While both Real Madrid and Liverpool are rightly considered Champions League royalty, there can only be one king. Down by two goals after 14 minutes at Anfield, defending champion Madrid came back to win 5-2 on Tuesday and take a commanding lead into the second leg of the round of 16 matchup. Vinicius Jr and Karim Benzema scored two goals each to stun the hosts  Liverpool conceded four goals in a home European match for the first time and confirm the Spanish giant will take some stopping in its defense of the trophy. "We played with personality, we produced goals. We want this Champions League again," Benzema said. "And that produced a match which was lovely to play in and for those who were watching."

If anything, this Madrid team looks more complete than the one that beat Jurgen Klopp's team in last year's Paris final. Yet this win echoed the memorable comebacks that led to that record-extending 14th Champions League title. There was the chaotic defending that allowed Liverpool to race into a 2-0 lead as Darwin Nunez struck with a backheel in the fourth minute and Mohamed Salah doubled the advantage thanks to Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois' blunder. Then came the rousing fightback, led by one of European soccer's emerging stars in Vinicius and sealed by an aging icon in Benzema. Eder Militao was also on the scoresheet when he headed Madrid into a 3-2 lead just after halftime. The 22-year-old Vinicius became the youngest player to score two goals against Liverpool at Anfield since Johan Cruyff for Ajax in 1966 when the Dutch great was 19. The Brazil international is establishing himself as Madrid's star player and, in the face of a typically daunting Anfield atmosphere, he rose to the occasion.