Liverpool Requests Investigation into Stadium Issues Before Champions League Final
May 28, 2022
PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 28: A general view of the inside of the Stade de France during the UEFA Champions League final match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid at Stade de France on May 28, 2022 in Paris, France. (Photo by Angel Martinez - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Liverpool is looking for answers after fans struggled to get into Stade de France in Paris prior to Saturday's UEFA Champions League final against Real Madrid.
According to Melissa Reddy of Sky Sports, Liverpool has "requested a formal investigation" to determine what led to "stadium entry issues and breakdown of the security perimeter that fans faced this evening at Stade de France."
Liverpool also called the situation "unacceptable."
The UCL final had been scheduled to start at 3 p.m. ET, but it was delayed by more than 30 minutes because of the delays faced by fans who were trying to enter the venue.
Rob Harris of the Associated Press tweeted a statement from UEFA, which said that fans purchasing fake tickets that didn't scan at the gates led to congestion entering the stadium:
UEFA statement blame those with fake tickets for Paris chaos (doesn't say where they are from)
"Turnstiles at the Liverpool end became blocked by thousands fans who had purchased fake tickets which did not work in the turnstiles. This created a build-up of fans trying to get in" pic.twitter.com/O3XIMHyjPF
Multiple reports later suggested that the fans were not at fault, though. Miguel Delaney of the Independent tweeted that many fans having trouble getting into the stadium had arrived hours before the scheduled start time of the match.
The situation escalated to dangerous levels, as police used pepper spray on fans attempting to enter Stade de France in some cases:
UEFA initially announced a 15-minute delay, but it was later extended, leading to the match starting more than a half-hour later than originally intended.
Two of the biggest and most loyal fanbases in all of soccer were on hand to watch the UEFA Champions League final between clubs that have experienced great success in the UCL final.
Entering Saturday's contest, Real Madrid had won more Champions League titles than any other club with 13, while Liverpool was tied for third with six.
Real Madrid ultimately added a 14th UCL championship Saturday, as they topped Liverpool 1-0 on a 59th-minute goal by Vinicius Junior.
Liverpool vs. Real Madrid UCL Final Delayed Due to Fan Issues Entering Stadium
May 28, 2022
PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 28: The LED screen shows the message of a delayed kick off time prior to the UEFA Champions League final match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid at Stade de France on May 28, 2022 in Paris, France. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
UEFA announced that the start of Saturday's men's UEFA Champions League final between Real Madrid and Liverpool in Paris would be delayed by 30 minutes.
European football's governing body initially attributed the delay to fans arriving late, first delaying the game by 15 minutes and then again:
The Champions League final has been delayed by 15 minutes due to late fan arrivals at the stadium pic.twitter.com/9JAw5KhPsR
However, Miguel Delaney of the Independent and several others reported many fans actually arrived hours before the match but had trouble getting into the venue.
While the match had been set to begin at 3 p.m. ET, Andy Kelly of the Liverpool Echo reported on the chaotic scene outside one of the gates of the Stade de France:
Fans queuing outside with tickets for a gate that’s been shut for no reason just been tear gassed. Throughly unpleasant experience and so dangerous. This isn’t how fans should be treated in a civilised society. Unacceptable
Kristian Walsh of Reach PLC called the situation "dangerous" and "ineptitude of the highest level," scolding both UEFA and French authorities for the handling of fan entry.
Sky Sports News tweeted video of Liverpool fans struggling to make their way into the stadium:
Thousands of Liverpool fans struggle to make it into the Stade de France for the Champions League final. pic.twitter.com/dcic3dbn7L
When Saturday's match kicks off, it will be a clash between two of the most famous and successful clubs in the history of soccer.
Real Madrid own the most UEFA Champions League titles of all time with 13, including three in a row from 2016 to 2018.
Liverpool won a UCL title more recently in 2019, but they lost to Real Madrid in the Champions League final one year earlier.
All told, Liverpool have won six Champions League titles, placing them in a tie with Bayern Munich for the third-most ever.
Saturday also marks the first UCL final to be held in France since 2006, when Barcelona defeated Arsenal.
