Real Madrid 3-1 Liverpool: result, goals, summary, Champions League 2020/21

Man of the match: Vinicius

Two goals from the Brazilian and he was a big factor in Zidane's side's win over Liverpool. (h/t Sofascore)

For those fans of XG out there ....

Lucas Vazquez post game: "We should be happy with the result and we delivered a fine performance against a top team and have a good advantage going into the second leg next week".

A reminder of Wednesday's UCL quarter-final fixtures:

Bayern-PSG

Porto-Chelsea (being played in Seville)

Great behind the goal snap of the third Real Madrid goal. Alisson's face of dejection as Vinicius reels away to celebrate the strike.

Ramos tweets post game: "Frustrated not to be playing but super proud of the team"

Liverpool's Robertson post game:

"We started poorly and were pleased to get the goal back and to be honest, didn't deserve too much from tonight but we did get the away goal ahead of the return leg at Anfield".

Toni Kroos once again bossed the centre of the park for 'Los Blancos'

From what we witnessed tonight, difficult to see Real Madrid let this advantage slip. The first 45' for the Premier League side was a particular low and Real Madrid were totally in control apart from a ten minute spell at the beginning of the second period.

Vinicius Jr the man of the night for Real Madrid

Post game: Vinicius: "My team mates help my confidence levels"

Real Madrid to progress according to the stats !

The City-Dortmund game ended 2-1 for the Premier League side with Foden bagging a late winner for the sky blues.

FT at Valdebebas, and it's very much advantage Real Madrid with a 3-1 win in the first leg.

Final minutes and it's all Liverpool as Madrid have every player behind the ball. No way through for the Premier League side.

Liverpool pass with added urgency as Salah aims to shoot but is blocked by the men in white. LFC still looking for that vital second away goal.

It'll be 4 minutes of added on time

Last minute of the 90. We'll have at least three for the various substitutions.

Corner for the visitors after a hugely patient passage of play. Madrid clear the danger

Madrid defending deep now... Liverpool probing but no way through....

Marco Reus has drawn Dormund level in Manchester. 1-1 between City and BVB

Rodrygo comes on for compatriot Vinicius

Liverpool still pushing but just lacking the final ball

Little in that to be honest!

Vinicius goes to ground holding his face and Trent is carded

Kabak off for Shaqiri with Firmino on for Jota

Philips makes a crucial intervention as the ball was Benzema bound.

With just over ten minutes remaining, Madrid look comfortable and is generally the case under Zidane, managing the game well and very much to their interests.

Liverpool with plenty of possession now but still failing to create sustained danger on Courtois' goal. The Belgian stopper really has not been sufficiently tested by the men in red as Thiago drives from long range.

Real Madrid really haven't missed the Ramos-Varane tandem. Liverpool's early second half zest and sparkle seems to be a little less intense now.

Benzema shoots, Alisson saves, it's been a discreet performance from the French striker by his own usual high standards.

Twenty left for Liverpool to try and get another goal that would keep the tie very much alive. 4-1 would be a poor result for the Premier League side with 3-2 a different proposition.

Valverde on with Asensio making way

Zidane set to make his first change of the night. Valverde set to make an entrance.

So, just as I fancied the 2-2 scoreline, Vinicius pops up to see Madrid's two goal advantage restored.

Lovely pass from Modric and a neat finish from the Brazilian who tucks the ball into the corner of the Liverpool net.

Asensio breaks and looks to find Vinisius who is free in the box, a poor pass and Trent AA intercepts to clear the danger.

Less than half an hour to go in this first leg. The away goal will give the English side some belief and if anything a 2-2 scoreline looks more likely than 3-1.

Liverpool on top possession-wise.

The game is very much a solid contest now with the Liverpool we know moving the ball around with poise and purpose.

Salah celebrates his goal

Thiago carded as he clips Asensio.

This is the Champions League tie we wanted and were expecting ... so, so much better from the side from Liverpool. Playing with a huge sense of belief and verve now.

Is this the same Liverpool team we saw in the first half? The Reds have woken up and are taking the game to Real Madrid.

VAR check but the goal stands.

Wijnaldum does well and feeds Jota who strikes on goal with the ball kindly falling for the Egyptian.

Liverpool win a throw after a Robertson freekick. Better from the Premier League side in the opening mninutes of the halkf.

Lucas Vazquez clatters into Jota and is carded

Thiago delivers a ranging ball but overhits the pass with Mane unable to latch on to the pass

What has Klopp said to his side at the interval? Will we see a bounce from the Reds? With this adverse scoreline, Klopp's side really do need an away goal.

The teams are back on the pitch, Liverpool will start the action.

Ramos looking on (with those glasses I mentioned earlier) from the stand at the Alfredo di Stefano

The HT scoreline from Manchester

Liverpool need a goal from somewhere... a 2-1 defeat would not be a bad result to take back to Anfield and am sure that all LFC fans would sign-up for that result at this point of the night.

The 8-0 total attempts in favour of Real Madrid is very much an indicator of what we've seen in the first 45' at Valdebebas. Madrid struck first with a direct pass from Kroos which was expertly controlled by Brazilian winger Vinicius Jr. as he slotted past Alisson in the Liverpool goal.

