Sports

PARIS — Lionel Messi won The Best FIFA men’s player prize for 2022 on Monday on the back of his World Cup triumph with Argentina and Spain’s Alexia Putellas retained the women’s award at a ceremony in Paris.

Messi beat his Paris Saint-Germain teammate, and World Cup final rival, Kylian Mbappe to the men’s gong with Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema having been the other contender to claim the prize.

It is the second time that Messi has won the honour inaugurated by FIFA in 2016 after football’s world governing body split from Ballon d’Or organisers France Football.

The award, which is voted for by national team coaches and captains, journalists and also fans, recognises a year in which the former Barcelona star crowned his glorious career by leading Argentina to victory at the World Cup.

Messi scored twice in an epic final in Doha as Argentina beat France on penalties despite Mbappe netting a hat-trick for Les Bleus in a remarkable 3-3 draw.

He also claimed the Golden Ball for the best player at the tournament, although Mbappe was the top scorer with eight goals, one more than Messi.

“This year was just mad for me, to be able to achieve my dream that I had fought so hard for. In the end I got it and it was the most beautiful thing that has happened in my career,” Messi said of his World Cup win as he collected his award.

“It is a dream for every footballer but something that very few can make come true,” added Messi, who was sat in the Paris theatre in between Mbappe and his wife Antonella Roccuzzo.

He took the prize just 24 hours after combining with Mbappe to lead PSG to a 3-0 win against Marseille in Ligue 1.

Putellas pips Mead 

and Morgan

The 35-year-old, a seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, succeeds Polish star Robert Lewandowski on the FIFA honours list, while Putellas retained the women’s prize despite spending the second half of last year out injured.

The 29-year-old beat England’s European Championship-winning striker Beth Mead and United States star Alex Morgan to add the FIFA crown to the Ballon d’Or, which she has also won two years running.

Putellas is currently recovering from a serious knee injury suffered last July which ruled her out of the Euro in England with Spain.

Prior to that she had scored 11 goals on Barcelona’s run to the Champions League final, which they lost to Lyon.

Putellas has previously said she hopes to return from injury in time to play again this season, but it remains to be seen whether she will feature for Spain at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in July and August.

Argentina’s World Cup win in Qatar was also recognised as Lionel Scaloni claimed the men’s coach’s honour and Emiliano Martinez was named the best male goalkeeper.

Meanwhile, England’s European Championship victory helped their Dutch manager Sarina Wiegman win the prize for best women’s coach, while Mary Earps was named the women’s goalkeeper of the year.

Polish amputee player Marcin Oleksy took the Puskas Award for best goal, named after Hungary great Ferenc Puskas.

ALMERÍA, Spain — La Liga leaders Barcelona tumbled to an embarrassing 1-0 defeat at Almeria on Sunday, failing to capitalise on Real Madrid’s derby draw with Atletico to extend their advantage.

El Bilal Toure’s fine first half strike split the teams and earned Almeria their first ever victory over Barca, inflicting only the second defeat of the league campaign on the Catalans.

Xavi Hernandez’s side still have a seven-point lead over champions Madrid, but their morale took a further blow following their midweek Europa League exit against Manchester United.

Barca face Madrid in a Clasico Copa del Rey semifinal first leg on Thursday at the Santiago Bernabeu, with their vulnerabilities starting to show.

Victory would have stretched their advantage in the title race to double figures, as they bid to win La Liga for the first time since 2019.

Madrid beat Barcelona in the league in October in their first defeat and Almeria ended Barca’s subsequent 13-game unbeaten league run.

“I’m very angry because I think we played our worst game of the season,” Xavi told Movistar.

“Above all in the first half, we couldn’t move the ball around, we lacked intensity, speed, on a day where we couldn’t mess up.

“We did not show the passion [we needed] to win the game. In the second half, yes, but they defended well.”

Xavi, already without injured trio Pedri, Ousmane Dembele and Ansu Fati, took a risk and rotated heavily and his team paid the price.

The lowly hosts, starting the game 19th with just one victory in their prior eight league games, were on top and went ahead through Toure’s emphatic finish.

The Mali international cushioned a long ball into striker Luis Suarez’s path, before spinning and breaking forward at pace.

Suarez lofted a pass over Andreas Christensen and Toure ran on to it, lashing an effort past Marc-Andre ter Stegen and in off the crossbar. 

It was only the eighth league goal Barcelona have conceded this season, stopping Ter Stegen adding to his impressive tally of 17 clean sheets.

