Thrills in the premier class: Manchester City narrowly beat Real Madrid in a veritable goal festival. There is still plenty of excitement in the second leg.
Pure excitement: Manchester City spectacularly won the semi-final first leg of the Champions League against Real Madrid. In an incredibly intense match, Los Blancos won 4-3 (2-1) against a never-ending Real Madrid – and go into the semi-final second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu next Wednesday with a narrow lead.
While Kevin De Bruyne (2nd minute), Gabriel Jesus (11th), Phil Foden (53rd) and Bernardo Silva (74th) scored for the “Skyblues”, Real striker Karim Benzema snapped to the temporary 1: 2 and 3: 4 (33rd, 82nd by penalty) and Vinicius Junior to 2: 3 (53rd).
That’s how the game went
Pep Guardiola, Manchester City coach, made one change in contrast to the round of 16 second leg: İlkay Gündoğan was only on the bench for the time being. For him, Jesus came to the fore. Immediately after the game kicked off, the home team from Manchester gave a signal: with a lot of offensive drive, the English wanted to take the lead early on – and they succeeded. After a cross from Riyad Mahrez, De Bruyne scored with a diving header to make it 1-0 (2nd minute).
Only a few minutes later, the “Citizens” attacked via Foden and the left side. He put it down on De Bruyne, passed the ball to Jesus, who pushed the ball past Thibaut Courtois from close range (11th). Real defender David Alaba did not look good. Manchester City continued to dominate the game from then on, but missed further big chances through Foden.
Benzema hits cold
City and Real offered the spectators a strong game going forward, with Guardiola’s side presenting themselves as the better team. But Real Madrid didn’t give up, Carlo Ancelotti’s team got the ball in midfield in the 33rd minute, then played it down the left to striker Benzema, who took the chance ice-coldly and put it in to make it 2-1. Real turned up the heat again before the break, but remained too safe in front of the goal.
Karim Benzema scored to make it 1-2. (Source: PA Images/imago images)
The second round of the game started wildly. In the 53rd minute, Fernandinho launched an attack down the right, which found Foden in the center of the box with a cross. The 21-year-old pushed in to make it 3-1. But just two minutes later, Vinicius Junior stormed in front of the goal from the left side and casually pushed in to make it 2:3.
But it was City’s Silva who increased the gap to two goals. He shot the ball dry into the top left corner (74th). The final point?
Are you kidding me? Are you serious when you say that. Real’s Benzema should end the goal spectacle with a penalty in the style of Antonin Panenka (82nd) - and thus create great tension before the second leg.