Liverpool^ completed the task of qualifying for the Champions League final by defeating Villarreal 3-2 in the second leg of the semi-final on Tuesday evening.
Villarreal took the lead with two goals from Boulaye Dia (3) and Francis Coccoli (41)
until Fabinho (62), Luis Diaz (67), and Sadio Mane scored a hat-trick for Liverpool^ in the
second half (74).
However, Unai Emery made two changes to the starting lineup that lost the first leg, with Gerard
Moreno returning to the attack after recovering from injury, and Boulaye Dia taking Samuel
Chukwueza’s position.
Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp, on the other hand, elected to play Portuguese Diogo Jota in
the front line over Colombian Luis Diaz.
In the third minute, Villarreal took the lead when the ball reached Etienne Capoue on the left
flank, who deceived goalkeeper Alisson Becker and placed the ball on a golden platter in
front of Dia, who easily followed it into the empty goal.
Liverpool didn’t respond until the 11th minute, when full-back Andy Robertson crossed a
cross, which was followed by a poor and far-away Jota.
Liverpool^ pressured by Villarreal
In the 12th minute, Villarreal midfielder Dani Parejo made a poor shot that did not threaten
Liverpool’s goal, and in the 23rd minute, Jota failed to deal with Mohamed Salah’s pass
facing the goal while being pressured by Villarreal defender Raul Albiol.
In the 37th minute, after a joint game between Alisson and home side player Giovanni Lo
Celso, the referee refused to grant Villarreal a penalty kick.
Villarreal equalized in the 41st minute, after Francis Coquelin soared above Liverpool full-
back Trent Alexander-Arnold to deliver a beautiful header in the net after a cross from
Kabwe.
Diaz came in in place of Jota between the halves and made an immediate impact, evading in
front of him and shooting a shot that rebounded off the post in the 52nd minute when the
ball reached him on the left side. That Liverpool could cut the lead in half in the 62nd
minute,
Watch the goals of the Villarreal Liverpool match
Liverpool vs Villarreal
When Fabio collected a pass from Mohamed Salah and scored from a tight angle.
In the 68th minute, after Arnold had turned down a beautiful cross with his right hand, Diaz met it with his head, hitting it between the goalkeeper’s feet and into the net.
Above all, Villarreal appeared resigned after conceding two goals, and goalkeeper Roli made an inexcusable error by failing to clear the ball outside his line, allowing Mane to pick up the ball and beat Juan Foyth to the empty goal in the 74th minute.
Certainly, The two teams made a series of substitutes, and Liverpool’s captain Jordan transferred the ball from the right side inside the penalty area to the other replacement Curtis Jones, who had his shot stopped by Rowley in the 81st minute.
Villarreal’s hopes were completely dashed when Kabwe was sent off for a second yellow card in the 86th minute, and Salah squandered a simple scoring opportunity in the final minute.
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