The match got off to a thrilling start, with Liverpool creating early chances. Darwin Nunez came closest in the first half when his powerful shot was brilliantly saved by Real Madrid's Thibaut Courtois, only for the ball to deflect dangerously off a defender, almost resulting in an own goal. Madrid managed to clear the ball off the line just in time, and Nunez had another golden opportunity moments later. After pouncing on a loose ball inside the box, he fired towards goal, but Courtois made a crucial close-range save to keep the scores level.
Liverpool's pressure paid off after the break when Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring in the 53rd minute. The Argentine midfielder found space in the box and slotted the ball past Courtois into the bottom corner, giving the hosts a deserved lead. The goal seemed to awaken Real Madrid, who responded quickly with a penalty opportunity. Andrew Robertson was judged to have fouled Madrid's Lucas Vazquez in the box, handing the Spanish giants a chance to equalize from the penalty spot. However, Kelleher had other ideas. The Liverpool goalkeeper produced a superb save, denying Kylian Mbappe’s powerful effort and keeping his side in front.Shortly after, Liverpool were awarded a penalty of their own. Mohamed Salah stepped up to take the spot-kick but was unable to capitalize, blasting his attempt wide of the post. Despite this, the Reds remained firmly in control and sealed the win in the 76th minute. Cody Gakpo, who had been lively throughout, powered a header into the back of the net from a pinpoint cross by Robertson, putting the game beyond Madrid's reach.
While Liverpool dominated the match with a total of 2.53 expected goals, Real Madrid struggled to make an impact, finishing with just 1.24 expected goals. Despite possessing plenty of attacking talent, including the likes of Mbappe and Vinicius Jr., Madrid's performance was lacklustre, leaving coach Carlo Ancelotti with much to ponder.
With the victory, Liverpool extend their unbeaten run in the competition and remain at the top of the table. They now turn their attention to their next Champions League fixture, a trip to Girona. Meanwhile, Real Madrid, who will be disappointed with their performance, will need to regroup as they prepare for a crucial clash against Atalanta in their next outing.
This result marks a major step in Liverpool's pursuit of further European glory, while Real Madrid will be looking to bounce back after this unexpected setback.
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