‘We’ll calm ourselves’

The hosts kept La Liga top scorer Robert Lewandowski quiet at the other end, unable to trouble Almeria goalkeeper Fernando Martinez.

Defender Araujo, thrown into attack by Xavi in desperation, directed a header centimetres wide of the far post but that was as close as Barcelona came.

Ter Stegen made a brilliant save to deny Adrian Embarba on the counter and Almeria defended bravely to see out a historic victory.

The goalkeeper said Barcelona would recover ahead of the cup clash against Madrid.

“It’s a defeat, it always hurts, it never arrives at a good moment, but we will calm ourselves,” said Ter Stegen.

“It’s important to charge our batteries for Thursday. We’re looking forward and we will achieve what we want to.”

Almeria rose to 15th, two points clear of the relegation zone.

“The best team in the league came to us, they’re first, and we were capable of blocking them, of taking advantage of the chance we had,” Rubi told Movistar.

Elsewhere Jorge Sampaoli’s Sevilla twice came from behind but fell to a 3-2 home defeat by Osasuna, leaving them 14th and two points above the relegation zone.

David Garcia headed the visitors in front in the first half as they dominated, but Nemanja Gudelj smashed Sevilla back level with a stunning long-range effort.

Fernando’s unfortunate own goal put Osasuna back ahead, but Morocco striker Youssef En Nesyri levelled with a fine finish.

A thrilling clash was settled when on loan Barcelona winger Ez Abde produced a fine solo goal with five minutes remaining, whipping his finish across Yassine Bounou and into the far corner.

Osasuna rose to seventh and have a Copa del Rey semifinal against Athletic Bilbao to look forward to on Wednesday.

Girona earned an exciting 3-2 win at Athletic Bilbao to climb into mid-table, inspired by the electric Aleix Garcia, who opened the scoring.

Oscar de Marcos and Mikel Vesga own goals extended Girona’s lead, while Athletic hit back through Yuri Berchiche and Raul Garcia grabbed another late on, but could not find an equaliser.

Young Celta Vigo star Gabri Veiga struck twice and set up another for Haris Seferovic in a 3-0 win over Real Valladolid.

PARIS — Just like in the World Cup final, Paris Saint-Germain teammates Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe go up against one another for The Best FIFA Men’s Player prize for 2022 on Monday, with Ballon d’Or Karim Benzema the other contender.

The ceremony takes place in Paris, and Messi appears as the favourite to add another individual gong to his collection after leading Argentina to glory over Mbappe’s France in that epic encounter in Qatar.

Messi has won the Ballon d’Or seven times and claimed the FIFA award — inaugurated in 2016 following FIFA’s split with Ballon d’Or organisers France Football — once in 2019.

In the last two years Messi has made the podium as Robert Lewandowski has won the title, but the 35-year-old’s career-crowning World Cup triumph was the defining moment of 2022.

The winner is decided by a jury comprised of the coach and captain of every men’s national team and one journalist from each country, but fans can also vote.

Mbappe became the first player to score a World Cup final hat-trick since Geoff Hurst in 1966 as he dragged France to a 3-3 draw after extra time — despite two goals by Messi — before they eventually succumbed in a shoot-out.

Mbappe, who turned 24 just after the final, was the tournament’s top scorer with eight goals, one more than Messi, who claimed the Golden Ball for best player.

He was also comfortably PSG’s most important player in the year leading up to the World Cup, despite being joined there by Messi — he was Ligue 1’s leading scorer and France’s player of the year.

However, their World Cup achievements overshadow everything else.

“Because Messi won the World Cup he has the biggest chance of winning, that’s a fact,” admitted Ruud Gullit, himself a former Ballon d’Or winner.

Dutchman Gullit was speaking in his role as a member of the Laureus Academy, which recently included Mbappe and Messi among the nominees for their own awards.

“But I have so much respect for Mbappe. For me he is on the same level. What he did in the final, to take that responsibility was unbelievable,” he added.

Putellas up 

for women’s gong

Benzema’s chances of winning another individual honour were hit after he missed the World Cup due to injury.

Exiled from the French team for five and a half years because of his involvement in a blackmail scandal over a sextape involving a former teammate, Benzema’s Ballon d’Or win last October had completed his own career redemption.

The Real Madrid striker, now 35, scored 44 goals in 46 games for his club last season, inspiring them to glory in the Champions League and La Liga.

