Champions League semifinals: Manchester City win spectacle against Real Madrid

Champions League semifinals

Pep Guardiola and Manchester City have a good chance of reaching the final of the Champions League again. In an offensive spectacle, the leaders of the English Premier League won the semi-final first leg against Real Madrid 4-3 (2-1) on Tuesday evening. Kevin De Bruyne (2nd minute), Gabriel Jesus (11th), Phil Foden (53rd) and Bernardo Silva (74th) ensured the narrow lead for the second leg on 4 May at the Bernabeu Stadium. Karim Benzema (33rd/82nd/penalty) with a brace and Vinicius Junior (55th) scored for Madrid.

After just under two minutes, Guardiola showed his fists in a jubilant pose. After a precise cross from Riyad Mahrez, De Bruyne, sprinting into the penalty area, headed the ball into the Real Madrid goal, making it impossible for his fellow Belgian, Thibaut Courtois. Just nine minutes later, Jesus, who most recently scored four goals in the 5-1 win over Watford FC in the Premier League, used Spain’s defensive weaknesses to make it 2-0. The Brazilian prevailed in a duel against David Alaba, whose participation had been in question for a long time due to muscular problems.

Benzema storms to the top: Best Champions League Goalscorers 2021/22

Lionel Messi | PSG | 5 goals in 7 games

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As of April 26, 2022

Roberto Firmino | Liverpool | 5 goals in 6 games

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Darwin Nunez | Benfica | 6 goals in 10 games

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Arnaut Danjuma | Villareal | 6 goals in 10 games

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Riyadh Mahrez | Man City | 6 goals in 11 games

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Leroy Sané | Bayern Munich | 6 goals in 10 games

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Kylian Mbappe | PSG | 6 goals in 8 games

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Cristiano Ronaldo | United | 6 goals in 7 games

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Christopher Nkunku | RB Leipzig | 7 goals in 6 games

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Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | 8 goals in 10 games

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Sebastien Haller | Ajax Amsterdam | 11 goals in 8 games

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Robert Lewandowski | Bayern Munich | 13 goals in 10 games

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On the other hand, the offensive artists from Real around ex-world champion Toni Kroos, director Luka Modric and star striker Benzema did not initially get a chance. Manchester cleverly blocked the spaces and effectively stopped the build-up game of the leaders of the Spanish Primera Division. Coach Carlo Ancelotti’s team only got into the game better after about half an hour by pressing themselves.

But because Real continued to react carelessly in defense, hosts Manchester had good chances through Mahrez and Phil Foden. And then suddenly Benzema was there on the other side in his 600th game for Real. The Frenchman, who had been the decisive man in the previous rounds against Paris Saint-Germain and defending champions FC Chelsea with three and four goals respectively, converted a Ferland Mendy cross into a goal despite the difficulties.

Coach with the most semi-final appearances in the Champions League

12 Arsène Wenger – 3 appearances in semi-finals with 2 clubs

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Arsenal (2), Monaco (1)

12 Héctor Cúper – 3 appearances in semi-finals with 2 clubs

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Valencia FC (2), Inter Milan (1)

12 Rafael Benítez – 3 appearances in semi-finals with 1 club

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Liverpool FC (3)

12 Diego Simeone – 3 semi-final appearances with 1 club

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Atlético Madrid (3)

6 Jurgen Klopp – 4 semi-final appearances with 2 clubs

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Liverpool (3), Borussia Dortmund (1)

6 Zinedine Zidane – 4 semi-final appearances with 1 club

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Madrid (4)

6 Marcello Lippi – 4 semi-final appearances with 1 club

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Juventus (4)

6 Ottmar Hitzfeld – 4 semi-final appearances with 2 clubs

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Bayern Munich (3), Borussia Dortmund (1)

6 Jupp Heynckes – 4 semi-final appearances with 2 clubs

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Bayern Munich (3), Real Madrid (1)

6 Vicente del Bosque – 4 appearances in semi-finals with 1 club

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Madrid (4)

5 Louis van Gaal – 5 appearances in semi-finals with 3 clubs

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Ajax Amsterdam (3), Bayern Munich (1), FC Barcelona (1)

4 Sir Alex Ferguson – 7 semi-final appearances with 1 club

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Manchester United (7)

2 Carlo Ancelotti – 8 semi-final appearances with 3 clubs

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AC Milan (4), Real Madrid (3), Juventus (1)

2 José Mourinho – 8 semi-final appearances with 4 clubs

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Real Madrid (3), Chelsea (3), Inter Milan (1), Porto (1)

1 Pep Guardiola – 9 semi-final appearances with 3 clubs

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FC Barcelona (4), Bayern Munich (3), Manchester City (2)

After the break, Alaba stayed in the dressing room. The Real defense, which had not yet been reorganized, was duped by Mahrez in the 48th minute, who then hit the post. Foden’s follow-up shot was blocked by Dani Carvajal in front of the line. In the 53rd, the England international did better, heading in a Fernandinho cross. The Madrilenians responded promptly: Vinicius ran alone on the left side from the center line towards the city goal and completed it with a precise low shot.

Bernardo Silva created another two-goal lead with a powerful shot under the bar, before Benzema again shortened the deficit for Real with a very casual penalty, thus keeping Madrid’s chances in the final alive.

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