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Trailing 2-0, Villarreal started in its own El Madrigal without Arnaut Danjuma on the big bone that the team saw ahead of them. Against the Liverpool of captain Virgil van Dijk, the Spaniards seemed even more at a disadvantage, but it was Danjuma’s replacement who gave his team a dream start. Boulaye Dia, the man who scored the quick hit, worked in after a measured cross and an excellent return.
Liverpool immediately seemed upset and undoubtedly had the Bayern scenario in mind. The Germans choked on the Spaniards in the quarterfinals. Jurgen Klopp’s team also struggled with some pressure on Villarreal and was therefore not nearly the dominant team it was at Anfield last week. The English were also very careless, so they had to wait for greater damage.
easy
It was already a shock when Giovanni Lo Celso approached goalkeeper Alisson Becker, and was taken away by the goalkeeper with ball and all. The Argentinian counted on a penalty, but referee Danny Makkelie assessed the situation excellently and saw that the keeper reached the ball in time. So no penalty, because VAR also supported Pol van Boekel Makkelie in his bold decision.
Shortly before half time, however, Villarreal was again paid after half a long hard work. It could also thank Liverpool back Alexander Trent-Arnold, because the defender didn’t put Francis Coquelin in the way. The former Arsenal player was able to head in completely freely and did so with verve: 2-0.
Francis Coquelin after the 2-0
Pro Shots
Klopp intervened and kept Diogo Jota behind in the dressing room in favor of Luis Diaz. The German coach must also have spoken clear language in the dressing room, because his players came in with a lot more urgency after the break. In fact, in a span of about twenty minutes, the reds fully repaired the damage.
It was first Fabinho who noticed that there was no room for a cross and so the vacillating Villareal goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli played through the legs. The goalkeeper was able to hit himself in the head, because Liverpool were already virtually in the final with that single hit.
Shocking Decay
However, things quickly got worse for Unai Emery’s team, as substitute Diaz made it 2-2 five minutes later. With that, the diptych was of course completely in favor of Liverpool, although Sadio Mane also gave the English the victory as the icing on the cake. Once again Rulli could blame himself for this, because the goalkeeper came out unnecessarily and wildly, after which Mané, who started from his own half, played it out in a controlled manner.
Villarreal then threw in the towel and played soccer to the end of the game in frustration. Etienne Capoue, for example, took red and Liverpool could have scored a much larger score with some sharpness.
On Wednesday evening, Real Madrid and Manchester City will determine who will be the other finalist.