Liverpool’s one-and-a-half decade wait is finally over. The English club defeated Real Madrid 2-0 on Wednesday night in the Champions League. Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe missed penalties.
The history
March 11, 2009. Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres crushed Real Madrid 4-0 at home in the second leg of the Champions League, last 16. Since then, only disappointment. Liverpool have lost seven of the eight head-to-head matches in the last 15 years.
Liverpool made it five league phase wins out of five with victory over Real Madrid 👊
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) November 28, 2024
More on Wednesday's action 👇
Mbappe misses penalty as Liverpool exact revenge on Real Madrid
The first half ended goalless on Wednesday night. Real manager Carlo Ancelotti was unable to get Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, Aurelien Tchouameni and David Alaba due to injuries. Mac Allister scored in the seven minutes into the second half, making the Anfield gallery frenzy. However, the celebrations did not last long. Real were awarded a penalty in the 59th minute. But Mbappe could not score. The French star’s shot was saved by Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, who came on to replace Alisson Becker, who was ruled out due to injury.
Some of the saves made on Wednesday were UNREAL 🤯
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) November 27, 2024
From Kelleher's penalty heroics to Dibu Martínez's sensational reflexes ⛔@QatarAirways | #LetsFly pic.twitter.com/mV2ItUMqTA
He also set a precedent by saving three penalties in two weeks. Kelleher became the first goalkeeper in Liverpool’s history to save penalties in two consecutive matches in 115 years. Salah also failed to score from the penalty spot in the 70th minute. Within six minutes, Gakpo headed in Andy Robertson’s cross to make it 2-0. Real could not recover from this setback.
Defeat sends Carlo Ancelotti’s side to 24th in the table
The loss to Liverpool has also cast doubt on Real’s qualification for the last 16 of the Champions League. Last year’s champions Real are in 24th place in the table with just six points. Under the new Champions League rules, the top eight teams in the points table will advance directly to the last 16. The teams ranked ninth to 24th will play a play-off. From there, the remaining eight teams will advance to the last 16.
🏁 @LFC 2-0 @RealMadrid
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) November 27, 2024
⚽ 52' Mac Allister
⚽ 76' Gakpo#UCL pic.twitter.com/gp0e1j5giB
The future of Real manager Carlo Ancelotti is also in doubt. Although he assured Liverpool of qualifying for the last 16 after the loss, Ancelotti said in a press conference, “We have to be in the top 24 teams in the points table. We will achieve the goal.”
“It is a difficult time for Kylian,” said Ancelotti
Many Real fans are blaming Mbappe’s penalty miss for the defeat against Liverpool. After the match, Ancelotti, however, stood by Mbappe. He said, “Mbappe is going through a difficult time. We have to be by his side in this situation. Hopefully, everything will be fine soon.” Ancelotti did not hide Mbappe’s lack of confidence. He said, “Maybe he lacks confidence. Of course, sometimes it happens when everything is not in his favor. We have to get through this difficult time.”
In other Champions League matches, Borussia Dortmund won 3-0 against Dinamo Zagreb. Monaco lost 2-3 to Benfica. PSV beat Shakhtar Donetsk 3-2.