Liverpool stun Real Madrid with late Benayoun goal

New Delhi: Los Blancos dominated the game for long periods but a header from Benayoun 10 minutes from time handed the travelling Reds a precious first leg win.

The big team news prior to kick-off centred around two key players in the game: Arjen Robben and Steven Gerrard. While Real Madrid had the in-form Dutchman back from injury and straight to the starting line-up, Liverpool only had their talismanic captain starting on the bench. But it didn’t matter for them in the end.

First Half

It was Madrid who did all the running in attack early on and predictably, they had the first real chance at goal after five minutes. Arjen Robben slipped in a lovely through pass to Raul, who took the ball past Martin Skrtel but onto his weaker right foot, he could only shoot straight at Pepe Reina.

Los Merengues continually dominated the contest and both Sergio Ramos and Pepe tried their luck from identically overhead bicycle kicks off a 10th minute corner, but neither could hit it cleanly enough to trouble Reina. Moments later, Marcelo rifled in a bullet half-volley from a tight angle but the Liverpool shot-stopper was not to be beaten at his near post.

The Scousers’ first opportunity didn’t arrive until the 20th minute when Fernando Torres sneaked behind the offside line held by Pepe and Fabio Cannavaro and streamed towards goal but his shot on the right channel was parried away brilliantly by Iker Casillas.

Minutes after that, the Blancos goalkeeper had to be alert again as he charged off his line when Yossi Benayoun broke clear into the box from the right and Iker was forced to flap the ball away when the Israeli tried to lob it over him.

Right on the half-hour mark, Gonzalo Higuain had the ball in the back of the net when he pounced on a Sergio Ramos header which came back off the bar, but the Argentine forward was standing in an offside position and the goal was rightly cancelled by the referee.

Madrid ended the half the stronger with a flurry successive chances from distance. Marcelo and Higuain both came close from 20 yards out, before Robben tried his luck when on two occasions, he waltzed past a crowd of defenders, checked onto his favourite left foot but neither attempt were on target.

Two minutes before the break, Albert Riera almost had his heart in his mouth when he tried to clear Robben’s low cross but the ball skidded off his shin towards his own goal, but Reina was alert to make the save.

However, it was Xabi Alonso who almost stunned the home crowd when his hopeful 60-yard effort right on 45 minutes forced Casillas to back-track and make a full stretch save to tip the ball over the bar.

Second Half

Despite picking up a knock, Torres was sent back out onto the pitch for the second period. Marcelo, however, was not as Juande Ramos made the first change of the game sending in Guti to inject more attacking depth in midfield.

Liverpool caused the first real panic of the half when Riera’s cross forced Casillas well off his line to parry it out but Xabi Alonso’s follow-up volley just bobbled wide.

Robben was soon up to his usual tricks again as he snaked his way down the right past three defenders but he could only crash his shot into the side netting.

Sergio Ramos had the next look-in at goal minutes later with a blistering long range effort but Reina got all his body behind the ball to make a clean save.

Clear-cut chances quickly dried up after that as both sides adopted a more cautious approach. It wasn’t until the 70th minute when the Bernabeu faithful were up on their feet.

Madrid broke on the counter and Robben charged forward before cutting on to his left foot and unleashing a thunderbolt, but Reina managed to swat the ball over the bar.

But with 10 minutes to go, Liverpool stunned the Bernabeu. Heinze clumsily gave away a freekick when he bundled Kuyt down on the left flank, and Fabio Aurelio whipped in an inch-perfect delivery for an unmarked Yossi Benayoun, who thumped a header into the top left corner past a hapless Casillas.

The Spaniards were visibly shaken as they failed to respond. The Premier League giants immediately pulled men back and Madrid ended the match on a whimper, barely creating any danger after going behind.

It was exactly the result Liverpool were angling for and they will head back to Anfield for the second leg clash on March 10 feeling confident of progressing to the quarter-finals thanks to this priceless 1-0 win.

Line-ups

Real Madrid (4-4-2): Casillas – Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Cannavaro, Heinze – Robben, Lass, Gago, Marcelo (Guti, 46’) – Higuain, Raul Unused subs: Dudek, Saviola, Sneijder, Metzelder, Miguel Torres, Van der Vaart

Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Reina – Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel, Fabio Aurelio – Xabi Alonso, Mascherano – Benayoun, Kuyt (Lucas, 91’), Riera (Gerrard, 88’) – Torres (Babel, 61’) Unused subs: Cavalieri, Dossena, Hyypia, Ngog

Real Madrid 0-1 Liverpool

0-1: Liverpool (Benayoun, 80’)

Bookings

Real Madrid: Cannavaro (47’), Gago (86’)

Liverpool: Torres (54’), Mascherano (65’), Riera (83’)

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