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MADRID - RAFAEL Benitez enjoyed an unforgettable Madrid homecoming as a late Youssi Benayoun header helped Liverpool defeat Real Madrid 1-0 in the first leg of their last 16 Champions League duel at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.
Benayoun headed in a Fabio Aurelio cross in the 82nd minute for a vital away goal and Liverpool now hold the advantage ahead of the return leg at Anfield on March 10.
'We worked very hard and we scored a very good goal,' said Benitez who added that he took off star striker Fernando Torres as a precaution.
'He hurt his ankle in the first minute so he wasn't fully fit. I took him off because he could be at risk for the next few games.' Deprived of their inspirational captain Steven Gerrard - scorer of five goals in this season's Champions League - Liverpool lacked punch with former Atletico Madrid star Torres lacking service but a set-piece undid Real in the closing stages.
The build-up to the match had surrounded Benitez's return to Real Madrid where he coached the youth team and the former Valencia coach, who continues to stall on a new contract, has consistently been linked with the Real job.
But for now his loyaly lies firmly with Liverpool and Real will have to pull out all the stops to eliminate the 2005 champions.
Gerrard, out since the beginning of February with a torn hamstring, lost his fitness battle and started on the substitutes bench with Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano forming the midfield axis.
Torres started as a lone striker and Liverpool's Spanish influence was evident as they fielded five Spanish internationals in Pepe Reina, Albert Riera, Alonso, Torres and Alvaro Arbeloa, who came through the youth system at Real.
Real had just three Spaniards in their starting XI with Euro 2008 victors Sergio Ramos and Iker Casillas along with captain Raul. -- AFP
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