Champions League Final 2022: Head-to-Head Record Before Liverpool vs Real Madrid
May 28, 2022
PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 27: Sadio Mane of Liverpool during a Liverpool FC Training Session at Stade de France on May 27, 2022 in Paris, France. Liverpool will face Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League final on May 28, 2022. (Photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images)
Liverpool and Real Madrid meet in the UEFA Champions League final for the second time in four years on Saturday.
Real Madrid won the 2018 UCL final over Liverpool, one of four victories in club history against the English side.
Liverpool has had some success against Los Blancos as well. The Reds won the first three meetings between the clubs, starting with the 1981 European Cup final in Paris—which is also the host city for Saturday's meeting.
Real Madrid is the most successful side in European Cup/Champions League history with 13 titles. Liverpool is third on that list with six, and it can tie AC Milan for second all-time if it secures the trophy.
Liverpool vs. Real Madrid Head-to-Head Record
Real Madrid Wins: 4
Liverpool Wins: 3
Draws: 1
Liverpool and Real Madrid are set to face off for the third time in a major European final.
While Liverpool won the first meeting in 1981, Real Madrid triumphed in the 2018 final in Kyiv, Ukraine, behind three second-half goals, one from Karim Benzema and two courtesy of Gareth Bale.
Liverpool managed a goal from Sadio Mane in that contest four minutes after Benzema's 51st-minute opener.
Benzema and Mane are expected to play massive roles in Saturday's final. The Frenchman is the competition's leading scorer this season, while the Senegalese scored in both legs of the semifinal against Villarreal.
The two sides have met in the Champions League knockout phase three times. In last season's quarterfinal round, Real Madrid progressed thanks to a 3-1 win at home in the first leg (with a brace from Vinicius Jr.) and a 0-0 draw at Anfield in the second—the only stalemate in eight matchups.
Two of Liverpool's victories over the Spanish giant came in 2009 at the start of the UCL knockout round.
The Reds had a 1-0 win in the first leg of the round of 16 before they erupted in the second leg, with Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard (2) and Andrea Dossena responsible for the goals in a 4-0 victory.
Real Madrid got on the board in the series during the group stage of the 2014-15 edition of the Champions League.
Los Blancos took both of those contests with a pair of clean sheets, securing a 3-0 win on the road before easing to a 1-0 victory at the Santiago Bernabeu—thanks to a goal from none other than Benzema.
Most of the expected stars in Saturday's contest have played the other club before. Benzema, Vinicius Jr., Mane and Mohamed Salah should all be responsible for the majority of the scoring chances.
Virgil van Dijk, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Thiago are among the other global stars who will take to the pitch, although the latter may not start following an injury.
Real Madrid is going for its 14th European title and the first since it beat Liverpool in Kyiv. Liverpool is after its seventh UCL crown and the second in four years. The Reds beat Tottenham Hotspur in the 2019 final.
[Tune in to B/R's LIVE Pre-game show ahead of the UCL Final from 2pm ET, only in the B/R App] The biggest match on the European club football calendar is finally here...
Champions League 2022: Final Odds, Live Stream, TV Schedule and Predictions
May 26, 2022
MADRID, SPAIN - MAY 20: Karim Benzema of Real Madrid smiles during the spanish league, La Liga Santander, football match played between Real Madrid and Real Betis Balompie at Santiago Bernabeu stadium on May 20, 2022, in Madrid Spain. (Photo by Oscar J. Barroso/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Liverpool and Real Madrid have combined to win four of the last six UEFA Champions League titles.
On Saturday, one of the two giants of European club football will hoist yet another Champions League trophy inside the Stade de France.
Real Madrid's last triumph on the continental stage came against Liverpool in the 2018 final. Liverpool won its last UCL crown the year after in an all-English final over Tottenham Hotspur.
Both clubs are looking to add to their respective title hauls this season. Liverpool won both domestic cup competitions in England and Real Madrid topped La Liga.
Liverpool comes into the final as the clear favorite according to the oddsmakers, but Real Madrid defied the odds throughout the European campaign to get to this point.
Real Madrid took down Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Manchester City to reach the final. Liverpool had a much easier route that featured wins over Inter Milan, Benfica and Villarreal.
