The second round of the semi of the Champions League final took place between Liverpool FC and Villarreal of Spain at Anfield. Villarreal made their second semi-final appearance in history after 2005 when they were knocked out by English side Arsenal. They made it this year, eliminating Juventus from the round of 16 stages and Bayern a minute from the quarter-final.
Villarreal came to Anfield with a game plan to defend all, though, which they succeeded in the first half of the encounter. They held Liverpool to a 0-0 first half despite Thiago’s and Mane’s close chances, Liverpool couldn’t get the back of Rui’s net.
In the second half of the game, Liverpool decided the game in just three minutes by frustrating Villarreal left-back Estupinan with an own goal from Jordan Henderson’s strike and two minutes after Sadio Mane doubled the lead for Liverpool at Anfield. Mane, who has now scored the same goal as Didier Drogba in the semi-final stage of the UCL could have one of the best years of his career.
Liverpool will travel to Spain next week to take on Yellow Submarines and finish the glamorous job they had begun. A win or a draw will see Liverpool through to the final, while Villarreal will need a 3 goals advantage to overturn the game.
