With different styles and very adverse proposals, Real Madrid appealed to its history to play in a Champions League semi-final again. Pep Guardiola’s team tried to dominate the actions, but could not against a rival who faced his commitment with intelligence and sacrifice. Rodrygo and Kevin De Bruyne scored the 1-1 goals, but the hero of the day was Andriy Lunin, who saved Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic’s penalties. The White House will face its next challenge against Bayern Munich, another of the candidates for the title.
Was there a favorite in this quarterfinal bracket? After the exceptional match at the Bernabéu that ended with six goals (3-3), defining the series at the Etihad Stadium could mean some advantage for Manchester City, but there was no favorite in this key.
Real Madrid was the first to strike in the 11th minute. Jude Bellingham brought the ball down masterfully and gave it to Vinicius Junior, who sent the cross to Rodrygo and the Real Madrid attacker hit him as best he could, but Ederson saved almost from point-blank range. and Rodrygo sent it to the back of the net after the rebound.
Manchester City began to press and looked for spaces with Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva. The English team came close to equalizing with a header from Erling Haaland that hit the post in the 17th minute.
Andriy Lunin, Real Madrid goalkeeper, began to steal the spotlight against City’s attacks. He cut out a low cross sent by De Bruyne in the 26th minute and a shot from Jack Grealish was parried shortly afterwards by Antonio Rüdiger.
Pep Guardiola’s team expressed dominance with possession of the ball, but without clear scoring options. In the 44th minute, goalkeeper Lunin deflected a corner kick and drowned out what could be an incredible Olympic goal by Kevin De Bruyne. Thus ended the first part.
The second half started the same: Manchester City cornering Real Madrid in their field, insisting again and again on the sides and looking for a rebound in the center of the area.
Nacho, captain of the Spanish team tonight, cleared a ball very close to the goal line in the 51st minute under pressure from Erling Haaland. Madrid, for its part, hoped to have space to execute a counterattack, without success.
How much longer could those led by Carlo Ancelotti endure this situation? Madrid resisted and even tried to create danger in the 70th minute, but Ederson prevented the ball from reaching Vinicius’ feet.
Two minutes later, Guardiola went to the bench with an offensive movement: Jack Grealish came on and Jéremy Doku came on.
Euphoria broke out at the Etihad in the 75th minute, when a defensive error by Antonio Rüdiger was capitalized on by Kevin De Bruyne, who shot goalkeeper Lunin. City tied 1-1, which was much superior in the second half.
After the goal, Ancelotti took out Toni Kroos and brought in Luka Modric. The first substitution of the Madrid team did not manage to calm the momentum of Pep’s team, which maintained its siege.
The tie continued and the game went into overtime. Guardiola took out Haaland and brought in Julián Álvarez.
Doku, more of a dribbler, began to face the white defense and the first extra time painted the same canvas: Madrid on the ropes, waiting to deliver a knockout.
Vinicius was replaced by Lucas Vázquez and Real Madrid had an opportunity to take advantage in the last play of the first extra time, but Rüdiger did not define well.
Manchester City’s intensity on the Real Madrid area dropped in the second extra time. The second leg of the Champions League quarterfinals did not have the brilliance of the previous match. The physical exhaustion of Madrid on the one hand and the desperation of City on the other, were the constant in this part of the match, which already had Stones on the field for Akanji, Kovacic for De Bruyne in Guardiola’s team, and Militao for Carvajal in the rival.
The tie forced shots from the penalty spot. Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic failed there at City, and Luka Modric at Madrid. The whites won 4-3.