Real Madrid through to next round, win 6-2 on aggregate, Liverpool ousted
Napoli reach last eight for first time
IMAGE: Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates. Photograph: Juan Medina/Reuters
Real Madrid cruised into the Champions League quarter-finals as Karim Benzema’s second-half goal secured a comfortable 1-0 win over Liverpool in their last-16 second leg that wrapped up a 6-2 aggregate victory on Wednesday.
Bidding to win back-to-back Champions League titles and a record extending 15th European crown, a disciplined Real seemed content to sit back against a tame Liverpool who carried little threat for most of the game.
Real spurned several opportunities to open the scoring as they looked to exploit Vinicius Jr’s speed on the counter-attack but could not break the deadlock until late in the second half.
IMAGE: Karim Benzema sealed victory in the 79th minute. Photograph: Juan Medina/Reuters
They sealed victory in the 79th minute when Vinicius flicked a loose ball inside the area to Benzema who tapped it into the empty net.
“There is no easy wins in the Champions League and it was a complicated match, but we showed from the beginning how serious we are in our desire to go far in the competition this season,” Benzema told Movistar Plus.
“Football today is about suffering, it’s part of the sport we play. Everyone wants more. You always have to suffer. The important thing is to win and get through the next round.”
IMAGE: Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold in action with Real Madrid’s Nacho. Photograph: Juan Medina/Reuters
In need of a three-goal win after losing 5-2 at home, Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp picked a very attacking team with forwards Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez in the starting line-up.
Nunez almost scored in the sixth minute after Salah stole the ball from Eder Militao and set up the Uruguayan, but his low shot was blocked by goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Playing with two disciplined four-man defensive lines and only Vinicius Jr and Benzema up-front, Real looked to counter-attack using the pace of the Brazilian down the left.
He set up Benzema twice but the French striker wasted both chances.
IMAGE: Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino and Real Madrid’s Antonio Rudiger after the match. Photograph: Susana Vera/Reuters
The inspired Vinicius almost scored in the 14th minute, but his point-blank volley was brilliantly saved by Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson.
Real almost scored when Eduardo Camavinga unleashed a thunderous strike from distance that crashed against the crossbar and Luka Modric also fired a fierce shot inches over the bar.
Courtois made fine saves to keep out shots by Nunez and Gakpo, but Real Madrid stayed in control and seemed content to slow the pace of the game down to frustrate their opponents.
The hosts were more aggressive in the second half and should have scored through Federico Valverde and Benzema who wasted golden opportunities from close range.
Finally, however, Vinicius took down a loose ball from a mis-hit Benzema shot and found the unmarked Frenchman who settled the tie.
Osimhen double sends Napoli into last eight for first time
IMAGE: Napoli’s Victor Osimhen scores their second goal. Photograph: Ciro De Luca/Reuters
Napoli forward Victor Osimhen struck either side of the break to steer the Italians to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday and into the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time.
The 24-year-old Nigeria international, who also scored in their 2-0 win over Eintracht in Germany, scored with a header in first-half stoppage time.
Osimhen bagged his 23rd goal in 28 matches in all competitions this season with a tap-in after a quick four-pass Napoli combination in the 53rd minute before Piotr Zielinski converted a penalty to secure a 5-0 aggregate win.
Napoli are the third Italian team to advance to the quarters after Inter and AC Milan.
“It wasn’t easy, but we managed to reach a historical goal for Napoli,” coach Luciano Spalletti said. “I hope we enjoy it now with the whole team and together with the fans.”
“It is important to have the attitude we had tonight. At the beginning we didn’t have much quality, but we did well and didn’t concede.”
“Osimhen is a very strong footballer. He is able to cut behind defenders, and now he is also playing more with the team, and we’re happy.”
IMAGE: Napoli’s Victor Osimhen in action. Photograph: Ciro De Luca/Reuters
Prior to the game fighting broke out in the Italian city as fans set a police car on fire and threw stones at buses and police.
Italian authorities had banned German fans from attending the game amid concerns about possible violence, but some Eintracht supporters made the trip to Italy anyway.
It was peaceful inside the Diego Maradona stadium and the hosts were in control from the start.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia went close with a mazy run into the box in the 19th minute and the Georgian was denied again in the 43rd with keeper Kevin Trapp kicking the winger’s close-range shot wide.
Osimhen opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time after being given far too much space in the box to rise high and head in a measured Matteo Politano cross.
That meant Europa League champions Frankfurt, who were missing their two top strikers, suspended Randal Kolo Muani and injured Jesper Lindstrom, needed three goals, but they struggled against a well-drilled Napoli defence.
They were also under pressure from Napoli’s relentless pressing game and it was Osimhen who scored again. He tapped in from close range to kill off any hopes of a German comeback, becoming the first Napoli player to score in both legs of a Champions League knockout match.
“We managed to keep up with them for parts of the game,” said Frankfurt captain Sebastian Rode. “But we lost possession before the goals and that broke us. We were also lacking punch in the final third of the pitch.”
The Serie A leaders capped a superb two-legged performance with Zielinski’s penalty after the Pole was brought down in the box.
