Over the years, the UEFA Champions League has featured intense competition marked by heat, passion, and tears. While matches have always generated high levels of excitement, none have done so as early as the round of 16 matches. Most thrilling games have displayed their beauty since the competition’s quarterfinal round, but not in the 22/23 UEFA Champions League season with Liverpool and Real Madrid staging a blockbuster game this year.
The Galacticos are the team with the most Champions League trophies, boasting 14 of Europe’s elite trophies on the cabinet, while Liverpool is third on the rankings with six trophies. There is no doubt that two European footballing powerhouses collided on the pitch of play, providing millions of viewers around the world with a spectacle to watch on their television sets. As the curtains opened on the Round of 16 Champions League matches between Liverpool and Real Madrid, here are four things learned from the 22/23 UEFA Champions League game between Liverpool and Real Madrid at Anfield.
UEFA Champions League: What We Learned from Liverpool v Real Madrid
Nerves Abound
On a night of UEFA Champions League football with star players who have hundreds of games under their belts, you would expect the players to play with grace and without any form of nerves. But if last night were any indication, even the best of players get nervous when they see an exciting game.
In the first half of Real Madrid vs. Liverpool, players like Eduardo Camavinga lost the ball on several occasions, and both goalkeepers, Thibaut Courtois and Alisson Becker made horrendous errors that cost their teams goals.
Modric has Aged like Fine Wine
The Croatian midfielder has demonstrated that even at the age of 37, he can continue to play with such experience at the highest level. Modric shone like a star at the 2022 World Cup, leading Croatia to a third-place finish, and defeating Brazil on the way to the bronze medal.
Despite his younger and less experienced Camavinga looking a little frail on the night, Modric pushed Madrid in the second half, dominating the midfield ahead of Henderson. Modric has undoubtedly aged like fine wine, becoming sweeter with each passing year.
Quality Football
The first leg match featured tactical masterclasses and exciting football, with both teams boasting star players and quality coaches in Carlo Ancelotti and Jürgen Klopp, who have a combined total of 35 trophies on their cabinet.
Ancelloti started the game with a 4-3-3 formation, throwing caution to the wind and attacking from the first whistle. The match was won in the midfield by Don Carlos’s men, with Modric and Federico Valverde doing well enough to win the midfield battle against Stefan Bajcetic and Jordan Henderson, allowing Madrid to play amazing counter-attacking football that ultimately helped them win the game.
Moments of Brilliance
Football results are birthed by mistakes and moments of brilliance from team players making their team proud or otherwise. Both sides of the divide had a share of both with both goalkeepers making errors and Karim Benzema, Vinicius Junior, Valverde, and Rodrigo on the Galactico side of the divide showing brilliance The Reds, although lackluster, had Darwin Nunez‘s moment of brilliance to thank for the first of their only two goals of the night.
And, here is a bonus point that needs little or no explanation, do not bet against Real Madrid in a Champions League game.
These are the types of games that fans adore and anticipate; we can not get enough of them and they gladly sparkled like a diamond.
