2022 – CL quarter-finals first leg – Liverpool wins 3-1 at Benfica after anxious minutes


  • Liverpool celebrate a 3-1 win at Benfica in the first leg of the quarter-finals in the Champions League.
  • The “Reds” dominate the first half, but come under pressure after Benfica’s goal.
  • After all, it is Luis Diaz who scores the final point in the 87th minute.
  • In Tuesday’s second game, Manchester City beat Atletico Madrid 1-0 at home.

It was a prime example of how a single action can completely change the dynamic of a game. Liverpool dominated the first half at the Estadio da Luz and deservedly took a 2-0 lead. But then central defender Ibrahima Konaté hit the ball over the ball after a low cross from the right. Darwin Nunez didn’t need to be asked twice and reduced the score to 1:2 for the Portuguese.

As a result, the dominance of the guests was blown away. Benfica had more chances in the 55th and 60th minute – and Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp responded. In the 61st minute, the German tried to give his team new impetus with a triple substitution. It worked to the extent that Benfica didn’t get any more good chances. It still took until the 82nd minute for the next dangerous scene from the “Reds”.

Because Luis Diaz missed the goal, it remained exciting – until the 87th minute. Then it was Diaz again who was able to put himself in the limelight. After great preliminary work by Naby Keita, the Colombian Benfica keeper Odisseas rounded Vlachodimos and pushed in to make it 3-1. Benfica, in which Nati striker Haris Seferovic was not substituted on, faces a mammoth task in the second leg on April 13 at Anfield.

Total dominance before the break

Liverpool controlled Benfica from A to Z for the first 45 minutes. The “Reds” kept the ball in their own ranks and kept creating good opportunities. The 1-0 came after a corner kick, however, when the later unlucky Konaté found plenty of space in the center and placed his head in the net (17th).

The 2-0 after 34 minutes was the product of a wonderful combination. The strong Keita found Diaz’s head with a long ball, who sent it straight into the center to Sadio Mané, who only had to push in. Shortly before the half-time whistle, Mohamed Salah even let the guests make it 3-0.

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