Real Madrid – Liverpool 1-0 (6-2 agg): Karim Benzema secures the Reds’ exit from the Champions League with a whimper

While the visitors stood little chance of a stunning comeback for which they became European kings until Benzema’s strike twelve minutes from time, it was down to Alisson Becker and not Jurgen Klopp’s front line.

The Brazilian made impressive saves in the first half to defeat both Eduardo Camavinga and Vinicius Jr.

Klopp’s time at Liverpool was as much about unrelenting intensity as quality on the pitch. It was the great intangible of his tenure, but as so often this season, that fire has long since died down to the lowest embers.

A four-man forward line of Darwin Nunez, Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo presented an ambitious line-up, if only in theory. Rarely did either of them threaten, although more quality in the last third would have freed Salah Nunez for a clean run on goal just after the break.

Liverpool just didn’t look like they thought a comeback was possible and in the 78th minute^th Minute Benzema agreed with them. The tall French forward scored from close range after a simple pass from Luka Modric that split the Reds in half, causing chaos in the defence, which hardly needed an invitation to collapse.

Ibrahima Konate failed to clear the lines, allowing Benzema to score the easiest goals against Madrid’s easiest opponents.