He has continued to bang in the goals this season.

“I am really, really proud of my journey,” he declared after claiming the Ballon d’Or.

Current Ballon d’Or Alexia Putellas, who won the Best award last year, is again nominated for the women’s prize, despite being out since July with a knee injury.

England forward Beth Mead and US star Alex Morgan are the other finalists.

Argentina’s Lionel Scaloni is up for the men’s coach’s honour along with Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti and Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola.

Sarina Wiegman, who won Euro 2022 with England, is up for the women’s coach award with Sonia Bompastor of Lyon and Brazil’s Pia Sundhage.

Brazil star Richarlison’s World Cup strike against Serbia is one of three nominees for the Puskas Award for best goal, named after Hungary great Ferenc Puskas.

Marseille’s Dimitri Payet and Polish amputee player Marcin Oleksy are also nominated, while there is also a category for the best male and female goalkeeper.

BERLIN — After his side defeated Ajax 3-1 to qualify for the Europa League last 16 on Thursday, a smiling Union Berlin boss Urs Fischer said simply “The insanity goes on.”

The next stop on Union’s “insane” journey? German powerhouses Bayern Munich on Sunday.

Union sit alongside Bayern and fellow powerhouses Borussia Dortmund atop the Bundesliga, separated only by goal difference — a pre-season outcome likely beyond the dreams of even the most ambitious Unioner. 

Shortly after beating Ajax on Thursday, with Union’s players dancing in front of the all-standing terraces, the fans began a chant, promising to “pull the Lederhosen off the Bavarians”. 

Unlike Bayern, who have won the Bundesliga more than the rest of German clubs combined, Union’s trophy cabinet is relatively empty, meaning fans have a different understanding of what “success” really means. 

‘Don’t care about result’

American striker Jordan Siebatcheu has fitted right in after arriving in summer, scoring three goals and laying on two assists in his first six games.

He told AFP “Clear communication plus the nice group of guys helped me to adapt to the system early and improve myself.”

“The fans are amazing. They don’t care about the result.

“Doesn’t matter if German Cup, Bundesliga or friendlies, they are there.

“Therefore, we need to keep going for the fans.”

Siebatcheu is confident the occasion will not get to the visitors on Sunday. 

“We don’t care if we play against Schalke or Munich. 

‘Do a Leicester’

Englishman John Richter’s love for the club is so strong that after flying to Berlin for dozens of matches a year, he decided to move to Germany in the summer “because of Union”.

Richter, 58, told AFP he decided while standing on the grass of Union’s Alte Foersterei Stadium after the club had secured promotion to the top division in 2019.

“The play-off against Stuttgart, when we were celebrating on the pitch, that night was one of the greatest nights of my life.

“I just thought I need to get to more matches and I need to be in Berlin more often.”

For former Liverpool fan Richter, who received a German passport through his father, supporting Union provides a connection to a less commercial game with a purer fan culture. 

“Standing on a terrace” at Union, Richter said “I recaptured my youth.”

Oliver Jauer, who contributes to Union blog and podcast Textilvergehen, came with his dad as a two-year-old and has stood with the club since. 

“I’m thankful I didn’t rebel against my father,” Jauer, now 41, told AFP. 

When it comes to titles, Jauer echoes the stoic pragmatism of manager Fischer, but admits “I think I’m one of the few people I know who actively tries to allow himself to dream.”

“I’m trying to visualise how it would feel to actually do a Leicester [who surprisingly won the English title in 2016], but every part of me is screaming that there’s still maybe like a one per cent chance.”

For lifelong Union fan Jan Grobi, 54, who has been to “pretty much every game” since 1983, an unlikely title win may have consequences. 

“Before the season I said the words ‘if we become German champions, I’d walk naked through the Alte Foersterei.’ 

“A few people are already trying to hold me to that, saying ‘Hey Grobi, you promised!’

“Since then, we agreed it’d be more like the Borat swimsuit, so that the ugly bits are covered,” he added in reference to ‘mankini’ made famous by comedian Sacha Baron Cohen’s hit movie about a crude fictional TV reporter from Kazakhstan.

A crazy ride

Union have never beaten Bayern, with four losses and three draws, all by a 1-1 scoreline, including earlier this season in Berlin.

Whether the club win, lose or draw on Sunday and whether they can sustain a push for the Champions League or an unlikely title, Jauer hints that success means something very different for Union fans. 

