The Uefa Champions League is back and I am excited. We live for moments like this if you are a true fan of football. It's always a special night of football where Uefa Champions League is concerned.
Welcome to the round of 16 even though the pandemic has denied the fans entry for this game but kudos to RB Leipzig and Liverpool as well as Uefa for making this happen. Puskas Arena in Budapest is the adopted home for RB Leipzig for this match.
This is the first meeting for the two sides and they are being coached by German coaches; Nagelsmann and Jurgen Klopp.
RB Leipzig started well and Angelino should have gotten the lead for his side if he wasn't denied by the post. He produced a brilliant and firm diving header in the 5th minute after a wonderful ball found him. The ball struck the inside of the post and went out and there was no one on the other end to tap in except for Robertson who cleared. It was very close to being the first goal.
Liverpool had to respond too and in the 14th minute, Alexander Arnold's pass found Salah who did everything right by chipping the onrushing goalkeeper but the effort was blocked by the goalkeeper's shoulder. The ball found Alexander Arnold again and he released Roberto Firmino, whose effort went for a side netting.
Liverpool built a counter-attack in the 31st minute when Robertson found Sadio Mane. The goalkeeper quickly came out and cleared it only for the ball to get to Robertson. He produced a brilliant audacious effort almost halfway line but his long left-footed effort dropped on the net. If it had gone just an inch down, it would have been a goal. The goalkeeper pressed a panic button there.
The half time came and nothing separated the two sides. Just as RB Leipzig started the first half quicker, they did again for this second half when Nkunku's effort was kept out by Alisson - who has had howlers in the last two games. A defence-splitting pass found Nkunku in the 46th minute after the restart. He managed to keep out Jordan Henderson and his effort was saved by Alisson.
Liverpool got a gift on the night when Sabitzer wayward pass found Mohammed Salah. He wasted no time in getting behind the defence and slotting home a cool finish. Just the goal Liverpool would have hoped for in the 53rd minute to ease their pressure.
Just 5 minutes after, Liverpool for another gift when a long ball intended for Sadio Mane should have been dealt with but the defender slipped/tumbled over, allowing Sadio Mane to run into the box and he expertly dispatched the ball into the back of the net. It was a composed finish. Another mistake by RB Leipzig but another composed finish from Liverpool.
You cannot allow Mane and Salah such an opportunity and they wouldn't punish you. They are always devastating when it comes to pace and finishing.
RB Leipzig hoped to dent Alisson's clean sheet when Hwang ran behind the defence only for his brilliant effort to narrowly miss the goal. It would have been a lifeline for RB Leipzig, going into the second leg of the tie but a major relief for Alisson who hasn't had the best of time for the last two games with the mistakes he made in the League. He would surely sleep well on this night.
Liverpool has been struggling in the League but they banished the horror of that by taking advantage and making their efforts count on the night. Hopefully, this win would kick start their league performance because they have been displaced from 4th place and now in 5th place after bad results.
The Uefa Champions League is back and I looking forward to tonight's matches. In other news, PSG won Barcelona by 4 goals to 1, despite Barcelona going ahead earlier. Mbappe turned up on the night and was rewarded with a hat trick. Barcelona has been struggling of late and that has spiralled into the Uefa Champions League as well. It would be an uphill task for them in the second leg. Football can surprise you and we await what the second leg for these matches have in store for us.
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