Real Madrid beats Liverpool to reach Champions League QF

By TALES AZZONI The Associated Press
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, left, challenges for the ball with Real Madrid's Nacho during the Champions League, round of 16 second leg soccer match between Real Madrid and Liverpool at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Wednesday, March 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Manu Fernandez]

MADRID (AP) — There was no historic comeback for Liverpool. Real Madrid’s title defense in the Champions League rolls into the quarterfinals. Liverpool never really came close to overcoming its three-goal deficit from the first leg against the titleholders at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on Wednesday and lost 1-0 to end its hopes of another run to the final. Karim Benzema scored late and Madrid advanced to the last eight for the third straight season with a 6-2 aggregate score following a 5-2 win from the first leg in England. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said, “Madrid was the better team and deserved to advance.” Napoli also won Wednesday to join Madrid, AC Milan, Bayern Munich, Benfica, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Manchester City in the quarterfinals.

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