
Anfield is famous for some great Champions League nights, Special things happen on special nights like this. Liverpool fans expected a great night again as they had against Barcelona in the last year’s champions league semi-final. When Liverpool made an astonishing comeback against Barcelona beating them 4-0 to reach the final of the champions league and lifting the trophy.
No doubt Anfield is a fortress and winning there against Liverpool with their fans behind them is a dream for so many teams.
This time Atletico Madrid Visited Anfield for the 2nd leg of the UEFA Champions League, although they had 1-0 advantage from the 1st leg against Liverpool when they beat Liverpool 1-0 in Madrid. The expectations from Liverpool are high and they are the favorites to win and go through at Anfield.
Team Lineup
Liverpool– Adrián (GK), Van Dijk, Wijnaldum, Firmino , Mané, Salah, Gomez, Henderson (C) ,Oxlade-Chamberlain, Robertson, Alexander-Arnold.
Substitutes-Fabinho ,Milner,Minamino,Origi.
Atletico Madrid– Oblak ,Thomas,Koke ,João Félix ,Saúl Ñíguez’ ,Correa ,Renan Lodi,Savić,Felipe,Diego Costa ,Trippier
Substitutes -Giménez ,Morata ,Llorente ,Vrsaljko’
1st Half
The Match started with a bang Liverpool already pressing high up the field from the 1st whistle of the match. Wijnaldum came closest to scoring in the 4th minute through a cross from salah and the header was saved by Oblak.
Then salah started to show his magic dribbling past 2 defenders then curling a shot just over the bar.
Liverpool looked determined to score as early as they can in the match, and soon they rewarded when Wijnaldum puts a header in the back of the nets through a cross from Alexander-Arnold in the 43rd minute.
Liverpool now leading the match and the tie is all square at 1-1 against Atletico Madrid.
2nd half
Liverpool had been the more attacking and dominating of the sides, But Atletico is still alive in the tie. Liverpool continues to press high up the pitch and had more shots on goal, Oxlade-Chamberlain testing Oblak from long-range, Oblak gets a hand just in time and the shot was saved.
Oblak was no doubt Atletico star performer till now keeping Atletico in the tie. Roberto firmino hit the post from a Liverpool corner. Although Atletico didn’t have that much attacking to do night, they had some solid display of defensive football.
Full time
Liverpool 1-0 Atletico Madrid (Agg 1-1)
The tie goes into extra time as it is level on aggregate
Extra time (1st half)
In the 93rd minute, Roberto Firminio scored for Liverpool giving a 2-0 lead to Liverpool in the match and Liverpool was leading 2-1 on aggregate.
In the 96th Minute, Liverpool goalkeeper Adrian made a terrible clearance and the ball landed straight to jao Felix who found a perfect through pass for Llorente who scored in the bottom right corner from outside the box.
Out of nowhere Atletico Madrid came back in the match and now Liverpool has to score again to win the tie.
At he ends of 1st half of extra time in the 105th minute Atletico Madrid score again through Llorente and the match was turned upside down in just minutes,and atletico Madrid were ahead in the tie on aggregate leading 2-3.
Extra time (2nd half)
Liverpool couldn’t score again and Atletico Madrid netted the 3rd goal by Alvaro Morata in the 120th minute.
Liverpool lost the match from a winning position, although they have were the better side on the night, dominating most of the match, but credit to Atletico Madrid and Diego Simeone who found a way to beat Liverpool in their own backyard.
Full Time
Liverpool 2-3 Atletico Madrid
Liverpool Goalscorers– Wijnaldum (43′), Firmino (94′)
Atletico Madrid Goalscorers– Llorente (97′, 105+1), Morata (120+1)
Atletico Madrid goes through to the quarter Final of the uefa Champions League. This is the 1st time Liverpool has a lost a European match under Jurgen Klopp since 2014 October.
Match summary
| LIVERPOOL | VS | ATLETICO |
| 71% | Possession | 29% |
| 34 | Shots | 10 |
| 11 | Shots on target | 6 |
| 16 | Corners | 3 |
| 17 | Fouls | 17 |
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp after the match:-
“I don’t understand with the quality they have the football they play. They could play proper football but they stand deep and have counter-attacks,” said the German.
“We accept it of course but it doesn’t feel right tonight. I realize I am a really bad loser, especially when the boys put such an effort in against world-class players on the other side who defend with two rows of four.”
Atletico boss Simeone in his response to Klopp’s reaction.
“[We play] to win. With our weapons, to win,” he said. “Respecting our identity, respecting the characteristics of the players, exploiting the defects of the opponents, that’s how we play.”
“Oblak is the best goalkeeper in the world, I have no doubts,” Simeone said after the match. “[Lionel] Messi resolves games offensively, and Oblak does it in goal.
“The fans will remember this game for a long time.”
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