parity between Liverpool Y Manchester City It is not only measured in the English championship, where they take a point difference in the table, but also at a continental level. Both teams managed to take the first step towards the final of the Champions League by winning their semi-final first legs against Villarreal Y real Madridrespectively, seeking to consolidate the third final of Champions between British teams in the last four editions.
Liverpool received Villarreal in Wednesday’s series with the label of favourite, although acknowledging that the Spanish team is not a blank check, as it left the Juventus in the round of 16 and Bayern Munich in quarters, two giants of Europe who were considered serious candidates for the title of ‘La Orejona’.
“There may have been a small advantage in their last two games where Juve and Bayern underestimated them, but that will never happen to us, especially after these four games, there are no chances for that anymore,” he said. Liverpool Manager, Jurgen Kloppa day before the series, which ensured that his team would go out without any contemplation to seek victory at home.
And he did it overwhelmingly: Liverpool shot 19 times at goal Geronimo Rulli against only one shot to the frame of Allison Beckerwhile the balance of possession was 74% against 26%, including 737 passes for the English against only 272 for the Spanish.
On the scoreboard the difference was not so great. The first goal had to fall for an own goal from the Ecuadorian left side, Pervis Estupinanuntil minute 53, while the second fell immediately due to the Senegalese striker, Sadio Mane. Although the Reds tried with greater intensity the rest of the time, Villarreal recomposed the defensive security and endured the attacks until closing the door with a 0-2 that, they will try, be salvageable next Tuesday when they play at their home, the stadium of The ceramic.
“When you play two games you have to relativize. Today could have been worse. We have to try to make the game different there and propose ourselves (…) Today was a game in which, wanting to take control at times, they didn’t let us, wanting to run behind their back, we didn’t do it either. So today it was all about trying to resist defensively to have options in the second game and we did that. It’s going to be different there.” Unai EmeryVillarreal coach.
It was a difficult customs for the ‘Yellow Submarine’. The Liverpool has never lost a match in the semifinals of competitions of the UEFA at home and grew to 10 wins, two draws and just four goals against in those 12 games. The return will not be easy either, because according to data from the journalist specialized in statistics, MisterChiponly one team has been able to turn the Reds around after losing the first leg by two goals: the Inter de Milan on the european cup but from 57 years ago (in 1965).
But despite having these factors in his favour, coach Klopp is wary of the second leg: “The work still needs to be done, this is not over yet. We’re 2-0 at the break, we’ll have to continue to be 100% focused and maintain the right attitude, which is not going to defend. There will be a difficult environment there, they will give everything, they compete all the time. If they beat us and qualify, it will be because they deserved it and, if we qualify, we will also have deserved it”.
Klopp reached 50 wins in Champions League after the match against Villarreal. In the current edition of the tournament he has won nine of 11 games, highlighting that he left with a perfect record in the group stage and his only defeat was a 0-1 in the round of 16 against Inter de Milaninsufficient to eliminate them from the playoffs.
Villarreal will have to win at least by the same score on Tuesday at home to ensure extra time in the tie, although Liverpool It is enough for him to lose by difference of one goal to qualify in 90 minutes. Loss Reds have become a serious rival within the premier league and that has been verified in the Championsreaching two finals in the last five years (runners-up against Real Madrid in 2018 and champions against Tottenham in 2019).
Yes Liverpool Y Manchester City maintain their respective advantages against Villarreal and Real Madrid next week, they would qualify for the third English final of the last four editions in the Champions League, after which the Reds vs Tottenham in 2019 and the Chelsea vs Manchester City of 2021.
Liverpool are seeking to tie Milan as the second-winningest team in league history. European Cups (currently called Champions League) with seven, only behind Real Madrid’s 13, while Manchester City is looking for its first star, as is Villarreal. For now, the first step towards the crown has been taken by the English teams.