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Real Madrid defeat Liverpool to qualify for last 16 of Champions League

05 November 2014 03:17 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Real Madrid assured their place in the last 16 of the Champions League thanks to a 1-0 win over Liverpool, APA reports.

The victory, which was much more comfortable than the score may suggest, leaves the reigning European Champions with four wins from four games, while Liverpool are struggling to make the knockout stages with just three points to date and given Basel's goal difference, needing to win their last two matches by a wide margin in order to make the knockout stages.

Despite his side having only taken three points from their first three Champions League games, Liverpool coach, Brendan Rodgers rested captain, Steven Gerrard, Raheem Sterling, Mario Balotelli, Dejan Lovren and Glen Johnson for the game, probably with an eye on Saturday's Premier League game at home to Chelsea.

Real Madrid rested Gareth Bale on the bench and started Rafael Varene and Alvaro Arbeloa for the injured Pepe and Dani Carvajal. With the strongest available lineup, the Spaniards had two chances in the opening 10 minutes, but Liverpool's Simon Mignolet saved well from James Rodriguez and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The first half was all Madrid against a rival which was unable to summon a single shot and it was no surprise when Karim Benzema opened the scoring after 26 minutes.

A good cross from Marcelo, coupled with poor marking from Kolo Toure allowed the Frenchman to score with a far post tap in.

Mignolet did well to stop a swerving Ronaldo free kick shortly afterwards, while Benzema almost added a second after getting in behind Toure, who was able to recover just in time to concede a corner.

The second half soon settled into a similar rhythm to the first with Mignolet denying Ronaldo five minutes after the break, although Alberto Moreno did manage a decent shot for Liverpool.

Bale replaced James after 62 minutes as Liverpool began to timidly push forward in search of an equalizer, but it was the Spanish side which looked to kill the game off and Toure did well to block Ronaldo before Bale saw a shot hit the woodwork.

The Welshman then drew another good save from Mignolet from a free kick after being brought down by Moreno just outside the Liverpool penalty area, while Iker Casillas in the Madrid goal ended the game without ever being tested.