Money Line (90 Minutes): Liverpool (+110; bet $100 to win $110); Real Madrid (+250); Draw (+265)
Over/Under: 2.5 Goals (-135; bet $135 to win $100)
Prediction
Real Madrid 2, Liverpool 1
The margins could be incredibly tight between Real Madrid and Liverpool.
There will be plenty of stars with experience in competition finals on the club and international levels on the pitch, starting with Karim Benzema and Mohamed Salah.
Benzema has been at his best throughout the knockout round for Real Madrid. He has netted two hat-tricks, one in the round-of-16 second leg against PSG and the other in the quarterfinal first leg versus Chelsea.
The French forward bagged four more goals after the consecutive three-goal performances. He will win the competition's Golden Boot award unless Salah finds a way to score eight goals in one night.
Benzema leads the Real Madrid forward line against a Liverpool defense that kept a single clean sheet in its last six games across all competitions.
Liverpool conceded first in a pressure-packed situation on the final day of the Premier League season before it rallied back to beat Wolverhampton Wanderers. Liverpool's title quest came up short because of Manchester City's second-half comeback against Aston Villa.
The Reds let in seven goals during the UCL knockout round, and six of those tallies came in the second leg of ties against Inter Milan, Benfica and Villarreal.
That is a worrying trend for the Reds with one of the best, if not the top, forwards in the world lining up against them.
Real Madrid will look to Vinicius Junior to create a handful of the chances for Benzema. The Brazilian is tied with Bayern Munich's Leroy Sane for the second-most assists in the UCL this season.
Vinicius needs one more helper to tie Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes on the top of the assist chart and two to take sole possession of the lead in that category. He produced half of those assists in the knockout round.
Liverpool's attacking statistics are a little more spread out compared to the top-heavy Real Madrid front line.
Salah has eight goals, while Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino have five each. Luis Diaz, who was signed in January, scored in each of the last two rounds.
Diaz could be Liverpool's X-factor in the final third alongside Salah and Mane. A strong performance from the Colombian could give the Reds an edge in Paris.
Liverpool may have a tough time creating chances against a Real Madrid defense that allowed three goals in its last six games across all competitions.
Real Madrid enters Paris in the better defensive form, and if that translates to Saturday's final, it could limit the opportunities created by Salah, Mane and Diaz.
Real Madrid's other X-factor could be its ability to respond to going down in knockout play. Los Blancos recovered from first-leg deficits against PSG and Manchester City, both of whom had real chances to win the UCL this season.
Liverpool will put up a strong fight, but Real Madrid has been better than the other marquee clubs in the competition throughout the knockout round. That should show one more time with Benzema leading the charge inside France's national stadium.
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Champions League Results 2022: Top Scorers, Odds After Semifinal Leg 2 Scores
May 4, 2022
Real Madrid's Brazilian defender Eder Militao (C) receives assistance from teammates after a fall during the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and Manchester City at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on May 4, 2022. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP) (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO/AFP via Getty Images)
Premier League side Liverpool and La Liga side Real Madrid will meet in the 2022 UEFA Champions League final on May 28 after defeating Villarreal and Manchester City, respectively, in the second leg of the semifinals this week.
It marks the first time since 2018 that the two sides will meet in the Champions League final, and the Reds will be looking to avenge a 3-1 loss to Los Blancos while also aiming to win their first title since 2019.
That said, let's take a look at both clubs' semifinal victories, as well as who oddsmakers are favoring to win the title.
Liverpool entered the second leg of its semifinal matchup against Villarreal leading 2-0 on aggregate, but the Yellow Submarine quickly erased that two-goal deficit on Tuesday. Boulaye Dia found the back of the net in the third minute to give Villarreal a 1-0 lead in the second leg.
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 3, 2022
Francis Coquelin then scored for Villarreal in the 41st minute to put his team up 2-0 entering halftime. The goal made for a fiery second half, as the the clubs were tied 2-2 on aggregate.
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 3, 2022
However, Liverpool started the second half with a much better display, and the floodgates opened when Fabinho scored in the 62nd minute to get the Reds on the board and give them a 3-2 lead on aggregate.
