The best UCL moments of the last decade

Real Madrid and Liverpool have met eight times in the Champions League over the last decade and the duel produced some of the most memorable UCL moments in the tournament’s history.

When two of the world’s biggest clubs meet in the Champions League, the headlines practically write themselves, especially when it’s Real Madrid and Liverpool. It is common for the two teams to meet in the UCL, but results have favored Real Madrid in recent years.

In fact, Los Blancos have beaten Liverpool in seven of their last eight UCL games, including victories in the 2018 and 2022 Champions League finals. The Reds managed a goalless draw against the Spanish giants in the second leg of the 2021 quarter-finals, but that is their only positive result in the last decade.

The two clubs will meet again in the Champions League league stage and the upcoming game promises to add further highlights to the developing rivalry. But no matter what happens at Anfield, it will be hard to top the game’s most famous moments.

The best goal scored in recent games between Real Madrid and Liverpool is without a doubt Gareth Bale’s overhead kick in the 2018 Champions League final. The Welshman came on as a second-half substitute and scored arguably the best just three minutes later All-time UCL final goal.

Marcelo delivered a high cross from the left that caused Bale to turn in the penalty area and score in the air with his weaker foot. As he went down, he sent a spectacular overhead kick past Loris Karius to give his team a 2-1 lead.

The target endured in infamy, and not just because of its quality; Bale’s overhead kick won the game for Los Blancos and made them the only team in UCL history to win three Champions League titles in three consecutive years.

Los Blancos faced Liverpool again in the Champions League final, just four years after Bale’s audacious goal, and this time Vinícius Júnior’s name was on the scoresheet. In a predominantly defensive, cautious battle, the Brazilian made the breakthrough for his team in the 59th minute after a brilliant run and an assist from Fede Valverde.

At just 21 years old, Vinícius Júnior announced himself on the world stage with his winning goal against Liverpool, giving the Madridistas their first European title since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo.

The goal itself may have lacked the brilliance of Bale’s winning goal, but it added Real Madrid’s 14th Champions League title to its trophy cabinet and secured Vinícius Júnior’s place in Los Blancos and UCL history.

Having failed to win in their last six UCL games against Real Madrid, Liverpool were hungry for revenge against the reigning European champions when they met at Anfield in the 2022/23 round of 16.

Jürgen Klopp’s side got off to a bright start, taking a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Darwin Núñez and Mohamed Salah in the first 15 minutes. The Reds had several opportunities to extend their lead in the first half, but instead it was Vinícius Júnior who scored a brace and brought Real Madrid back to level before heading to the dressing room.

What transpired in the second half of the game still seems unlikely given the intense play in the first 45 minutes. The Whites returned to the pitch and scored three more goals in the 67th minute, silencing Anfield.

Militão’s winning goal would have been enough to give his side the lead heading into the second leg, but Karim Benzema’s brace effectively secured Real Madrid’s ticket to the quarter-finals before either team even set foot at the Santiago Bernabéu.

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