Real Madrid's Camavinga against Robertson of Liverpool

Liverpool exited the Champions League with a 6-2 aggregate defeat to Real Madrid as Karim Benzema's late strike condemned the Reds to a 1-0 loss in the second leg.

Liverpool's capitulation at Anfield had left them needing another miraculous European comeback to reach the last eight but it did not materialise at the Bernabeu, the reigning champions ramming home their advantage with Benzema's close-range strike (78).

Darwin Nunez went closest for Jurgen Klopp's side in an entertaining first half when he was twice denied by Thibaut Courtois, but Liverpool were indebted to their own goalkeeper, Alisson, for keeping Madrid at bay with a series of saves before their goal.

Madrid, winners over Liverpool by the same scoreline in last year's final, will now aim to go on and lift the trophy for the 15th time, leaving Klopp's men with a top-four finish in the Premier League as their sole remaining target in a bitterly disappointing season.

After full-time, there was a sympathetic gesture for those who had travelled from Merseyside, with You'll Never Walk Alone played out over the stadium speakers at the Bernabeu. It made for a poignant end to Liverpool's European campaign.

Real Madrid have now eliminated Liverpool from the Champions League in each of the last three seasons (2020-21 quarter-final, 2021-22 final, 2022-23 last-16). 

They have qualified for their 19th Champions League quarter-final, with only Bayern Munich (21, including 2022-23) reaching more. Real Madrid have now moved one ahead of Spanish rivals Barcelona (18).