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 3, 2022
Moments later, Luis Diaz found the back of the net in the 67th minute to tie the game 2-2 and give Liverpool a significant 4-2 lead on aggregate. Sadio Mane added another goal in the 74th minute to seal the victory for Liverpool, which reached the second round after leading 5-2 on aggregate.
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 3, 2022
It was a hard-fought victory, though the Reds will need to avoid a slow first-half start against The Citizens in the final later this month.
Manchester City and Real Madrid played through the first half of Wednesday's match without scoring a goal, though the Citizens were in control for much of the match entering halftime.
After Man City was able to hold on in the first half, Riyad Mahrez capitalized with a goal in the 73rd minute to give his team a 1-0 lead in the second leg and a significant 5-3 lead on aggregate.
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 4, 2022
Things seemed bleak at that point for Los Blancos, but Manchester City began to fall apart in the 90th minute, and Real Madrid capitalized with a goal from Rodrygo, which cut City's aggregate lead to 5-4.
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 4, 2022
Manchester City continued to struggle defensively in extra time, and Rodrygo cashed in again in the 91st minute to tie things on aggregate and send the match to extra time.
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 4, 2022
The only other player in European Cup history to score a goal in consecutive minutes of a semifinal or final was Ian Rush, who scored at 48' and 49' in the 1st leg of the 1985 semifinal in a 5-0 win against Panathinaikos (h/t @StatsPerform).
And who else but Karim Benzema in extra time to put the match away for Real Madrid? The French striker was taken down inside the box and awarded a penalty in the 95th minute.
The 34-year-old put the ball into the corner past Ederson to give Los Blancos a 3-1 lead in the match and a 6-5 lead on aggregate.
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 4, 2022
Karim Benzema's 15th #UCL goal this season takes him level with Robert Lewandowski as the third all-time goalscorer. 👏 pic.twitter.com/DQEoJvLbXs
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 4, 2022
Manchester City did have some chances in extra time, but it wasn't enough to stop the incredible comeback victory for Real Madrid.
Now Liverpool and Real Madrid will clash in the Champions League final in what should be one of the most competitive matches of the year.
For all the latest betting information and reaction, check out B/R Betting.
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Top Winners and Losers After Tuesday's Champions League Semifinal Leg 2 Result
May 3, 2022
VILLARREAL, SPAIN - MAY 03: Fabinho celebrates with Mohamed Salah of Liverpool after scoring their team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final Leg Two match between Villarreal and Liverpool at Estadio de la Ceramica on May 03, 2022 in Villarreal, Spain. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Liverpool clinched a spot in the Champions League final after an exciting 5-2 aggregate win over Villarreal.
Villarreal stormed back from a 2-0 deficit after the first leg of the semifinal, scoring two goals in the first half of the second leg Tuesday at Estadio de la Ceramica. The momentum shifted back to the Premier League side in the second frame, scoring the next three goals to pull away for what became an easy win.
While Liverpool wound up advancing, there were several winners and losers after the latest match.
Winner: Fans of Open Play
No matter who you support, it's difficult to argue the first leg was an exciting one. After Manchester City and Real Madrid battled in a 4-3 thriller last Tuesday, Liverpool followed it up with a slow-moving 2-0 win in the next match.
Villarreal packed it in defensively and managed just one shot, none on goal, and 27 percent possession, via ESPNFC.
It was a completely different story in the second leg as Villarreal came out aggressive, looking for goals and finding them.
Three minutes in and Villarreal already got one back 😱
Liverpool was forced to defend the entire pitch, while the few offensive opportunities came on counter-attacks.
The strategy eventually led to more openings for Liverpool, however, which found space in the second half and scored three goals to regain control of the tie. The team finished with 15 shots, most of them earned through excellent passing.
It created a much more exciting battle for fans, regardless of which side came out on top.
Loser: Geronimo Rulli
Nearly everyone on Villarreal had a great match to keep things close. Geronimo Rulli had a day to forget.
The goalkeeper was mostly untested in the first half but struggled mightily in the second, allowing two goals to go through his legs:
Gerónimo Rulli, not content with conceding two goals through his legs, felt the urge to rush out to the halfway line to complete the summarised “Rulli mistakes compilation 2014-22” video clip all in 30 minutes.
