April 15 – European powerhouse Real Madrid drew 0-0 with Liverpool following a gutsy performance at Anfield to reach the last four of the Champions League.
The Spanish team fielded a makeshift defence due to the absence of Dani Carvajal, Rafael Varane and captain Sergio Ramos, but held its own against Liverpool’s attacking phalanx. The hosts had 15 attempts, but Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane endured a torrid evening. Even the introduction of Diogo Jota could not unlock the white wall.
From the onset Liverpool were marauding and with momentum on their side it was easy to believe that Jurgen Klopp could enact another great comeback. In 2019, the Merseyside club manufactured an improbable 4-0 victory against Barcelona at the semi-finals stage, but on Wednesday Liverpool were far too wasteful and imprecise in front of the goalmouth to merit much more than a goalless draw and an agonizing elimination.
In the last four, Madrid will meet more English opposition, Chelsea. Manchester City will also carry the English flag in the semi-finals stage after Pep Guardiola’s team won 1-2 in Germany to knock out Dortmund 4-1 on aggregate, but the second leg was marred by a controversial penalty.
Jude Bellingham’s wonderful strike handed the hosts the advantage early on in Westfalen, but City responded with a penalty from Riyad Mahrez and a strike from Phil Foden to reverse the score. Dortmund will have felt that the penalty award for handball against Emre Can was harsh.
It’s the first time Pep’s City have reached the semi-finals. The English club were frustrated in the quarter-finals in each of the previous three seasons. City will take on Paris Saint-Germain in the last four. The Parisians eliminated reigning European champions Bayern Munich.
The semi-finals will take place on April 27-28 and May 4-5.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1714093656labto1714093656ofdlr1714093656owedi1714093656sni@o1714093656fni1714093656