Virgil van Dijk makes brilliant Real Madrid admission
Real Madrid have progressed to the quarter-finals of the Champions League with a 6-2 overall victory over Liverpool.
They won the first leg 5-2 at Anfield and secured a 1-0 win in the second leg at Santiago Bernabeu, thanks to a goal from Karim Benzema.
Despite Liverpool needing to win by three goals, the game was very open and both goalkeepers delivered exceptional performances.
The 1-0 scoreline does not fully reflect the match’s intensity and excitement.
Real Madrid’s potential opponents in the quarter-finals of the Champions League will be intriguing to watch, but given their impressive form, Ancelotti’s team must be viewed as one of the top contenders to lift the trophy.
They seem to transform into a different team under the spotlight of this competition.
On the flip side, Virgil van Dijk’s unfortunate streak of winless games against Real Madrid persisted during the match, and the Liverpool star had nothing but admiration for the Spanish giants.
According to the official website of Liverpool FC, he remarked: “I think you play against a team who never get fazed a little bit. Even when you put them under pressure, even if [they] have difficult moments, they try to stay calm and obviously they have the players, if you look at Modric, Benzema – they’re difference-makers and especially when they’re under pressure.”
Real Madrid have undeniably demonstrated their ability to perform under pressure and come out victorious.
This was evident in their remarkable journey to win the Champions League last season.
Despite facing numerous setbacks that seemed to suggest their exit from the tournament, they remained resilient and emerged as champions in the end.
Real Madrid’s unparalleled success in the Champions League, having claimed the title 14 times, is a testament to their ability to excel under pressure.
They have twice as many victories in the competition as AC Milan, who are the second most successful team with seven wins.
Consequently, Real Madrid’s players are accustomed to performing in high-pressure situations, which is one of the primary reasons why they are considered favourites to win the tournament again, even with concerns about their form in domestic competitions and squad depth.
Virgil van Dijk makes brilliant Real Madrid admission