WhoScored gave Rulli a 4.1 rating out a 10, easily the lowest of anyone in the match.
The result was a close match that turned into an easy win for Liverpool as Villarreal saw its title hopes come to an end.
Winner: Unai Emery
Though maybe not a favorite of Arsenal fans, Villarreal manager Unai Emery clearly thrives in cup play.
With four Europa League titles already on his resume, Emery has proved he can excel at the Champions League level as well with impressive tactics to get the most out of his players:
Unai Emery is actually one of the best coaches in the world.
A master tactician; a master of the game.#Villarreal
The change in strategy from the first leg to the second seemed to catch Liverpool off guard and gave Villarreal a chance to pull off the upset.
Though they couldn't keep it going in the second half, getting this far was quite an accomplishment for a team that sits just seventh place in La Liga.
The Yellow Submarine had one of the more surprising UCL runs in recent memory, knocking out European giants Juventus and Bayern Munich during this tournament. Emery did everything he could to help his team succeed and remains one of the top managers in the sport.
Loser: English Schedule
There aren't many days off in the English Premier League and it might finally be catching up to Liverpool.
The Reds have been in the hunt for the quadruple, having already won the Carabao Cup while earning a spot in the FA Cup final. They also sit one point behind Manchester City in the Premier League table.
It has created a pressure situation where the squad can't afford to lose any match or drop any points in league play.
With the past month featuring high-profile matches against Manchester City, Manchester United and rival Everton, there have been few chances to rest players. Even Saturday's match against Newcastle United required several regular starters while Mohamed Salah needed to come off the bench to see out the 1-0 win.
The result was a tired team mentally and physically in a UCL semifinal.
Of course, Liverpool continued to show its resolve with another win. Luis Diaz was a game-changer coming on at halftime and the team proved its class with strong finishing in the second half.
The early struggles still showed how difficult it is to win multiple trophies in a single season. With several big fixtures still ahead in May, manager Jurgen Klopp might have to decide what's most important.
Winner: TV Executives
No matter who wins the other semifinal between Real Madrid and Manchester City, the Champions League final will be a great one.
Liverpool will either face a club with the most European titles of all time, or a major club looking for its first. There will either be a rematch of the 2018 UCL final and a classic battle of English versus Spain giants, or it will be second-straight battle of English teams in the final.
The match will also be loaded with some of the best players in the world, including Salah, Sadio Mane, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and either Karim Benzema and Luka Modric or Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling.
With all due respect to the Villarreal underdog story, the majority of fans will want to see the biggest stars on the biggest stage. This is what they will get on May 28.
Liverpool Withstands Villarreal's Rally, Advances to 2022 Champions League Final
May 3, 2022
Liverpool's Fabinho celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Champions League semi final, second leg soccer match between Villarreal and Liverpool at the Ceramica stadium in Villarreal, Spain, Tuesday, May 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
The quadruple remains on for Liverpool.
Thanks to a second-half turnaround, the Reds beat Villarreal 5-2 on aggregate to qualify for the Champions League final.
The "game of two halves" cliche certainly applied Tuesday night at Estadio de la Ceramica. Liverpool went behind by two goals before scoring three unanswered to make the final score more one-sided than the tie was.
Villarreal was decisively beaten in the first leg, and the 2-0 final score might have slightly flattered the Spanish club. The Yellow Submarine only finished with 29 percent of possession and failed to register a shot on target.
Veteran center back Pau Torres wasn't throwing in the towel, though.
"At home we are a totally different team, we are going to go out there and play to win," he told Movistar Plus (via Reuters). "We still trust in ourselves, we have no doubt. I can promise our fans they are going to see a Villarreal that they can identify with in the second leg."
From the opening whistle, Villarreal displayed a clear sense of purpose and showed no fear in taking the match right to Liverpool. That mentality resulted in a goal straight away.
In the third minute, Pervis Estupinan hit a dangerous cross to the far post. Etienne Capoue didn't make clean contact with his attempted shot, which proved to be a blessing in disguise as the ball rolled perfectly into the path of Boulaye Dia.
