Despite falling two goals behind in the opening 14 minutes, Carlo Ancelotti's side came back to thrash the hosts and record a spectacular 5-2 Champions League last 16 first leg victory.

Madrid won a record 14th European Cup last season by beating Jurgen Klopp's team 1-0 in the Paris final, but along the way it produced remarkable comebacks in topsy-turvy games against Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Manchester City.

Its performance on Merseyside was in this vein, with a sloppy start in defense covered up by an attacking onslaught in a chaotic and unforgettable clash.

Ancelotti's side sometimes only seem to click into gear after falling behind and the coach said he was not worried, despite Liverpool moving ahead through Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah.

"I thought about Manchester City and hoped the same thing would happen, and it did, and better still," Ancelotti told Movistar, recalling last season's semifinal first leg, where Madrid fell two goals behind against Pep Guardiola's side.

"We started scoring, creating danger and we improved in defense."

The second goal was particularly strange, with Thibaut Courtois mis-controlling the ball for Salah to fire home.

A key driver for Madrid's comeback was Vinicius Junior, who scored twice to pull the team back on level terms before half-time.

The Brazilian winger has struggled to break free of various problems in Spain, including racist abuse from the stands, and overly aggressive defenders, but shone again against Liverpool.

"Vinicius right now, in my opinion, is the most decisive player in world football," added Ancelotti.

The 22-year-old provoked a similar error to Courtois' from Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker, charging him down and deflecting an attempted clearance into the net.

Benzema also played a key role for Madrid with a second-half brace too, despite recent injury concerns.

Los Blancos' captain missed the trip to face Osasuna at the weekend in order to be fully fit to face Liverpool, and Ancelotti's gamble paid off as Madrid won both games.

Eder Militao headed Madrid in front and then Benzema scored twice to seal an emphatic triumph.

 

Osimhen strikes again

Napoli's Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen got on the scoresheet again as the Serie A leader beat Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 in their Champions League last 16 first leg match on Tuesday.

Osimhen scored before the break as Giovanni Di Lorenzo doubled their lead after the interval before the second leg in southern Italy on March 15.

Having scored in each of his last seven league matches, Osimhen gave the visitors the lead after 39 minutes, finishing off a swift counter just after Frankfurt keeper Kevin Trapp saved a Napoli penalty.

Frankfurt was reduced to 10 men early in the second half after a nasty challenge from striker Randal Kolo Muani found the shin of Napoli's Frank Anguissa.

The visitors doubled their lead soon afterwards when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia set up Giovanni Di Lorenzo with a superb back heel, putting Napoli on course for what would be their first ever Champions League quarterfinal appearance.

Buoyed on by a home crowd celebrating the club's first venture into the Champions League knockout rounds, Frankfurt started stronger, with in-form striker Randal Kolo Muani creating a goal chance out of nothing after four minutes.

With his back to goal inside the Napoli penalty area, the France forward chipped the ball over his head, turning to fire just wide of the right upright.

But as the opening half wore on the visitors' quality began to show, with the runaway Serie A leader dominating possession and field position.

The win sees Napoli return to Naples for the return leg in a dominant position as the 1988-1989 Europa League winner look to go past the last 16 for the first time in its history.

The current Europa League holder Frankfurt will likely see its first Champions League campaign come to an end at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium in March, unless it can turn the tie dramatically in its own favor.