--Real Madrid vs Liverpool--

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Join us at 1945 GMT to see if Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez can overcome the critics and see off Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.

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Good evening one and all and welcome to the latest installment in the Liverpool soap opera as Rafa Benitez takes the Reds back to his spritual home in Madrid to face Real. It should be a fascinating Champions League tie.

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If you've not heard the latest, the English bookies earlier stopped taking bets on Benitez to be the next Premier League manager to sling his hook, but they don't always get it right. The club then hit back by saying the speculation was ridiculous. They didn't go so far as to say his relationship with the club's hierarchy was hunky dory either though. Because it isn't. At all.

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The teams are out and the big news is that Gerrard is on the bench for Liverpool. Not a huge surprise after he only managed one training session prior to the game. Benayoun makes the cut and Alonso is back after being suspended at the weekend.

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Liverpool: Reina, Aurelio, Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel, Riera, Benayoun, Alonso, Mascherano, Torres and Kuyt. Subs from: Cavalieri, Dossena, Hyypia, Gerrard, Lucas, Babel and Ngog.

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Real Madrid: Casillas, Ramos, Cannavaro, Pepe, Heinze, Robben, Diarra, Gago, Marcelo, Raul and Higuain. Subs from: Dudek, Saviola, Sneijder, Guti, Metzelder, Miguel Torres and Van der Vaart.

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So, how's this one going to go? My heart says a high-scoring thriller as Real throw caution to the wind. My head says Liverpool to first and foremost nullify Real's threat and grind out a low scoring draw in favour of doing the job at Anfield. You?

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The teams are out and we are ready to go. The Bernabeu looks sensational...

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1'
We begin...

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2'
The game is only seconds old as Raul piles into Xabi Alonso and gets a ticking off from the ref. Spicy opening.

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3'
Alonso looks for Kuyt over the top but the Dutchman had strayed offside, then Torres trips Pepe and gets a howl of derision from his trouble. Exactly what he'd expect as a former Atletico player..

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4'
Raul gets his first opening as Robben played him in down the right channel but his shot from his weaker side didn't trouble Reina.

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5'
Two aimless balls from Liverpool hand possession straight back to Real. Poor from Arbeloa there.

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6'
Aurelio snaps straight in on Robben as Gago found him on the right. I can see that becoming a recurring theme of the evening I think...

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7'
The pattern is set; Real pressing, Liverpool soaking up and trying to hit on the break. What we need is an early goal..

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8'
Aurelio again piles in on Robben and this time wins a throw in. Robben looks disgusted, the Liverpool fans love it.

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9'
There's a cracking atmosphere in the stadium. Not always the noisiest is the Bernabeu, but their team is in good form and they're up for it this evening.

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11'
Torres wins a flick on .... to nobody. Liverpool won't get anywhere with that tactic.

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13'
Back in Madrid Real swing a free-kick, then a corner into the box but Carragher is equal to both.

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17'
A nice turn from Higuain offers Robben a half chance but he is immediately crowded off the ball by a combination of Skrtel and Mascherano.

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Pepe and Gago just stood there as the ball bounced from a Liverpool clearance into the path of Torres abd he nearly made them pay - Casillas with a great save to keep the scores level.

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31'
Should anyone remotely care, Stewart Downing has just scored a belter of a free kick to put Middlesbrough one up against West Ham in their FA Cup replay.

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43'
Wow! Alonso nicks the ball off Gago and has a pop from all of 50 yards forcing Casillas to tip over!

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45'
See you in 15 minutes...

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69'
Robben cuts along the edge of the penalty area but refuses to unload because he was on his weaker right foot. He then spreads it wide for Ramos but his cross is too deep and no-one can profit from it.

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71'
Robben cuts inside after Kuyt failed to get the foul he was looking for and unleashes a dipping, swerving shot that Reina does well to tip over.

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72'
Another poor corner and another Liverpool clearance.

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81'
Henize hauls Kuyt down for no reason at all and Liverpool have a free kick wide on the right. A crazy challenge.

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82'
GOAL! Benayoun!

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82'
Well, that was all Heinze's fault. He had no need to give away a free kick but he did and Aurelio whips in a devillish ball which Benayoun flashes into the net from eight yards out.

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85'
Well, Liverpool do it again. They sit back, invite pressure and nick a goal on their rare forrays upfield. Don't get me wrong though, they probably deserve it, but only because Madrid have been lamentable.

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89'
Now it's Real pumping the ball upfield after having run out of ideas. I honestly reckon Newcastle would have given them a decent game tonight.

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90'
Well, unless they are transformed in the next two weeks Liverpool will breeze past this lot at Anfield, even in their patchy form of late.

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91'
Three minutes added as the first chorus of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' rings out. Looks like there's some bother in the crowd too.

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93'
The Bernabeu is emptying very quickly as Liverpool edge towards victory...

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94'
Well, an excellent night for Liverpool is complete and Rafa Benitez has a precious win at the Bernabeu. Real Madrid, it has to be said, were pathetic, but Liverpool put them away and are huge favourites to go through to the quarter finals. Thanks for your company. See you next time..

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~http://soccernet-akamai.espn.go.com/gamecast?id=260515&league=UEFA.CHAMPIONS&cc=4716