Jürgen Klopp’s rampant Liverpool continues to keep the dream of securing a historic quadruple alive after the Reds earned a 2-0 win against Unai Emery’s giant-killers Villarreal at Anfield tonight, with star forward Sadio Mane once again drawing plaudits for another influential display on a European night.
The Senegalese icon slotted his second-half effort past keeper Gerónimo Rulli ten minutes after the restart when Mohammed Salah played him into space behind the Villarreal defense, giving Liverpool a comfortable and fully deserved 2-0 lead on the night, which really should have ended in a wider goal margin come full-time.
14 – Sadio Mané has tonight netted his 14th goal in the UEFA Champions League knockout stages, equalling Didier Drobga’s record as the African with the most such goals in the competition’s history. Pride. pic.twitter.com/fwVTLoxqbf
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 27, 2022
But not only did Mane put Liverpool in full control of their pathway to Paris and a potential date with Premier League rivals Manchester City after Pep Guardiola’s Citizens fought to a swashbuckling 4-3 win against Real Madrid last night, he also managed to equal Didier Drogba’s Champions League goal record in the process by netting his 14th goal in Europe’s premier club competition.
In doing so, Mane is. now the joint all-time top-scoring African in the history of the Champions League, and has every chance to set the new record should the Reds reach the final in May.
🔴 Top scorers in the knockout stages for Liverpool (UCL era only):
⚽️1⃣4⃣ Sadio Mané
⚽️1⃣1⃣ Mohamed Salah
⚽️1⃣0⃣ Roberto Firmino
⚽️0⃣6⃣ Steven Gerrard
⚽️0⃣5⃣ Dirk Kuyt
⚽️0⃣5⃣ Luis García
⚽️0⃣5⃣ Fernando Torres #UCL pic.twitter.com/T4pMWm3WYj— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 27, 2022
After a brilliant display at AFCON earlier in the year when he helped guide Senegal to their first-ever major international honor, Sadio Mane continues to prove that he is one of the very best in the difference when it matters most for both club and country.