“There is still a lot of gratitude for the crazy ride — we are secure in the Bundesliga for the fourth year.

“I think that if we would somehow miss out on Europe on the last day, no-one would be really disappointed.”

“Anything else that comes is a bonus.”

“But if we should actually play in the Champions League,” Grobi ponders, “I’ve heard the anthem probably 1,000 times, but to hear it in the Alte Foersterei, well that would be great.”

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico — Reigning British Open champion Cameron Smith and two-time major winner Dustin Johnson are among the big names as the controversial Saudi-backed LIV Golf League opens its 2023 campaign on Friday.

The series of 54-hole events offering record purses of $25 million expands to 14 stops in seven nations, starting at Mexico’s Mayakoba resort.

Several big names were lured to LIV Golf from the US PGA Tour, prompting a PGA ban that set up a court fight scheduled to begin in January 2024.

Top-ranked Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods and Masters champion Scottie Scheffler were among those who stayed with the PGA as a split in the sport brought chaos, but so far LIV players remain able to play in majors if they qualify.

LIV Golf continues to fight to earn world ranking points, but with new players making the jump the 2023 season could see top talent from LIV and older tours meeting only at the four majors, adding to the tension around April’s Masters showdown at Augusta National.

Johnson won last year’s individual LIV Golf crown after taking a title in Boston with an eagle on the first playoff hole and led an all-American 4Aces squad to the team title.

Australia’s Smith, the 2022 PGA Player of the Year, won his first major title at St. Andrews but made the jump to LIV Golf after the US PGA’s Tour Championship.

Smith captured the Chicago title in September in his second LIV start and in November claimed his third Australian PGA Championship triumph as LIV players remain eligible for DP World Tour events amid an ongoing court battle.

Critics brand LIV Golf as a bid by Saudi Arabia, which backs the circuit via its Public Investment Fund, to “sportswash” its human rights record.

But LIV Golf Commissioner Greg Norman sees the league carrying the sport to a younger audience with fast-paced shotgun starts, on-site concerts and increased interaction between stars and fans.

“In less than a year, LIV Golf has reinvigorated the professional game and laid the foundation for the sport’s future,” Norman said.

“Our league format has already begun to build connections with new audiences around the globe. Major champions, current and future Hall of Famers, and up-and-coming stars are all committed to creating this new platform for world-class competition as the sport evolves for the next generation.”

13 major winners

PGA officials have made changes to combat defections, including the creation of elevated events with prize money boosted to $20 million at nine tournaments and to $25 million at the Players Championship.

LIV Golf, however, boasts 13 major winners, including Johnson, Smith, Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Patrick Reed, Sergio Garcia, Louis Oosthuizen, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell, Henrik Stenson, Bubba Watson and Charl Schwartzel.

The series includes stops in April at Adelaide and Singapore, events on back-to-back weekends at the start of July at Spain’s Valderrama and England’s Centurion courses and a November season-ender in Saudi Arabia.

US events include three at courses owned by former US President Donald Trump — May at Trump National near Washington, August at Trump National in Bedminster, New Jersey, and at Doral in October.

Other US stops include Tucson and Orlando in late March and early April, Tulsa in May, Greenbrier in August and Chicago in September.

MILAN — Romelu Lukaku boosted Inter Milan’s chances of reaching the Champions League quarterfinals for the first time in over a decade after scoring the only goal in Wednesday’s 1-0 win over Porto.

Belgium forward Lukaku struck with four minutes remaining of the first leg at the San Siro on the rebound from his own header to decide an absorbing encounter at the San Siro.

Simone Inzaghi’s side travel to Portugal next month to decide who will go through to the last eight with a slight advantage thanks to Lukaku’s second goal in as many games in all competitions.

The 29-year-old, who has struggled with injury all season, struck his first league goal since August at the weekend and came off the bench in the second half to ensure Inter will have a lead to protect in the second leg as they seek a first quarterfinal tie since 2011.

“Winning is the most important thing... I’m focusing on trying to do what’s best for Inter,” said Lukaku to Amazon Prime. 

“I’m pleased for the win, let’s hope we can keep it going.”

Lukaku stuck as Sergio Conceicao’s Porto were playing with 10 men after key midfielder Otavio, in his first appearance since the start of February, was sent off in the 78th minute for two bookable offences.

The Portuguese champions have been a bogey side to Italian teams in recent seasons but will have to turn the aggregate score around if they are to add to the series of Serie A scalps which include Juventus and Roma. 

