Karim Benzema dedicates Real Madrid win at Liverpool to late, great Amancio Amaro

Former player and honorary club president died earlier on Tuesday before Real's 5-2 win at Anfield in first leg of Champions League last-16 tie

Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring Real Madrid's fifth goal in the 5-2 Champions League win at Anfield on February 21, 2023. AP

Liverpool's Alisson looks dejected after Karim Benzema's fifth goal for Real. Reuters

Karim Benzema, second right, celebrates after scoring Real's fourth goal. AP

Madrid's Karim Benzema celebrates scoring their fourth goal with Dani Carvajal. Reuters

Madrid's Eder Militao, left, celebrates after scoring his side's third goal. AP

Militao, right, celebrates after scoring. AP

Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior celebrates scoring their second goal with Rodrygo and Eder Militao. Reuters

Vinicius Junior celebrates after scoring Real's second goal. Getty

Madrid's Vinicius Junior celebrates scoring their second goal. Reuters

Madrid's Vinicius Junior celebrates scoring their first goal, cutting Liverpool's lead to 2-1. Reuters

Vinicius Junior scores the first for Real. EPA

Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois looks dejected after his mistake allows Mohamed Salah to score Liverpool's second goal. Getty

Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring his side's second goal. AP

Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring. Reuters

Darwin Nunez celebrates after opening the scoring for Liverpool. AP

Real Madrid players look dejected after Darwin Nunez scores. Reuters

Real Madrid captain Karim Benzema dedicated Wednesday's 5-2 win over Liverpool to club great Amancio Amaro, who died at 83 earlier in the day.

Benzema scored Madrid's fourth, via a huge deflection, and fifth goals as the title-holders staged an epic comeback, having trailed 2-0 at Anfield.

It put the Spanish giants firmly in the driving seat to progress to the Champions League quarter-finals when the two sides meet in the return leg next month.

"It's a very important night for us, I want to dedicate this win to our honorary president, Amancio," Benzema told Movistar.

"This victory is for him, with personality, goals. We want this Champions League.

"It was a beautiful game for everyone because we started a bit badly, we know Liverpool with their fans put on a lot of pressure, but after 15, 20 minutes, then we saw Real Madrid."

Liverpool went two goals ahead at the start but Madrid came back with a vengeance to run out comfortable winners.

Vinicius Junior, who netted the winner against Jurgen Klopp's side in the 2022 final, hit a brace to go with Benzema's pair, while Eder Militao scored a header just after half time.

"We know football is always difficult. They started well," added French striker Benzema.

"Two errors after 14 minutes, we need to do more – what we did until the end.

"A goal can change everything and it happened today."

Liverpool v Real Madrid ratings

Darwin Nunez put Liverpool in front with a fine flicked finish and Mohamed Salah netted the second for the hosts after an uncharacteristic error from Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

The Belgian international gave the ball away in front of goal to the grateful Salah, who tucked it away.

"It was a bit of bad luck to mess it up like that, I controlled it well and at first I wanted to pass it but I saw Salah stopped and so I said, 'I'll go to my right foot', but it bounced off my knee," said Courtois.

"Vini's goal allowed us to breathe and then Alisson did the same [as me] and on the counter we are strong."

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson had kicked the ball away under pressure from Vinicius and the ball hit the Brazilian and flew into the net to level the score at 2-2.