Liverpool-Real Madrid Live: Visiting Reds Lose 1-0 On Karim Benzema Goal

Alberto Moreno and James Rodriguez Final, 1-0 Real Madrid: The game is over. Real Madrid defeats Liverpool at the Bernabeu.

Liverpool resisted for a while but ultimately fell to Real Madrid by a one-goal deficit. Benzema’s first-half goal provided the difference in the scoreline, but Real Madrid’s supreme quality separated the teams’ respective performances.

Real Madrid controlled the game from the start, and the contest mostly proceeded in one direction. Liverpool rarely ventured into Real Madrid’s third of the field, making Casillas a virtual spectator. On the other hand, Liverpool’s defenders and Mignolet were busy throughout as Real Madrid launched wave after wave of attack. Mignolet’s saves prevented the scoreline from being lopsided.

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Real Madrid qualified for the knockout stage of the competition, having taken all 12 points from its first four games. Liverpool now sits third in the group with three points — tied with fourth-place Ludogorets. Basel is in second place with six points. Liverpool will visit Ludogorets on Nov. 26 in a game it cannot afford to lose if it is to progress to the Round of 16.

That’s all for now, and thanks for joining us. Let’s discuss this one on Twitter @NESNsoccer and Facebook. Be sure to keep an eye out for some news, fan reactions, analysis and opinion that is on the way on NESN.com.

90th minute, 1-0 Real Madrid: There will be a minimum of three minutes of added time in the second half.

87th minute, 1-0 Real Madrid: Chicharito replaces Benzema, as Real Madrid makes its final substitution.

Benzema exits to a rousing ovation.

85th minute, 1-0 Real Madrid: Bale aims the ensuing free kick toward the top corner of Liverpool’s goal, but Mignolet dives and punches it away.

85th minute, 1-0 Real Madrid: Moreno is cautioned for a foul on Bale.

83rd minute, 1-0 Real Madrid: Nacho comes on for Arbeloa, as Real Madrid makes another substitution.

82nd minute, 1-0 Real Madrid: There’s just under 10 minutes left in this one, and Liverpool is gaining a greater share of possession and pushing the game into Real Madrid’s half.

78th minute, 1-0 Real Madrid: Marcelo hits a speculative, long-range shot but misses the target.

76th minute, 1-0 Real Madrid: Marcelo is cautioned for a tackle from behind on Sterling.

75th minute, 1-0 Real Madrid: Liverpool makes its final substitution, replacing Can with Coutinho.

74th minute, 1-0 Real Madrid: Kroos shoots high and wide from 30 yards away.

72nd minute, 1-0 Real Madrid: Mignolet saves Ronaldo’s free kick.

70th minute, 1-0 Real Madrid: Bale hits the crossbar.

Marcelo cut a pass back toward Bale, and the Welshman took a first-time shot that beat Mignolet but not the bar.

69th minute, 1-0 Real Madrid: Liverpool is making a pair of substitutions. Sterling and Gerrard enter the game. Markovic and Lucas depart.

66th minute, 1-0 Real Madrid: Moreno tries a shot from distance, but it rolls wide.

62nd minute, 1-0 Real Madrid: Bale enters the game, taking James’ place. It’s Real Madrid’s first substitution.

60th minute, 1-0 Real Madrid: Ramos is cautioned for a foul on Borini. It was a strong tackle, but it looked like Ramos won the ball cleanly.

58th minute, 1-0 Real Madrid: More good build-up play from Liverpool ends when Lallana turns, enters Real Madrid’s penalty area and rolls a shot narrowly wide of Casillas’ goal.

56th minute, 1-0 Real Madrid: Moreno shoots, and Casillas makes a save.

It was Liverpool’s first shot on goal.

53rd minute, 1-0 Real Madrid: James is cautioned for a foul on Markovic, who was dribbling into Real Madrid’s half with speed when he was bumped down.

49th minute, 1-0 Real Madrid: Ronaldo shoots on goal from the top of the penalty area, but it goes straight to Mignolet.

47th minute, 1-0 Real Madrid: Skrtel is cautioned for a foul on Ronaldo.

46th minute, 1-0 Real Madrid: The second half is underway.

Halftime, 1-0 Real Madrid: That’s the end of the first half. Liverpool trails by one.

As expected, Real Madrid is making life hard for Liverpool at the Bernabeu. Real Madrid has dominated possession and territory from the start and put Liverpool under intense pressure.

James and Ronaldo have forced Mignolet to make two good saves, and Liverpool’s defenders blocked at least twice as many before they could reach the goal.

Benzema’s goal rewarded the hosts for their positive approach and control of the game.

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Liverpool deserves credit for the energy and determination it showed up until Benzema’s goal. The gulf in quality between the teams is evident, but Liverpool did well to stay compact and pressure Real Madrid when it ventured forward.

40th minute, 1-0 Real Madrid: Ronaldo has another great chance to score, but he fails to connect with Modric’s floated pass, and it bounces into Mignolet’s hands.

38th minute, 1-0 Real Madrid: Toure’s intervention prevents Benzema from doubling Real Madrid’s lead and his own goal tally.

The hosts have continued to pin Liverpool back in their own third of the field, as they probe for that second goal.

