Although Liverpool and Real Madrid are rightfully regarded as Champions League’s aristocrats, there can only be one king. Tuesday’s round of 16 battle between the two saw the defending champions go behind 2-0 after only 14 minutes, only to rally back to win 5-2 in a classic encounter at Anfield and take a commanding lead into the second leg. Vinicius Jr. and Karim Benzema both scored a brace while Eder Militao netted one to shock Liverpool and demonstrate that it will be difficult to stop them in their title defence.
Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah were on target for the Reds, adding once each within the first 15 minutes. The visitors appeared in danger of capitulating under the pressure of the typically intimidating Anfield environment until Real Madrid completed a thrilling fightback. Enroute to their historic win at Anfield, Real thrashed a stunning six records as listed below.
First European visitors to score FIVE goals at Anfield
Actually, Real Madrid scored four goals against Liverpool at Anfield, becoming the first visiting team to do so. Karim Benzema’s drive was deflected in by Joe Gomez, and then added an additional goal for good measure when Benzema manoeuvred around Alisson and blasted into an open goal.
The Reds also conceded at least four goals in the Champions League for the second time this season after doing so against Napoli in September last year during their group stage clash.
Benzema becomes first player to score six goals in European career against Liverpool
Karim Benzema once again has decided to boss the knockout rounds of the Champions League, after having scored 11 goals in 7 games last season including two hat-tricks enroute to Real’s 14th title. And now after his brace at Anfield on Tuesday night, the reigning Ballon d’Or winner has more goals against Liverpool in the European Cup and Champions League history than any other player (6).
For the record, he entered the game on par with Chelsea legend Didier Drogba. Benzema’s teammate Vinicius Junior, who had two strikes earlier in the match, is currently in second place in that category (5), again tied with Drogba.
Benzema at par with Messi for consecutive UCL seasons scored in
The French attacker, who missed a large portion of the group stage this season due to injury, has now scored in 18 straight Champions League seasons after breaking through with his first goals of the European campaign. Benzema now shares the all-time record with none other than the legendary Lionel Messi.
Real Madrid become the first club in UCL to overcome a two-goal deficit and win by three goals.
Real Madrid trailed by two goals at the start of the match, but Carlo Ancelotti’s side, who are renowned for staging thrilling comebacks, went on to win by three goals, setting a Champions League record. The stats are valid for both home and away games. A stunning goal every nine minutes was averaged by their five goals, which were scored between the 21st and 67th minutes.
Vinicius Junior second-youngest Real Madrid player to score in three straight UCL games
After scoring against Celtic and RB Leipzig, he scored two more goals on Tuesday, making his three-game winning streak in the Champions League the best in Real Madrid history after Raul. The great Spaniard accomplished the feat in 1999 at the age of 22 years and 163 days.