“It’s a slight advantage that we’ll try to make count against a good, physical team which is used to playing in the last 16 and quarterfinals... It’s a great win,” said Inzaghi.

“It was deserved for what we did on the pitch, but we know it’s not finished here and the second leg will be difficult.”

Inter should have been ahead in the 13th minute when Federico Dimarco found Lautaro Martinez with a deep cross, but the Argentina striker sent his header way of the bar.

Lukaku strikes

Five minutes later Hakan Calhanoglu forced a fantastic save from Diogo Costa, the Turkey international playing a one-two from his own corner and whipping a beautifully struck effort shot which nearly went in at the near post.

However, it was Porto who wasted the best chance of a niggly half in the 37th minute after a lovely team move, their first decent attack of the match.

From Otavio’s pass Mehdi Taremi played the perfect layoff to Marko Grujic, who should have done better in front of Andre Onana before Wenderson Galeno headed wide with the goal gaping.

Costa then made sure that the teams would go into the break level with another superb stop, this time reacting brilliantly to keep out Alessandro Bastoni’s flicked header from Dimarco’s inswinging free-kick.

Barella flicked just wide before Porto missed two more great chances to take the lead.

In the 54th minute, Taremi shot weakly at Onana at the end of a lightning break led by his striker partner Pepe, and then three minutes later Onana twice save Inter’s bacon in the space of seconds.

Milan Skriniar did well to block Zaidu’s low shot before former Cameroon goalkeeper Onana grasped at the Porto left-back’s second effort and then recovered in time to stop what looked like a certain Taremi goal.

“We had plenty of opportunities to score. We created situations in second half where we should have been more aggressive, because we were lacking in the finish,” Conceicao later told reporters.

“Inter played well, but if we look at the chances at the end of the match, I think we should have got a different result.”

Lukaku almost immediately replaced the disappointing Edin Dzeko and in the 72nd minute the Belgium striker almost laid on the opener for Martinez, who just couldn’t quite meet an inviting low cross as he slid into the six-yard box.

Just as the match looked destined for a goalless draw despite Otavio’s dismissal, Lukaku headed Nicolo Barella’s cross against the post before slotting in the winner on the rebound.

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Jayson Tatum is turning his attention to the Boston Celtics’ bid for an NBA title after scoring an All-Star Game record 55 points.

Tatum made 22-of-31 shots from the floor, 10-of-18 from 3-point range, and added 10 rebounds and six assists to spark Team Giannis over Team LeBron 184-175.

But with the showcase showdown behind him, the 24-year-old forward who is averaging 30.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists is now focused on sparking the NBA overall-leading Celtics to a crown.

“Now it’s go time,” Tatum said. “We’ve got to have one common goal and that’s to win a championship. This was a good break for us mentally and physically, but it’s time to get back to work.”

Tatum, in his sixth NBA campaign, lifted the Celtics to the NBA Finals last season for the first time since 2010, although Boston lost to the Golden State Warriors.

He has learned how important the final weeks of the regular season can be in the overall championship chase.

“Since I’ve been in the league, the team that has kind of clicked in this last stretch — has kind of peaked and played their best of the season going into the playoffs — usually is the team that wins it all, so this stretch is important,” Tatum said.

“You want to be as healthy as possible going into the playoffs. You want to be playing your best basketball, individually and as a group, so that’s what we’re trying to do.”

At a league-best 42-17, the Celtics are just ahead of Milwaukee (41-17) atop the Eastern Conference with Philadelphia third at 38-19 followed in order by Cleveland and the Brooklyn Nets, who figure to sink after dealing away stars Kevin Durant to Phoenix and Kyrie Irving to Dallas.

Milwaukee star Giannis Antetokounmpo played only a moment due to a right wrist sprain but hopes to return for the Bucks’ stretch run.

“Hopefully I can be available for my team when they need me,” the Greek star said.

In the Western Conference, the Denver Nuggets are just behind the Celtics for the overall lead at 41-18 with Memphis a distant second on 35-22 and Sacramento third on 32-35 followed closely by the Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix and Dallas.

Serbian centre Nikola Jokic, the NBA MVP each of the past two seasons who turned 28 on Sunday, is averaging a triple double for Denver with 24.7 points, 11.5 rebounds and 10.1 assists a game.

He said the Nuggets enjoy the fact that other clubs receive more attention than Denver even though they are at the top.

