Real Madrid-Liverpool is a Champions League round of 16 return match at 9pm on Wednesday: TV, line-ups, predictions.
The question is one: what chance does Liverpool have of coming back from the thunderous 2-5 first leg, one of the Reds’ worst defeats at their temple at Anfield Road? On paper, of course, very few. Yet Jurgen Klopp’s team has been responsible for some historic comebacks in the past, the most recent being against another Spanish side, Barcelona, in the 2018-19 season, when they were able to overturn the 3-0 loss at Camp Nou, overwhelming the Blaugrana 4-0 in England.
Only four teams in the history of the Champions League have achieved such a feat. But it is also true that that was a different Liverpool, at the dawn of their amazing winning cycle and who went on to lift the cup with the big ears. In this case Salah and his team-mates face Real Madrid, by now one of their black beasts – the Blancos have won six of their last seven matches against Liverpool, including last year’s final in Paris – who are transformed when they hear the Champions League music. Carlo Ancelotti’s men proved it in the first leg, able to bounce back immediately after being two goals down in the first quarter of an hour. First Brazilian Vinicius, who had already chastened the Reds in the last act at the Stade de France, scored a brace, and then Militao and the eternal Benzema (two goals also for the Ballon d’Or winner) completed the job. An overwhelming Real – perhaps never so beautiful in a year in which there were also many lows – that can afford the luxury of losing even by two goals in the return match at the ‘Bernabeu’.
Liverpool are capable of anything
The coach from Emilia will, however, have to keep his troops’ concentration high: Liverpool are a totally unpredictable team this year. And they are capable of anything.
Benzema’s goal
Manchester United recently experienced this for themselves. The Red Devils, who were in good form, were thrashed 7-0 at Anfield. It was a crushing victory, followed by an inexplicable defeat last Saturday against the bottom of the Premier League table, Bournemouth, who beat Klopp’s men 1-0, with Salah also missing a penalty kick. An unexpected slip-up that complicates the Reds’ championship comeback plans. They are now six points behind fourth-placed Tottenham – Champions League placement is Liverpool’s only remaining objective – even though Spurs have played an extra game. Also inconsistent is Real Madrid in a La Liga that is increasingly taking the direction of Barcelona. The Merengues are fresh from a fine 3-1 success over Espanyol, but in the previous game they had conceded a disappointing blank-net draw against Betis. And before that a defeat in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final against arch-rivals the Blaugrana.
Real Madrid-Liverpool: latest line-up news
Ancelotti should be able to count on both Benzema and Mendy. The striker is struggling with an ankle problem and missed the Espanyol game but is now recovered and is likely to start in the trident between Vinicius and Valverde. The defender is better but is unlikely to start on the 1′. The left flank will be dominated by Nacho. Absent instead is Alaba: the two central defenders are Militao and Rudiger.
Liverpool will have three absentees: Gomez, Luis Diaz and Thiago Alcantara. Up front Klopp will line up Salah with the two new signings Gakpo and Darwin Nunez, while in midfield the young Bajcetic will continue to find space.
The prediction
A possible Liverpool comeback seems pure utopia, bearing in mind that Real Madrid are very good in the Champions League and don’t miss a beat. In any case, the Reds will have to unbalance themselves and go on the attack to at least try to take the lead and thus upset the tranquility of the Merengues, who will consequently try to take advantage of the spaces that Jurgen Klopp’s men will inevitably concede. We believe it could be another prolific match, with at least three goals in total, in which both will score. Ancelotti’s team will most likely avoid defeat.
Real Madrid-Liverpool’s likely line-up
- REAL MADRID (4-3-3): Courtois; Carvajal, Éder Militão, Rüdiger, Nacho; Modrić, Tchouaméni, Kroos; Valverde, Benzema, Vinícius Jr.
- LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konaté, van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Bajcetic; Salah, Gakpo, Darwin Núñez.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 3-2
