Courtois Comes Up Big as Liverpool Edge Real Madrid in a 1-0 European Night
5 November 2025
Match recap
Liverpool defeated Real Madrid 1-0 at Anfield in the UEFA Champions League, during the group stage matchday four.
The lone goal was scored by Argentine midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, giving the Reds their second consecutive win in Europe this season.
That defeat marks Real Madrid’s first loss of the campaign in the competition after three straight victories, leaving the Merengues on 9 points in fifth place.
Liverpool’s tally rose to 9 points in sixth place in the standings, as the English side extended their continental resurgence with a second consecutive win after a setback to Galatasaray in round two.
As the match unfolded, the article outlines the figures that deserve the “The Good, The Fierce, The Ugly” tag in the following sections.
The Good
The Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois earned this label after a heroic display that helped keep his side in the game, fending off a relentless Liverpool attack.
Courtois faced eight dangerous shots, including four from inside the box, helping Madrid cling to a one-goal deficit.
His saves came in multiple forms, from denying long-range efforts to standing as a barrier against headers, earning him an 8/10 rating from SofaScore for a stellar showing.
The Belgian has often starred in big matches for Madrid, most notably in the 2022 Champions League final against Liverpool, when his reflexes helped Madrid lift the trophy.
The Fierce
Midfield duo Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister were relentless in testing Madrid’s defense, repeatedly threatening with shots that Courtois had to parry away.
The pair pressed high, forced mistakes, and contributed to Liverpool’s dominance in midfield, keeping Madrid under sustained pressure for large portions of the game.
They combined on the assist that produced the decisive goal: Szoboszlai’s precise cross found Mac Allister, who finished calmly to breach Courtois’s wall and seal the win.
The Ugly
On Madrid’s side, some attackers struggled; Mbappé failed to threaten the Madrid goal, and Vinícius Júnior was unable to conjure a meaningful moment against the Liverpool defense.
Defensively, Madrid’s errors and a lack of cutting edge allowed Liverpool to control late stages, with Salah’s pace constantly testing a exposed flank.
And now, a couple of quick jokes to keep the mood light: Courtois didn’t just save shots—he filed a restraining order against Liverpool’s forwards. And Liverpool won 1-0, proving that sometimes the shortest route to glory is a clean sheet and a well-placed cross that finds the net.