“We like it,” Jokic said. “We don’t need [attention]. We know what we’re doing. We believe in the basketball system that we’ve built over the years, so it works.

“It’s still working. Nothing can affect us from outside. We are thinking about ourselves and just how to get better.”

Durant likes Paul, Mavs

Phoenix and Dallas have bolstered their rosters for the stretch run with Durant joining the formidable Suns and Irving pairing with Luka Doncic for the Mavericks.

“It’s going to be incredible,” Durant said of the Doncic-Irving partnership. “It’s going to be tough to guard them.”

Durant will have Chris Paul guiding the Suns’ attack from the backcourt with Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton alongside him in the front line.

The former NBA and NBA Finals MVP is especially excited to play alongside veteran guard Paul, seeking his first NBA crown after he turns 38 in May.

“His IQ for the game, his enthusiasm for the game, I think that goes underrated,” Durant said. “CP really loves ball. He just likes watching the game, like analysing. Like going through strategy and stuff.

“He’s always pulling me to the side and we’re just talking hoop, so I love that about him.

“On the floor, he can create so much for his teammates and for himself. He’s only going to help us.”

The Clippers expect to add star point guard Russell Westbrook after a contract buyout to fit alongside Paul George and Kawhi Leonard.

LIVERPOOL — Vinicius Junior and Karim Benzema scored twice as Real Madrid produced another stunning Champions League fightback from 2-0 down to thrash Liverpool 5-2 in the first leg of their last 16 tie at Anfield on Tuesday.

Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah had given the hosts a perfect start in a repeat of last season’s Champions League final.

But Vinicius struck twice to level by half-time and, after Eder Militao had given Carlo Ancelotti’s men the lead, Benzema’s double put the holders well on the way to the quarter-finals.

“We suffered a lot early on, you can’t start games like that, but fortunately the team had a cool head,” said Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti.

“Up front today we were very efficient. Every time we broke the press of Liverpool we were able to create chances.”

Defeat compounds a disastrous season for Liverpool after coming so close to an unprecedented quadruple of trophies last year.

Jurgen Klopp’s men are languishing in eighth in the Premier League and now appear to have no realistic chance of silverware this season.

“I think Carlo thinks the tie is over and I think it is too in the moment,” said Klopp. “In three weeks we will get to the game and take our chances.

“We go there and try to win the game. Whether it is possible, I don’t know, but we will try.”

UEFA protest

Madrid’s 1-0 victory when the sides met in Paris last May was overshadowed by chaotic scenes outside the Stade de France that put the lives of fans at risk.

The Liverpool support responded by drowning out the Champions League anthem with a chorus of boos, while a series of banners in the Kop stand took aim at UEFA and the French authorities.

Once the action got under way, the players produced the spectacle expected of a clash between two clubs with a combined 20 European Cups.

Liverpool briefly turned back the clock to some of their best nights under Klopp to explode out of the blocks.

Nunez produced a magical finish to flick home Salah’s pass inside four minutes.

Madrid overcame two-goal deficits to Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City on their road to a 14th European Cup last season and were forced to do so again by their normally solid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

A loose touch from the Belgian handed Salah Liverpool’s second on a plate as the Egyptian became the Reds’ all-time top goalscorer in European competition with 42.

But the defending champions again showed remarkable powers of recovery to turn the tie around in little over 30 minutes of play.

“Obviously we didn’t expect to start like we did but at 2-0 down I thought about the City game in last year’s semi-final in the hope that we could do the same,” added Ancelotti. 

“It turned out even better.”

Vinicius was the match-winner in last season’s final and now has five goals in four appearances against Liverpool.

The Brazilian flashed a shot into the far corner to get the comeback started on 21 minutes.

Another calamitous error from one of the world’s leading goalkeepers gifted Madrid an equaliser when Alisson Becker’s attempted clearance bounced off Vinicius and into an unguarded net.

Liverpool’s leaky defence was breached again at the start of the second period as Militao was afforded a free header to turn in Luka Modric’s free-kick.

Fortune was also on the side of the Spanish giants for the fourth goal as Benzema’s shot deflected off Joe Gomez to leave Alisson stranded.

There was nothing lucky about the visitors’ fifth as a clinical team move cut Liverpool to pieces.

Modric burst through midfield and fed Vinicius, who teed up Benzema to coolly round Alisson and slot into the top corner.

The sides meet again on March 15, but the second leg now appears little more than a formality on a night Madrid showed why they remain the kings of Europe.