After a spectacular late comeback against Manchester City Real Madrid qualified for the Champions League final and sent a T-shirt message to Liverpool.
In a rematch of the 2018 Champions League final, Real Madrid will face Liverpool in the final later this month.
For most of the second leg against Manchester City, the Spanish giants appeared to be down and out, despite Pep Guardiola’s team having won the first leg 4-3 at home. The visitors’ fortunes improved further as Riyad Mahrez doubled their lead in the 73rd minute.
However, a stoppage-time brace from Brazilian attacker Rodrygo took the game into extra time, completely turning the tie on its head. Ruben Dias hauled down Karim Benzema inside the box. But the Frenchman got up and converted the penalty to put Real Madrid ahead. For the duration of extra time, City failed to put their hosts under pressure, and Carlo Ancelotti’s side held on to book their spot in the final on May 28 against Liverpool in Paris.
After the game, Real Madrid players all wore special versions of their home jerseys with the inscriptions “‘All out for” above the number 14. Los Blancos now has 13 Champions League championships in their trophy cabinet and now have the opportunity to add to that total.
This isn’t the first time the European giants have made a similar tribute; before 2018 final in Kiev against Jurgen Klopp’s Reds, all of the players wore jerseys that said “All out for” above the number 13. The photographs infuriated Liverpool supporters, with many describing the move as insulting.
They kept their pledge and sent a statement four years ago when they defeated Liverpool 3-1 in the final. They’ll face a very different Reds team in the French capital later this month, one that is seeking to complete a historic quadruple by reaching the final.
The Reds have already delivered a message to Madrid, with Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah going to Instagram to remind fans of the club’s prior heartbreak at the hands of Los Blancos.
“We have a score to settle,” the Egyptian captioned a photo of him rejoicing beside Fabinho. This, along with Real Madrid’s extravagant celebrations at full time, puts the final in a good position to be a closely contested match.