Less than ten minutes later there was more woe for Liverpool as a defensive header was latched onto by Asensio who clipped the ball over Alisson to double the lead for Zidane's men.

Salah, Jota and Mane have been discreet and with this scoreline, Klopp's men desperately need the away goal to keep the tie alive for next week's second leg.

The whistle sounds at the Alfredo di Stefano and the scoreline reflecting the dominance from the home side.

We'll have one minute of additional time.

Casemiro fouled by Philips with the Brazilian still on the floor.

Asensio almost makes it three but drives his shot wide, this time after an error from Robertson... Liverpool really are being outclassed here.

Change for Liverpool as Thiago comes on for Keita

Real Madrid 8-0 Liverpool .... total attempts ....

5' left in the first half and am sure Klopp will want to get his side into the dressing room and reset the side.

Mane awarded the first card of the night for dissent.

This has been a poor first half from Liverpool. Madrid playing full of confidence and swagger and the visitors get to find any sort of consistent rhythm.

Goooooooool

Asensio takes advantage of a slip-up by the Reds defence and the Madrid player clips the ball over Alisson and slots into an empty net.

Vini celebrates !

The ball falls to Ansenio but the man from Mallorca drives high and wide.

Vinicus once again on the ball outside the box with Liverpool stretched. The ball takes a deflection as the Brazilian fires wide.

Benzema tangles with a Liverpool defender and goes to ground and appeals for a spot kick. Ref waves play on.

Has to be said that Vinicius' control was sublime in latching on to the long ball from the German.

Salah secures a corner for the Reds, the first one of the night for the visitors. Pushing in the box and Madrid win a free-out.

Maybe that's the wake-up call that Liverpool need. The Premier League side have lacked a touch of intensity for the opening half an hour of this game.

Kabak does well to thwart Benzema as Madrid win yet another corner. Casemiro floats the ball in but overhits. Zidane will be the happier of the managers from the opening phase of the game.

Liverpool with 0 shots on target as we approach the 25th minute.

Liverpool gradually easing back into the game through longer periods of sustained possession. Courtois, it has to be said has yet to really be called into action though.

Real Madrid edging possession as we pass the 20' mark:

It's a pure joy to watch Modric move the ball about in the centre of the pitch...such grace and elegance .... this coming from someone who is not a Real Madrid fan too !

Finally, Liverpool start the move the ball around with some purpose. Alexander-Arnold knocks in a dangerous ball but Madrid are level to the challenge and clear the danger.

After excellent build-up play from Real Madrid, Lucas Vazquez tries to find Asensio and just knocks the ball out of play. Madrid very, very dominant in the opening phase of this quarter-final tie.

Vinicius almost opens the scoring as he heads just past the Liverpool post. Liverpool yet to get out of first gear.

"Go, go, go Jota" Klopp on the sideline to his Portuguese player as Modric half heartedly appeals for a penalty. Nothing going for the German match official.

Madrid win their second corner of the night, not a great delivery by Kroos. Madrid still enjoying the better as we hit the ten minute mark

Both sides line up ahead of the game at Valdebebas.

Sergio Ramos watching on from the stands, the Camas born defender sporting some beefy reading glasses and almost unrecognisable !

Another wayward ball from the Reds as a cross field effort is overhit.

Liverpool yet to get the ball into the Real Madrid box with seven minutes of the game gone. Madrid enjoying all the offensive action so far tonight.

Real Madrid have found their groove as Klopp's men still finding their way....

Liverpool struggling to get their passing game together as Asensio wins the first corner of the night for the home side. Kroos to take ....

Benzema and Vazquez link well but the Galician overhits and the ball is cleared by the men in red.

Benzema with the first shot of the night but his left footed drive is straight at Alisson.

Both sides with some early wayward passing as they ease their way into the action.

All set and it will be Madrid to start....

Champions League anthem .....the Champiooooooons.

Tonight's game is a closed doors affair with no fans present as a deterrent to counteract the latest wave of coronavirus in Spain,

The sides take to the Alfredo di Stefano pitch in Valdebebeas, Real Madrid in their iconic all white with Liverpool in their classic red.

How much will Madrid miss the likes of Ramos and Varane at the heart of the Real Madrid defence ? Many UK media outlets feeling the absence of the duo will be key in the Premier League side progressing.

Kick-off just five minutes away. Real Madrid were licking their lips a few weeks ago when they drew Liverpool when the Reds were erratic in the Premier League. A few weeks can make a huge difference in the game of football and both sides are in red hot form at present. Real Madrid easing past Eibar 2-0 on Saturday with Liverpool later out performing Arsenal with a 0-3 win in North London.

Reminder: Varane out for Real Madrid

Today at lunch-time, the LaLiga club broke the news that Varane is out of action.

"Real Madrid informs that our player Raphael Varane tested positive in the COVID-19 test he underwent this morning," the club confirmed in a statement on the day of the game.

Varane is a key figure for Madrid. The World Cup winner has started 27 of his team's 29 league games this season and all eight of their matches so far in the Champions League.

