Liverpool 1 – 0 Real Madrid

Liverpool got a huge win and confidence boost in the Champions League vs Real Madrid yesterday in a highly entertaining match, at least for Liverpool supporters as the Reds peppered the Madrid goal with shot after shot while Madrid just passed the ball around rather aimlessly, looking rather clueless about how to break a compact Liverpool defense. Madrid had 64% possession but did very little with it, creating only 0.45xG in the entire match, in direct contrast to Liverpool’s 2.63xG. Thibaut Courtois who had a truly outstanding display was the reason the score was only 1-0.

Cody Gakpo wasn’t in the starting XI, with Arne Slot preferring Florian Wirtz on the left instead, we also saw starts for Andy Robertson alongside the usual starters, Giorgi Mamardashvili remained in goal in the continued absence of the injured Alisson. Xabi Alonso started the same XI that won the El Clasico in hopes of replicating that performance, but that hardly materialized.

From minute 1, the clash at Anfield exploded with a familiar yet ferocious intensity, dictated entirely by the home side without much of the ball, ironically. Liverpool, needing a statement victory, delivered a blistering start, immediately employing a high-press strategy that effectively suffocated Real Madrid. The Spanish giants struggled severely in the opening quarter of an hour, consistently pinned deep in their own territory and unable to establish any significant control of possession or ball circulation.

This early dominance translated quickly into territory, though not initially into a scoring threat. In the 8th minute, Alexis Mac Allister, the eventual match-winner, registered the first offensive action, driving a wayward shot from the edge of the box high and wide over the crossbar. It was an indication of intent, if not accuracy.

The first major action unfolded in the 27th minute, setting the tone for what would become an evening-long duel between Liverpool’s attack and Real Madrid’s goalkeeper. A defensive lapse by Real Madrid’s young defender Dean Huijsen gifted possession to Liverpool in a dangerous area. Florian Wirtz expertly cut the ball back, finding the unmarked Dominik Szoboszlai, who looked certain to open the scoring. However, Thibaut Courtois demonstrated his world-class reflexes, throwing himself across the goal to pull off a massive, point-blank save. This moment was a significant near miss for the Reds and an early reprieve for Real Madrid, who owed their parity solely to the Belgian’s brilliance.

Controversy followed just three minutes later. Szoboszlai unleashed another shot that struck Aurélien Tchouaméni’s hand inside the box. The referee initially pointed to a free-kick on the line, but a subsequent VAR Penalty Check saw the official advised to consult the pitch-side monitor. To the fury of the Anfield crowd, the decision was ultimately overturned, ruling the contact unintentional and in a natural position, sparing Tchouaméni a caution and Real Madrid a penalty kick.

As the half neared its conclusion, Courtois was called upon once more. In the 43rd minute, Szoboszlai, determined to find the net, unleashed a powerful, dipping strike from outside the area. It was destined for the top corner, but Courtois produced another superb save, getting a full-stretch, strong parry to push the ball away. Real Madrid finally carved out their best chance just before the break when Jude Bellingham wove skillfully into the box, but Liverpool keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili was equal to the task, denying the English midfielder’s tight-angle effort with a crucial foot save. The half closed with defender Dean Huijsen receiving a Yellow Card for a cynical foul on Hugo Ekitiké, confirming Real’s lack of control.

The second half began with Liverpool doubling down on their offensive pressure. Barely three minutes in, the home side created a sequence that underscored Courtois’s enduring resistance. From a Liverpool corner, Virgil van Dijk rose unmarked for a powerful header, but Courtois somehow managed to tip it over the bar. This world class save drew gasps and applause in equal measure, leaving the Liverpool players and particularly Van Dijk visibly stunned by the Belgian’s performance. Moments later, from the resulting corner, Hugo Ekitiké had a chance to score but his header went just wide of the goal.

The physicality of the contest increased, leading to a quick succession of cards. In the 52nd minute, Alexis Mac Allister was cautioned with a Yellow Card for a cynical pull-back on Kylian Mbappé as the Frenchman attempted to launch a lightning-fast Real counter-attack. Five minutes later, Jude Bellingham also entered the referee’s book, receiving a Yellow Card for a late, untidy tackle on Ryan Gravenberch, which proved to be a critical error.

From the resulting free-kick, Liverpool finally broke the deadlock in the 61st minute. From the dead ball, Dominik Szoboszlai whipped an inswinging delivery toward the six-yard box. Alexis Mac Allister timed his run and jump perfectly, bulleting a header past Courtois. The goal, though checked briefly by VAR for offside, stood, sending Anfield into raptures and marking the moment the hosts finally breached the seemingly impenetrable Madrid defence.

Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso reacted swiftly, making his first tactical Substitution in the 67th minute, sacrificing midfielder Eduardo Camavinga for forward Rodrygo in an attempt to inject pace and attacking threat. However, the Real attack, spearheaded by Vinicius, Mbappé and Bellingham, remained largely subdued. Mbappé, struggling to escape the tight marking, managed a rare chance in the 76th minute, but his low shot at the edge of the box flew wide of the far post, a significant wayward shot given the Frenchman’s usual clinical nature. Vinicius himself was kept astoundingly quiet by Connor Bradley.
With time ticking down, Liverpool made their own tactical changes in the 78th minute, bringing on fresh legs with Cody Gakpo and Curtis Jones replacing the tireless Mac Allister and Ekitiké.

The 81st minute saw the most talked-about substitution of the night: former Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold entered the pitch for Arda Güler, met by a mixed, though predominantly hostile, reception from the home crowd. His cameo was ineffective in reversing Real’s fortunes.
The match’s final dramatic flourish came in the 87th minute. A chaotic sequence unfolded as Mohamed Salah set up Cody Gakpo for a clear close-range effort, only for Courtois to make another crucial save. The rebound fell back to Salah, whose follow-up shot was instantly met by a lunging, desperate block from Éder Militão. It was a sequence that perfectly encapsulated the theme of the night: Liverpool’s relentless pressure denied only by last-ditch defending and Courtois’s brilliance.

Liverpool then made more substitutions in the 88th minute, bringing on Federico Chiesa and Milos Kerkez to shore up the wings for Wirtz and Robertson. The game closed in heated fashion deep into injury time: Real Madrid defender Álvaro Carreras was shown a Yellow Card for a late challenge in the 90+5th minute, quickly followed by a Yellow Card for Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso himself for aggressively protesting the decision. The final whistle sounded shortly after, sealing a well deserved 1-0 victory for Liverpool.