Liverpool put their ticket to the final on track with the victory achieved against Villarreal (2-0)

Euskaraz irakurri: Liverpool, finaletik gertu Vila-realen aurka garaipena lortu ostean (2-0)

Liverpool beat Villarreal (2-0) the Champions League semi-final first leg which was played at Anfield and took a giant step to qualify for the final.

The English team took control of the match from the beginning and began to generate scoring chances. Three lashes from Luis Díaz from the front, a header from Mané deflected, two shots from Salah from outside the area and a shot from Thiago Alcántara that crashed into the post, were Liverpool’s chances in the first half, but the clash came at the break tied at zero (0-0).

The game script did not change in the second half. Liverpool went all out, and was rewarded with a goal in the 53rd minute; Henderson crossed from the right wing, the ball touched Estupiñán and went into the goal defended by Rulli (1-0). Three minutes earlier, a Fabinho goal was disallowed for offside.

After the goal, the local team increased its lead in the 55th minute with goal by Mane (2-0); the Senegalese forward received a good pass from the Egyptian Salah, and with a subtle touch he beat goalkeeper Rulli.

Villarreal was unable to react. The team led by Unai Emery was unable to create danger in the rival goal, and the British team continued to generate scoring chances. In the 63rd minute, the referee annulled Robertson’s goal for offside. Already in the final stretch, Liverpool had the game under control, and sealed the 2-0 victory.

Data sheet:

2-Liverpool: Allison; Alexander-Arnold (Gomez, d.81), Konaté, Van Dijk, Robertson; Thiago, Fabinho, Henderson (Kieta, m.72); Salah, Mané (Jota, m.72) and Díaz (Origi, m.80).

0 – Villarreal: Rulli; Foyth, Albiol, Torres, Estupiñán (Trigueros, m.72); Capoué, Parejo (Aurier, m.72), Coquelin (Pedraza, m.57), Lo Celso; Danjuma (Alcácer, m.86) and Chukwueze (Dia, m.72).

Goals: 1-0, m.53: Estupiñán, own goal. 2-0, m.55: Mane.

Referee: Szymon Marciniak (POL). He admonished Van Dijk (m.32) for Liverpool, and Estupiñán (m.47) and Lo Celso (m.62) for Vilarreal.