The 2022 Champions League final is set, with Liverpool and Real Madrid ready for their rematch of the 2018 final.
The Real Madrid-Manchester City semi-final was an all-time classic, with action from start to finish and a comeback for the ages. Liverpool-Villarreal was not nearly as dramatic, but it still produced some fantastic football over two legs.
Before looking ahead to the final in Paris, SBOTOP would like to pay homage to the semi-finals’ heroes, who made those matches so memorable with their brilliant performances on the big stage.
Karim Benzema, Real Madrid
Benzema promised magic in Madrid, and he and Real delivered. The Frenchman wasn’t at his finest in the second leg, but he still played a crucial part in their comeback as he set up Rodrygo’s first goal and scored the winning penalty in extra time to send Real through.
With three more goals in the semi-finals, Benzema is now at an incredible 15 goals in this Champions League campaign, only two shy of former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo’s single-season record of 17. And with the way he’s been playing, you wouldn’t bet against Benzema’s Champions League 2022 odds of tying or even breaking that amazing record in the final.
Rodrygo, Real Madrid
Rodrygo’s time with Real Madrid has been rocky, to say the least. The highly touted Brazilian has mostly struggled since his big-money move to Madrid in 2018, but he has finally found top form in recent weeks. And he stole the show in the semi-finals with two stunning strikes in the 90th and 91st minutes of the second leg to shock City – and write himself into Real Madrid lore.
First, he scored a real poacher’s goal as he beat Ederson to Benzema’s ball in and expertly finished with the outside of his right boot. And for his second, he rose high and scored a beautiful header that even the great Benzema would be proud of.
The 21-year-old, who also scored a crucial late goal against Chelsea, has been a major part of this amazing Real Madrid run and could yet make more Champions League 2022 highlights in Paris.
Ferland Mendy, Real Madrid
While Benzema and Rodrygo got the plaudits with their goals, Mendy also made some key contributions over the two legs that ended up being so massive.
The French full-back supplied the assists in both of Real’s open-play goals in the first leg. And in the second leg, he made a spectacular goal-line clearance on Jack Grealish’s goal-bound shot in the 87th minute, which kept Real in the tie.
That clearance turned out to be huge in the end as Real eventually forced extra time through to Rodrygo’s late goals, and they had Mendy to thank for being in that position.
Riyad Mahrez, Manchester City
If not for Real Madrid’s amazing comeback, Riyad Mahrez would have been hailed as Manchester City’s semi-final hero.
The Algerian was arguably City’s best player over the two legs. He provided an assist and hit the woodwork in their 4-3 first-leg win, although he was also berated by Pep Guardiola on the sidelines after he opted to shoot instead of passing to Phil Foden for a possible tap-in.
Mahrez seemingly made up for that mistake by scoring City’s goal in the second leg. Guardiola subbed off Mahrez with five minutes left to try and preserve their lead, but Real improbably came back to force extra time.
Without a doubt, City would have had a better chance to get another goal in extra time if Mahrez, their most influential player of the semi-finals, had been on the pitch.
Luis Diaz, Liverpool
Luis Diaz’s impact since arriving at Liverpool in January has been incredible, and the Colombian continued his impressive form in the Villarreal tie. While he failed to score in their 2-0 first-leg win, he was still quite lively as he finished with a team-leading five shots.
Diaz added four more shots – including a goal – in just 45 minutes of action in the second leg as his introduction at half-time gave the Reds the spark they needed to run out 3-2 winners.
Diaz will no doubt play some part in the Champions League final, either from the start or as a game-changing super sub.
Sadio Mane, Liverpool
But as good as Luis Diaz was, Sadio Mane was Liverpool’s main man over the two legs against Villarreal. The Senegalese striker has been banging in the goals at the tail-end of the season, and he added a goal in each leg of the semi-finals to sink the Yellow Submarine.
It was Mane who scored Liverpool’s goal in their 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the 2018 final. And in the form he’s in at the moment, he will once again be one of the Reds’ main goal threats against Real in Paris.
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