Champions League: FC Liverpool moves into the final – 3rd final participation within 5 years

Villarreal’s CL journey ends

Jürgen Klopp is reaching for the handle pot again with Liverpool FC! But that required hard work in the second leg of the Champions League on Tuesday evening at Bayern’s conqueror FC Villarreal. In a highly entertaining game, the Reds came from a 0:2 deficit to a 3:2 (0:2), which after the 2:0 in the first leg was easily enough in the end to keep the dream of four titles alive this season keep. In the final on May 28 in Paris, either Manchester City or Real Madrid await the “premier class” winner of 2019.

Boulaye Dia (3′) and Francis Coquelin (41′) scored for Villarreal, who had knocked Bayern out of the competition in the quarter-finals. Goals from Fabinho (62′), Luis Díaz (67′) and Sadio Mané (75′) secured Liverpool their third ticket to the final in five years. The former Bundesliga coach Klopp and Co. have further title chances in the championship and in the FA Cup, the Reds have already won the League Cup this year.

In the Estadio de la Cerámica there was an intoxicating “premier class” atmosphere – and it got better and better in the early stages. Dia rewarded Villarreal’s very committed start early on after Étienne Capoue deliberately crossed a cross. Liverpool seemed taken by surprise. Klopp coached energetically with his jacket open on the sidelines after falling behind, but seemed visibly dissatisfied.

The “further chapter of the club’s history”, as Trent Alexander-Arnold had described the possible entry into the final, was suddenly no longer as close as the 2-0 in the first leg had suggested. Villarreal manager Unai Emery seemed to have set his team up a lot better than a week ago. Daniel Parejo’s shot went just wide of the target (12′). Former Leipziger Naby Keïta (14th) made the first dangerous attempt for Liverpool.

But the hosts remained the better team. Klopp, who had to do without Roberto Firmino (foot injury), saw how his team continued to have big problems in attack. Villarreal was largely safe at the back – and repeatedly appeared dangerously in front of the Liverpool penalty area. After Reds goalkeeper Alisson had just saved against Giovani Lo Celso (37th), Coquelin was successful with a header before the break.

Klopp brought on Díaz for Diogo Jota, Liverpool started the second half more offensively. The game was now more like the first leg, as Liverpool clearly dominated. The Klopp team repeatedly shifted the game to the outside players, Alexander-Arnold hit the crossbar with a clearly deflected shot (55th).

Fabinho broke through the Spanish defense with a powerful right foot shot through the legs of Villarreal goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli. Díaz then restored the reassuring lead from the first leg before Mané allayed any doubts about Liverpool’s progress. Villarreal’s Capoue was sent off in the closing stages with yellow-red (86′).

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— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 3, 2022

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