As the Champions League knock out stages have resumed after the winter break I thought this week I would look back at a classic match involving the Reds. Amazingly six years ago today Rafa Benitez took on former club Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.
Who would have thought it that Real Madrid and their fans would be shell-shocked in their own stadium.
Benitez during his tenure as Liverpool manager made an exact science out of defensive durability, frustrating the opposition and punishing teams on the counter-attack. The formula worked to perfection in this game.
Rafa selected the likes of Reina, Sktrel, Benayoun, Torres, Riera, Mascherano and Aurelio. Gerrard, Lucas and Hyypia were named amongst the substitutes. Former Tottenham manager Juande Ramos named a strong lineup including Ramos, Pepe, Higuain, Spain’s prodigal son Raul and Iker Casillias. Istanbul hero Jerzy Dudek was on the bench.
Real struggled to break through the discipline of Liverpool and created very few chances. Reina saved a Sergio Ramos header and Higuain thought he had scored the rebound but his effort was given offside.
Both Torres and Benayoun had chances in the first half to put the Reds ahead but Casillias made himself big and saved brilliantly.
Alonso who had a knack of scoring long range efforts from his own half tried one of his trademark specials and had Casillas racing back from the edge of his area to tip the ball over the bar.
The second half Real Madrid’s Robben and Guti tried their luck down the channels but had no joy.
Albert Riera had a glorious opportunity on 58 minutes when he sent his shot off target after Benayoun had picked the ball up in his own half on the right hand side. He carried it all the way into the Real box, cutting into the centre, and laid the ball across to him.
Real’s best opportunity was on 71 minutes when Robben sent a swerving, rising effort goalwards, however Pepe had no problem in saving the shot as it was straight in front of him.
The game was looking like a 0-0 stalemate until former Manchester United defender Gabriel Heinze brought down Dirt Kuyt on the right hand side of Real Madrid’s box on 81 minutes. Fabio Aurelio took a fantastic inswinging free kick, and Benayoun headed home from the edge of the six-yard box.
Cue amazing scenes from the travelling Kop, you could hear a pin drop from three quarters of the ground as the home fans were in disarray from the scoreline. Now if they thought their heroes had an off day in the first leg, we all know what transpired in the return leg at Anfield – a footballing lesson.
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