Three minutes in and Villarreal already got one back 😱
The goal didn't shake Liverpool out of its early slumber as Villarreal continued to boss the game from there. An aggregate equalizer felt inevitable, and it arrived in the 41st minute on a header from Francis Coquelin.
It was a stunning turnaround from such a one-sided opening leg, both in terms of Villarreal's dominance and Liverpool's disarray.
Half time, Villarreal 2 (2) Liverpool 0 (2). The Reds playing like they have finally run out of steam after such an intense run - and like they can’t handle being played at their own game. One way to handle it is to pass the ball better, but they know that. Work for Klopp to do.
Did say earlier to @ianirvingtv that Villarreal needed a replica of the first leg first half v Bayern to get back in this tie. Did not for a second imagine that they'd actually produce it.
The abolishment of the away-goals rule meant the second half was there for the taking for the host. Under the old format, Liverpool would've needed only one goal to effectively blunt all of the momentum Villarreal had built to that point. Without that advantage for the Reds, the match continued to teeter on a knife's edge.
Whereas some were calling for Jordan Henderson to replace Naby Keita at the halftime interval, manager Jurgen Klopp opted to bring on Luis Diaz for Diogo Jota. The Liverpool manager clearly wanted to take a more aggressive approach.
Between that and whatever Klopp told his players in the dressing room, the second half was a stark contrast to the first.
Fabinho made it 2-1 in the 62nd minute on a shot that squeezed between the legs of Villarreal goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli. Diaz added more breathing room in the 67th minute, illustrating how much his inclusion changed the match.
Rulli could've done more to keep Fabinho's effort out of the net, and he was squarely to blame for Sadio Mane's tally in the 74th minute. The Argentine shot-stopper ran well off his line and left the goal wide open as Mane got on the end of a lofted pass from Keita.
Overcoming a two-goal deficit in a little more than 20 minutes was already a tall order for Villarreal, so going behind by three meant the end of the home side's Cinderella story.
Liverpool, on the other hand, punched its ticket to Paris for the Champions League final on May 28. The Reds await the winner of Wednesday's semifinal between Manchester City and Real Madrid.
They will either have the chance to best their biggest domestic rival or gain a measure of vengeance after losing to Madrid in the 2018 final.
Top Winners and Losers After Wednesday's Champions League Semifinal Leg-1 Results
Apr 27, 2022
Liverpool's German manager Jurgen Klopp (R) congratulates Liverpool's Brazilian midfielder Fabinho (C) and Liverpool's English defender Trent Alexander-Arnold (L) at the end of the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg football match between Liverpool and Villarreal, at the Anfield Stadium, in Liverpool, on April 27, 2022. - Liverpool beats Villarreal 2-0. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
Ho-hum, another dominant win for Liverpool.
The Reds took the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal against Villareal 2-0 behind a Pervis Estupinan own goal and a Sadio Mane tally.
The win moved the Reds 90 minutes away from a potential all-Premier League UCL final after Manchester City defeated Real Madrid 4-3 on Tuesday. Below, we'll break down Wednesday's biggest winners and losers.
Winner: Liverpool's Relentless Attack
No club in football is more irrepressible, more swarming and more ambitious in an opponent's final third than Liverpool. Villarreal, meanwhile, wants to muck up the game and steal something late.
So it was a clash of styles Wednesday, and early in the second, half Liverpool's aggressive pressing finally won out with a pair of quick goals:
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 27, 2022
It was about being patience, move quick the ball.After HT,instructions of switch the play quicker,to don't allow Villareal to be compact in one side, then, opportunities arrived.Fantastic game for @LFC .Never lost the composure, keept working and got a great result.LFC 2v0 VIL
FT: #LFC 2 Villarreal 0: Liverpool in the box seat ahead of next Tuesday's second leg in Spain. Really impressive, composed, mature European performance. Stayed patient and got their reward in the second half with Estupinan's own goal followed by Mane's finish. Half a job done.
The work isn't done, with the second leg to be played Tuesday. But nobody will expect the defensive Villarreal to erase a two-goal deficit against arguably the most talented side in Europe.
Loser: Parking the Bus
On one hand, Unai Emery's Villareal didn't stand much of a chance in an open game against Liverpool's superior talent and smothering press, so playing a deep defensive block made sense.
