Liverpool FC can still hope for their third Champions League victory after 2005 and 2019. The team of German soccer coach Jürgen Klopp won the semi-final first leg against Bayern conqueror FC Villarreal 2-0 (0-0). British and Spanish newspapers write about this:
International press reviews of FC Liverpool vs. FC Villarreal
“The Sun”: “The Reds have one foot in the Champions League final after a quick double strike ended the visitors’ stubborn resistance.”
“Daily Mail”: “Liverpool got what they deserved in the end but it took quite a while.”
“The Independent”: “Liverpool are on the verge of taking part in the pinnacle of European football for the tenth time, but only after a 2-0 win that felt very far from peak performance. (…) There were moments when it was difficult , not to wonder how exactly Bayern Munich got eliminated.”
“Marca”: “In a Champions League semi-final you not only have to do your best, you also have to have the goddess of luck on your side and the first goal was unlucky for the Yellows.”
“El País”: “Villarreal’s padlock shattered at Anfield. After showing iron might in Turin and Munich and resisting for almost an hour at Liverpool. As the home side threatened to lose their nerve after a fierce but fruitless siege, a deflected cross from Henderson destroyed , which ricocheted off Estupiñán and crashed into Rulli’s Gate, the fortress that Emery had built with months of patient spraying of concrete.”
“El Mundo Deportivo”: “Villarreal, who are dreaming of their first Champions League final, have to come back from a 2-0 deficit against Liverpool in the second leg of the semifinals on May 3 at La Cerámica stadium to be there in Paris on May 28. But what In terms of game and chances, Villarreal came out of Anfield alive on Wednesday and the result was the best news for Unai Emery’s side who had no chances to score.”