The first goal he conceded was comically awful, bowling the ball out directly into Benzema's out-stretched leg. The second was as bad, allowing Bale's speculative shot from thirty yards, aimed directly at him, to slide through his hands and into the net. You could not feel anything except enormous sympathy for him. It was the kind of night from which only the strongest recover.

Zinedine Zidane left out Gareth Bale, opting for the more subtle creativity of Isco, a bitter blow for the Welshman after his recent run of fine form. However, initially, it would make little difference to the balance of the game for Real Madrid were subject to as sustained assault of harrying and hustling from an eager Liverpool side as you are likely to see.

We knew Liverpool would apply a high-octane approach from the start. Call it 'big balls football' or 'heavy metal' but Jurgen Klopp is all or nothing. As such, you imagined Real Madrid would be prepared. Yet they looked aghast. It was like watching footballing aristocracy being asked to mix with the hoi polloi, classic musical concert goers being confronted by Iron Maiden. Here was Sadio Mané robbing Cristiano Ronaldo; there was James Milner tearing into Casemiro, targeted by Liverpool at every turn. It was quite something to see a team as accomplished as Real Madrid quite so firmly on the back foot.