And for 45 minutes, it sort of worked, though only by a post.
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 27, 2022
The Identity for Liverpool is they will outwork you and just want it more. I can't say that is what happened in first 45 at Anfield. Villareal defending everywhere and winning 50/50's. They are a nightmare to play against.
On the other hand, parking the bus and hoping to soak up 90 minutes of pressure in an attempt to escape with a scoreless draw before heading back to Spain was a tall task. Eventually, Villareal was punished for its failure to alleviate that pressure or offer much of a threat on the counter.
Some effort from Emery to get this Villarreal squad this far when you see the names in there...but Liverpool were always going to be well beyond them tonight
The Spanish side was always going to be the prohibitive underdogs. Now, Emery's men need to find a way to generate some attacking threat of their own. Stay parked and Villarreal will be towed right on out of the competition.
Winner: Liverpool's Quest for History
The Reds are one point behind Manchester City in the Premier League title race. They will face Chelsea in the FA Cup final. They already claimed the EFL Cup. And now they navigated a tricky first leg of the UCL semifinals against Villarreal, putting one foot into the final.
If Liverpool could pull off the quadruple, it could make a strong case to be considered the best club side in the history of the sport. It would potentially mean beating City in the UCL final and outpacing the Citizens in a tight Premier League title race. And the Reds would have to beat the defending European champions, Chelsea, to win the FA Cup.
There were previous Liverpool sides that dominated England and Europe and won a tonne of trophies, but is this team the best in #LFC history?
The Premier League has arguably never been stronger. Winning Europe is notoriously difficult. These Reds stand on the cusp of history.
Chelsea's Thomas Tuchel Says Referee Didn't Have 'Courage' in Real Madrid Clash
Apr 13, 2022
MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 12: Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel (L) argues with referee Szymon Marciniak after the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg soccer match between Real Madrid and Chelsea at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, in Madrid, Spain, 12 April 2022. (Photo by Burak Akbulut/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Chelsea won its second-leg matchup with Real Madrid in the Champions League quarterfinals on Tuesday, 3-2, but lost the matchup in aggregate (5-4).
One of the key moments in the game was Marcos Alonso's disallowed goal after VAR ruled a handball on the play, and after the match Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel told reporters he felt that referee Szymon Marciniak—who chose against reviewing the play pitchside—lacked "courage" in the game.
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 12, 2022
If you play against Real Madrid, you can maybe not expect that everybody has the courage. I felt little decisions also in the first leg and the second leg today as well [went against us]. I did not see the goal, but I told him I'm super disappointed that he does not come out and check it on his own.
In a match like this where you have a certain line to whistle, you should stay the boss and not give decisions like this to somebody in a chair who is isolated from the atmosphere and from the way. The referee has a certain style, things he allows and doesn't allow, he follows a certain line so I think he should stay in charge and check it on his own, then he could also explain it better.
By the letter of the law VAR got the call right, though it still divided opinion:
I do like the attacking player VAR hand ball rule. No grey area.
Granted, Chelsea also benefited from a refereeing gaffe earlier in the game on Toni Rudiger's headed goal. That corner should have never occurred—Real Madrid should have instead been awarded a goal kick:
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 12, 2022
The Blues were also in the driver's seat in the game, taking a 3-0 lead with just 15 minutes left that also gave them a 4-3 advantage in aggregate. The Champions League holders were in prime position to advance to the semifinals.
But Rodrygo's goal in the 80th minute and Karim Benzema's game-winning header in extra time ended Chelsea's UCL campaign:
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 12, 2022
"We were unlucky," Tuchel told reporters. "We got beaten by pure individual quality, of conversion, on our mistakes. Two mistakes. That you can't have against Real Madrid. We were unlucky. We deserved to go through."
The painful nature of the loss likely exasperated Tuchel's feelings toward Marciniak. He was also aggrieved after seeing the referee "laughing loud" with Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti after the match.
"I think this is the very, very wrong time to do this after the final whistle, after 126 minutes with one team giving their heart and fighting to the very last drop," he said. "To go as a coach and see the referee laughing and smiling with the other coach I think is very, very bad timing and I told him this. That was it."
