First scared, then amazing
Liverpool faced Villarreal’s last dream with goals

03/05/2022 at 10:50 PM

Jurgen Klopp continues to write Liverpool’s great success story even after extending his contract: the Premier League club move to the Champions League final against the intimidating Bayern Munich Villarreal. But the duel went differently than had been expected for a long time.

Jurgen Klopp extends his hand to fate again with Liverpool FC! But that required hard work in the Champions League return leg on Tuesday night against Bayern Munich’s guest, Villarreal. In a very entertaining football match, the Reds came from behind 0:2 to 3:2 (0:2), which after 2:0 in the first leg was easily enough at the end to keep the dream of winning four titles alive. alive this season. In the final match on May 28 in Paris, either Manchester City or Real Madrid, the 2019 first division winner, awaits.

“Wonderful, I’m really happy,” Klopp said on Amazon Prime Video, while also praising the Spaniards. “They really started and really bought our courage. We didn’t get into the match.” It only worked after changes during the break. “Then we thought, ‘Let’s give it a try while we’re there,'” Klopp said in a good mood.

Boulay Dea (3D) and Francis Coquelin (41) scored a goal for Villarreal, who knocked Bayern out of the tournament in the quarter-finals. The goals of Fabinho (62), Luis Diaz (67) and Sadio Mane (75) secured Liverpool’s ticket to the final. Ex-Bundesliga boss Klopp & Partners has other chances in the tournament and in the FA Cup, the Reds have already won the League Cup this year.

Blitztor confirms Liverpool

At the Estadio de la Cerámica there was a cheerful first-class atmosphere – and it got even better in the early stages. Dia rewarded the committed start to Villarreal early after Etienne Capoue bashed a cross. Liverpool looked by surprise. Klopp trained actively with his jacket open on the sidelines after falling behind, but looked visibly unsatisfied.

An ‘extra chapter in club history’, as Trent Alexander-Arnold described the possibility of entering the final, is no longer quite as close as the 2-0 result in the first leg suggested. Villarreal coach Unai Emery appears to have shaped his squad much better than it did a week ago. Daniel Parejo’s shot went wide of the goal (12′). RB Leipziger Naby Keita (14) made the first dangerous attempt for Liverpool.

In the end, high quality wins

But the hosts remained the better team. Klopp, who had to play without Roberto Firmino (a foot injury), saw how his side continued to have major problems in attack. Villarreal was largely safe in defence – and kept looking dangerous in front of Liverpool’s penalty area. After Reds goalkeeper Alisson Becker had just made a save against Giovanni Lo Celso (37), Coquelin succeeded with a header before the break. “They played a very good first half,” Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold told BT Sport. “We changed our minds at half-time, took the chance and did what we had to do.”

Bringing Klopp Diaz in favor of Diogo Jota, Liverpool started the second half more offensively. The match is now more like the first leg, as Liverpool clearly dominated. Klopp’s team repeatedly turned the game to the outside, and Alexander-Arnold hit the crossbar with a clearly skewed shot (55th place). Fabinho penetrated the Spanish defense with a powerful shot with his right foot through the legs of Villarreal goalkeeper Jeronimo Rulli. Diaz then regained the reassuring lead from the first leg before Mane assuaged any doubts about Liverpool’s progress. Villarreal’s Kabwe was sent off in the last minutes with a yellow and red (86′).