Ttitle winner, Real Madrid is not calm during this new league phase in the Champions League. With a record of 50% (two victories and two defeats) before joining Anfield, the Merengue also had to face the shock of the evening deprived of many executives like Alaba, Carvajal, Militao, Tchouaméni, Rodrygo and Vinícius. While “Vini’s” injury guaranteed Mbappé to start the match on his favorite left side, statistics buffs on the Madrid side had reason to grimace for the 12e historic confrontation (all in C1) between Liverpool and Real without the Brazilian (five goals and three assists in five matches against the Reds).
If the Madrid fans (including Rafael Nadal present at Anfield) hoped that his goal scored in La Liga would reinvigorate Mbappé, they could be disillusioned after less than 4 minutes when a loss of ball by the Frenchman was the basis of the Reds’ first opportunity, annihilated by the hands of Courtois and the feet of the young Asencio… who had to try twice to avoid a self-goal. As during the 2022 final at the Stade de France, the Belgian goalkeeper worked to frustrate the Reds by making several interventions, including a reflex save in the 22e facing Nunez. For his part, Mbappé was more in ghost mode like a raid stopped by the perfect tackle from young Bradley, greeted by all of Anfield as if it were a goal!
Courteous or not, the goals still ended up falling after the break thanks to Mac Allister (52e) et Gakpo (77e), making Mo Salah’s penalty misses anecdotal for Arne Slot’s men (who could already make it 2-0 in the 70the)… and Kylian Mbappé (61e to make 1-1). A failure which will not improve its current rating in Spain and which will compete with its missed shot on goal (or stopped by Sommer) at Euro 2020, synonymous with the elimination of the Blues in 8es of final. More than Liverpool’s first victory over Real since 2009, synonymous with 15 out of 15 in C1 (the 17e victory in 19 official matches), this 3e defeat of the Merengue puts them back in the 24the place, enough to already trigger a few whistles from the stands for Mbappé…
Meunier and Tielemans holders and informed
In an evening where several Belgians took action, young Matteo Dams can thank the incredible comeback of his PSV teammates (with Johan Bakayoko) against Shakhtar. On the two Ukrainian goals, the international hopeful was clearly at fault.
Visiting Bologna, Lille played with its two Belgian starters: Thomas Meunier played 73 minutes and was booked in 2e At half-time, Matias Fernandez-Pardo provided the assist for the 1-2. With Aston Villa where Amadou Onana was still injured, Youri Tielemans was also warned against Juventus where Samuel Mbangula moved up to 82e. Julien Duranville moved up to 61e to participate in Dortmund’s victory in Zagreb.
