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Real Madrid continues their winning run in the UEFA Champions League after beating FC Basel by a solitary goal in Switzerland. Liverpool squandered a one-goal lead to draw their final group stage away match of the 2014-15 Champions League campaign against Bulgarian outfit, Ludogorets.
Cristiano Ronaldo was once again the scorer for Los Blancos after brilliant off the ball movement to shake off the defender who was marking him inside the Basel penalty area. That goal meant that Cristiano Ronaldo equalled Raul’s goal-scoring exploits for Madrid in the Champions League.
Liverpool will have Keylor Navas to thank for keeping the score in Madrid’s favour after making a brilliant save. If that shot had gone in, Liverpool would have had to beat FC Basel by 5 goals when they meet at Anfield for the final match of the group stage.
Ludogorets took an early lead after goalkeeper Simon Mignolet spilled a shot and Daniel Abalo, who scored against the Reds at Anfield, duly put the ball in the back of the net.
Liverpool equalized when Rickie Lambert took advantage of miscommunication between the Ludogorets defence and their goalkeeper. Raheem Sterling put a fantastic pass for Jordan Henderson to tap the ball in at the far post.
Ludogorets, victims of a loss late in the game at Anfield, got some revenge when they scored in the 88th minute through Georgi Terziev. But, failing to find the winner meant that the team from Sofia, Bulgaria have been knocked out off the group stages.
FC Basel 0-1 Real Madrid : Cristiano Ronaldo (35’)
Karim Benzema was the architect for Cristiano Ronaldo’s 71st goal of the UEFA Champions League as he laid the ball for Ronaldo to tap it into the Basel goal. It was the only goal of the match and helped Real Madrid make it 5 wins out of 5 in Group B.
FC Basel 0-1 Real Madrid : Keylor Navas save (67’)
Keylor Navas was making his Champions League debut and ended up with a clean sheet. That was earned though, with this brilliant save to keep the score 0-1.
Ludogorets 1-0 Liverpool : Dani Abalo (3’)
Ludogorets striker Dani Abalo opened the scoring after Simon Mignolet misjudged the bounce of the ball and gifted a goal to Ludogorets.
Ludogorets 1-1 Liverpool : Rickie Lambert (8’)
Ludogorets made a defensive error of their own to gift Liverpool an equalizer. English striker Rickie Lambert scored his first Champions League goal with his head after confusion in the Ludogorets box.
Ludogorets 1-2 Liverpool : Jordan Henderson (37’)
Raheem Sterling gave a gorgeous left-footed assist to his vice-captain. Jordan Henderson got Liverpool the lead with a tap-in after racing onto a fantastic through ball by Sterling.
Ludogorets 2-2 Liverpool : Georgi Terziev (88’)
Ludogorets took advantage of Liverpool’s frailties at set-pieces and equalized late in the game. Georgi Terziev headed the ball in after he was left unmarked at the far post in the dying stages of the match.
