Real Madrid beat Manchester City in a nerve-wracking penalty shootout to reach the UEFA Champions League semi-finals, where two key players were ruled out from taking the final shots. Davide Ancelotti, the field assistant and son of Merengue coach Carlo Ancelotti, revealed that Federico Valverde asked not to participate in the shootout due to exhaustion, leading to Rüdiger taking his place. Additionally, Éder Militão also opted out of the penalty kicks, citing that Manchester City’s goalkeeper, Éderson, knew him well and could anticipate his moves.
Carlo Ancelotti expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance, stating that he will celebrate the long-awaited pass to the next stage of the continental tournament. After drawing 1-1 in regular time and two overtimes, Real Madrid secured their spot in the semi-finals through the intense penalty shootout. This victory comes after a 3-3 draw in the first leg at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Fans can catch all the action of the UEFA Champions League on Star+, ensuring they don’t miss a single match in Europe’s most prestigious club tournament.