Top Goalscorers (UCL)
Real Madrid: Karim Benzema - 5
Liverpool: Mohamed Salah - 6
Key Injuries/Suspensions
Real Madrid: Lucas Vazquez, Raphael Varane, Sergio Ramos, Dani Carvajal, Eden Hazard, Federico Valverde
Liverpool: Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Joel Matip, Jordan Henderson, Divock Origi, Caoimhin Kelleher, Curtis Jones
History
Real Madrid and Liverpool have had some intense affairs throughout the years in the Champions League, meeting six times throughout the competition’s history.
Madrid have been winners in their three most recent encounters, including their controversial 3-1 victory in the 2017/18 final when Sergio Ramos wrestled Mohamed Salah to ground in the first half.
The Reds haven’t won against Madrid 2008/09 campaign when Liverpool earned a 5-0 aggregate win against Los Blancos in the Round of 16. Liverpool would ultimately fall to Chelsea in the following round that season in a 12-goal thriller over two legs.
Breakdown
Zinedine Zidane’s side played about as perfect a first leg as they could’ve imagined and now Real Madrid sit in prime position to reach the semi finals with a date against Chelsea awaiting.
First, they must stave off Liverpool’s attacking trio of Firmino, Mane and Salah, who will certainly be going for it all in order to turn around last week’s 3-1 deficit.
Both clubs continue to miss key members defensively, but it didn’t seem to both Madrid in the first leg. Zidane’s scheme worked to perfection, and the midfield trio of Casemiro, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos made the pitch smaller for Liverpool by cutting out the passing lanes and making things uncomfortable for the English side.
Meanwhile, if Vinicius Jr. is able to replicate his brilliance of a week ago, the Reds will really be in for a long night because the Brazilian’s willingness to get at Trent Alexander-Arnold and the Liverpool back line was a major reason for Los Blancos’ success.
Prediction: Real Madrid 2-0