by Reg » Thu Feb 26, 2009 12:23 am
February 25, 2009 The Times
Yossi Benayoun uses his head to expose Real Madrid
Real Madrid 0 Liverpool 1
If Liverpool were anything like as consistent in the Barclays Premier League as in Europe, it might be Rafael Benítez’s team, not Manchester United, boasting a seven-point lead at the top of the table.
Liverpool arrived at the Bernabéu Stadium last night with a game plan and executed it perfectly, a 1-0 win against Real Madrid secured courtesy of Yossi Benayoun’s 82nd-minute header. They will be much favoured to progress to the Champions League quarter-finals by the time the Spanish champions visit fortress Anfield for the second leg on Tuesday week.
It was not pretty — it rarely is under Benítez in Europe — but it was pragmatism personified, against a Real team gripped by a strange feebleness. This was just the pick-me-up the Merseyside club and their manager needed after a difficult past couple of months.
By the end, the Real supporters were fighting among themselves, the sucker punch that was Benayoun’s first goal in Europe this season proving too much for some to take. Fabio Aurélio whipped in a free kick from the right and the Israel midfield player, one of the smallest on the pitch, rose unmarked to head home.
Benítez manages another miracle
If there was a downside for Liverpool, it was the sight of Fernando Torres leaving the pitch shortly after the hour mark, the Spain striker clearly hampered by knock to the ankle he had sustained in the first period.
The build-up had been overshadowed by a wave of rumours that Benítez would resign or be sacked after the game, claims that had gathered such a head of steam in the hours before kick-off that several bookmakers had suspended betting on the Liverpool manager being the next to go in the Premier League.
Unfortunately, the game lacked any of the drama that had preceded it, the first 45 minutes starting at a snail’s pace and the tempo having increased only marginally by half-time with the game goalless and the punters, presumably, feeling a little short-changed. This, after all, was a meeting between sides who, between them, had won the European Cup 14 times.
Steven Gerrard was kept on the substitutes’ bench, Benítez deeming that it was not worth his captain aggravating a hamstring tear, although in their influential midfield player’s absence, Liverpool resorted to employing the kind of route-one tactics once favoured by Wimbledon and it was not overly pretty to watch.
Real, though, seemed averse to taking the initiative and punishing their opponents’ cautiousness, leaving the visiting team relatively untroubled as they sat back, soaked up what little pressure they came under and punted balls up to Dirk Kuyt and Torres.
The tactic almost paid off in the 21st minute. Kuyt went to challenge for another hopeful long ball but missed his header, which fooled Gabriel Heinze, the ball bouncing kindly into the path of Torres, who bore down on goal. It was the kind of one-on-one situation in which the Spain striker normally thrives, but Iker Casillas palmed his shot aside for a corner.
Real had the ball in the net on the half-hour but Gonzalo Higuaín was correctly ruled offside. Other than a few sighters at goal, the Spanish champions were disappointing. Arjen Robben had plenty of space to rampage down the right flank but was well marshalled by Aurélio, the Real winger too often resembling the player who had flattered to deceive in his final days at Chelsea.
Kuyt worked tirelessly, as always, but for all his perspiration Liverpool were craving the inspiration that Gerrard provides.
At least Xabi Alonso can often be relied upon to produce a moment of magic and he did almost that on the brink of half-time, dispossessing Fernando Gago in his own half before spotting Casillas off his line and launching a 60-yard chip that had the Real goalkeeper frantically backpedalling before managing to tip the ball over the crossbar.
Real were 6-1 up at half-time against Real Betis at the weekend, but there was a caginess to them that served only to give Liverpool encouragement. Perhaps Juande Ramos, the former Tottenham Hotspur head coach, was guilty of affording a club he has seen at close quarters in England too much respect.
Either way, Liverpool seemed to sense that there could be an opportunity for a smash and grab. The tempo was upped in the second period, with Kuyt and Albert Riera coming into the game more. Benayoun, starting in Gerrard’s absence, had a great chance to conjure a breakthrough shortly before the hour but paid for his indecision. Having charged forward and skipped Heinze’s challenge, he had three options — shoot or play in Torres or Riera — but proceeded to do none and the opportunity went begging.
Torres, booed by the locals because of his past association with Atlético Madrid, was enduring a quiet night and his frustration appeared to get the better of him when he was booked for a foul on Lassana Diarra.
With the injury sustained in the first half clearly troubling him, Torres eventually made way for Ryan Babel in the 62nd minute, to roars of approval from the Real supporters, in what was another psychological boost for the home team.
Real’s best chance fell to Robben, whose shot forced a fingertip save from José Manuel Reina. Gerrard’s introduction after three weeks out two minutes from time merely heightened Liverpool’s delight.
Real Madrid (4-2-3-1): I Casillas — Sergio Ramos, Pepe, F Cannavaro, G Heinze — L Diarra, F Gago — A Robben, Raúl, Marcelo — G Higuaín (sub: Guti, 46min). Substitutes not used: J Dudek, J Saviola, W Sneijder, C Metzelder, M Torres, R van der Vaart. Booked: Cannavaro, Gago.
Liverpool (4-4-1-1): J M Reina — Á Arbeloa, M Skrtel, J Carragher, F Aurélio — Y Benayoun, X Alonso, J Mascherano, A Riera (sub: S Gerrard, 88) — D Kuyt (sub: Lucas Leiva, 90) — F Torres (sub: R Babel, 62). Substitutes not used: D Cavalieri, A Dossena, S Hyypia, D Ngog. Booked: Torres, Mascherano, Riera.
Referee: R Rosetti (Italy).
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