35th minute, 1-0 Real Madrid: Mignolet denies Ronaldo again. This time the Portuguese forward hit a knuckling free kick that almost wrong-footed Mignolet.

27th minute, 1- 0 Real Madrid: Benzema scores, and Liverpool trails by one.

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Marcelo sent an inch-perfect cross to Benzema, who eluded his marker Toure and volleyed his teammate’s delivery past Mignolet.

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25th minute, 0-0: Liverpool has weathered Real Madrid’s pressure so far. The Reds have shown great bravery and determination at the Bernabeu. Borini, Can, Lallana and Allen are working hard to close down the spaces from the front, while the back four, plus Lucas, are making timely stops as well.

Mignolet’s saves have been key.

18th minute, 0-0: Ronaldo surges into Liverpool’s penalty area and shoots from a tight angle, but Mignolet stops it.

15th minute, 0-0: The Bernabeu remains a cauldron of noise, as both sets of fans are making themselves heard.

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10th minute, 0-0: Benzema dispossesses Skrtel and cuts a pass back to Ronaldo, who side-foots a shot on goal. Mignolet turns Ronaldo’s shot away, but it’s more danger from the hosts.

Ninth minute, 0-0: Despite fielding an inexperienced team, Liverpool has started brightly. The Reds are showing composure in possession and good tenacity when Real Madrid has the ball.

Fourth minute, 0-0: Real Madrid threatens early on, as James finds space at the top of the Liverpool penalty area and forces Mignolet to save his goal-bound effort.

Kickoff: The Champions League Group B game between Liverpool and Real Madrid is underway.

Pregame: Brendan Rodgers has fielded a decidedly weakened starting XI in Liverpool’s toughest test of the season. The Liverpool manager presumably has his eye on Saturday’s crunch Premier League game against Chelsea as he elects to rest several regulars.

Toure comes into the starting lineup at center back. The Ivorian replaces Dejan Lovren, who isn’t in the gameday squad. Toure will see his first Champions League action in three years.

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Manquillo also starts, as Johnson drops to the bench.

Lucas and Can will play in the midfield, while mainstays Gerrard and Henderson start on the bench.

The Reds will play a front three of Markovic, Lallana and Borini. Balotelli, Sterling and Coutinho also start on the bench.

Martin Skrtel captains the Reds, as longtime skipper Gerrard and vice-captain Henderson aren’t included in the starting lineup.

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Real Madrid fields a familiar-looking starting XI. Benzema and Ronaldo scored in Real Madrid’s 3-0 win over Liverpool on Oct. 22. They’ll play from the start Tuesday. The midfield looks the same.

Ramos returns to the back line, having recovered from a calf injury. Varane starts next to Ramos ahead of Pepe.

2:15 p.m.: Here are the lineups:

Liverpool
Simon Mignolet (22), goalkeeper
Alberto Moreno (18), left back
Kolo Toure (4), center back
Martin Skrtel (37) (captain), center back
Javier Manquillo (19), right back
Lucas Leiva (21), midfielder
Emre Can (23), midfielder
Joe Allen (24), midfielder
Adam Lallana (20), forward
Lazar Markovic (50), forward
Fabio Borini (29), striker

Substitutes
Brad Jones (1), goalkeeper
Glen Johnson (2), defender
Steven Gerrard (8), midfielder
Jordan Henderson (14), midfielder
Philippe Coutinho (10), midfielder
Raheem Sterling (31), forward
Mario Balotelli (45), striker

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Real Madrid
Iker Casillas (1), goalkeeper
Marcelo (12), left back
Raphael Varane (2), center back
Sergio Ramos (4), center back
Alvaro Arbeloa (17), right back
Toni Kroos (8), midfielder
Luka Modric (19), midfielder
James Rodriguez (10), midfielder
Isco (23), midfielder
Cristiano Ronaldo (7), forward
Karim Benzema (9), striker

Substitutes
Keylor Navas (13), goalkeeper
Pepe (3), defender
Nacho Fernandez (18), defender
Lucas Torro (33), midfielder
Medran (26), forward
Gareth Bale (11), forward
Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez (14), striker

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Noon ET: Liverpool visits one of the soccer world’s great cathedrals Tuesday when it faces Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

The Reds face Real Madrid in a Champions League Group B game that likely will be their stiffest single test of 2014.

But the game also gives Liverpool an opportunity to demonstrate their quality in front of a global audience, and a positive result could help the Reds rediscover their best form.

Real Madrid has won 11 games in a row (in all competitions), and Cristiano Ronaldo is on a similar tear. Ronaldo has scored in each of his last 12 games and, like his team, the Portuguese superstar is showing no signs of slowing down.

Liverpool will have to defend with maximum intensity and focus if it is going to stop Ronaldo and Co. The Reds also will have to be ruthless in front of goal, as scoring chances are likely to be limited to a small amount.

Tuesday’s game will be Liverpool’s first trip to the Bernabeu since 2009. The Reds won that game, but the teams and circumstances are different this time around. Real Madrid is the defending Champions League champion, and Liverpool plays the role of the young and hungry upstart.

Liverpool-Real Madrid kicks off at 2:45 p.m. ET. Join us for all the action from the Bernabeu Stadium.