Madrid are already without injured captain Sergio Ramos, so Eder Militao may now partner Nacho at centre-back against a formidable Liverpool attack.

The diagnosis comes at a bad time for Madrid, who face Barcelona in El Clasico on Saturday before the second leg against Liverpool next week.

Salah warms up as kick-off looms in Madrid

Andriy Lunin, Thibaut Courtois and Diego Altube of Real Madrid enter the pitch for their warm up prior to the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final match between Real Madrid and Liverpool FC at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano

Real Madrid-Liverpool: AS English predictions

This is how the AS English team see tonight's game going:

Will: RMCF 0-2 LFC

Johnny: RMCF 1-1 LFC

Paul: RMCF 0-0 LFC

Sun slipping behind the main stand at the Alfredo di Stefano stadium in Valdebebas.

It's a mild and pleasant April evening in the Spanish capital with a current temperature of 21C/69F. Ideal conditions for the players at Valdebebas tonight.

The other game being staged tonight sees runaway Premier League table topping Man City face Borussia Dortmund in the North of England. We'll bring you a half-time update from Manchester.

Reminder that the path through to the Istanbul final in May has already been drawn with the winners of this tie set to face the victor from Chelsea-FC Porto. The second leg of tonight's tie will take place tomorrow week at Anfield.

Tonight's match official is German whistler Felix Brych.

Klopp anxious to avoid 'revenge' talk pre-game

Liverpool are not on a revenge mission ahead of tonight's Champions League quarter-final first leg and will only focus on getting another step closer to a seventh European crown, manager Klopp said ahead of the tie.

Real Madrid ran out 3-1 winners against Liverpool in their last meeting in the 2018 final but the result was overshadowed by Sergio Ramos' challenge on Mohamed Salah, causing an injury to the Egyptian forward who ended up leaving the field in tears.

Klopp conceded the quarter-final draw brought back memories of the game in Kyiv but said he has moved on and his players will be treating the game like any other European knockout tie.

"My motivation is at the highest level because we play in the Champions League, we want to go to the next round and we play Real Madrid," Klopp told a news conference yesterday.

Rafa Benitez: Absence of fans will help Liverpool

Liverpool face Madrid tonight before next week's return fixture at Anfield, where the Merseyside club have struggled in the Premier League this season, with matches taking place without fans due to the pandemic.

Benitez, who managed Liverpool from 2004 to 2010 and had a short spell at Madrid, said it was crucial the English side get a goal in the first leg.

"When I was manager of Liverpool in 2008-09, we went to the Bernabeu and won 1-0. We knew the next game at Anfield would be important with the supporters. We pressed them from the first minute and scored early before winning 4-0.

Real Madrid-Liverpool: team selection talking points

Naby Keita starting in place of Thiago Alcantara for Liverpool has surprised many ahead of the clash against Real Madrid in the Champions League tonight.

Karim Benzema captains the Spanish side who will employ a 4-3-3 system with Nacho, Lucas, Militao and Mendy marshalling the rear-guard.

Jürgen Klopp vs Zinedine Zidane: stats, records and duels

A look into the head-to-head records of the German and French manager as they meet again with Liverpool and Real Madrid in the 2021 Champions League quarter-finals.

and for Real Madrid with Benzema as captain:

Team news is in... first up the visitors from Liverpool:

The views from the bench

Video: These were the thoughts from both Zinedine Zidane and Jurgen Klopp pre-game

Madrid look to Benzema

Karim Benzema is likely to lead the line and the Frenchman has a stellar record against the Premier League outfit. In the history of the Champions League, no player has more goals against them than Benzema's four – level with Didier Drogba.

Reds boss Jurgen Klopp will hope to continue his fine recent record at this stage of the competition, the German winning each of his last five quarter-final games, including all four of his games at this stage while in charge of Liverpool.

Central to their hopes of taking a lead back to Anfield for the second leg will be Sadio Mane. The Senegal international has scored 19 goals in 40 games in the Champions League and could become just the third player in the club's history to reach 20 goals in the competition after Mohamed Salah (24) and Steven Gerrard (21).

This will be the first Champions League meeting between the two sides since Real Madrid beat Liverpool 3-1 in the 2018 Kiev final. 

That was the Reds' third consecutive defeat to Los Blancos in the competition. They have only suffered four losses on the spin against the same opponent across all European competitions once before, with Benfica putting together such a streak between 1984 and 2010. 

The LaLiga champions will be in confident mood, having won the first leg in eight of their last nine Champions League knockout ties. 

Varane out of UCL tie

The major news of the day was Raphael Varane returning a positive covid-19 test and will miss the crucial home leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Liverpool on Tuesday and Saturday's Clásico against Barcelona.

The Spanish club confirmed the news earlier this afternoon announcing that their French defender had tested positive for the coronavirus. He will now have to be isolated for a number of days and will miss these two huge games.

Tonight's action gets underway at the Alfredo di Stefano stadium in Valdebebas at 21:00 CEST/15:00 ET.

Hello and a very warm welcome to our live coverage of tonight's UEFA Champions League quarter-final (first leg) as Real Madrid face Liverpool.