Manchester City have dealt with Real Madrid in the first leg in the semi-final of the Champions League. In their own Etihad Stadium, the England leader won 4-3 against the Spaniards. The return is scheduled for next week in Madrid.
City, trained by Josep Guardiola, got off to a great start. With the fastest goal ever in a semi-final of the Champions League, Kevin De Bruyne opened the score after 94 seconds. It was Riyad Mahrez who cut in from the right and subtly crossed for the Belgian, who then headed home. In the eleventh minute, Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus made it 2-0 cold-blooded after a cross from De Bruyne. Karim Benzema’s 2-1, a shot that went through the inside of the post behind goalkeeper Ederson, followed before halftime.
Shortly after the break Phil Foden had a great chance at 3-1. After Mahrez hit the post after a sprint, Foden shot up against Madrid defender Dani Carvajal. A few minutes later, it was still hit for the English attacker. From a sharp cross by Fernandinho, he headed in the 3-1 completely free.
Up and down
In a match that went up and down continuously, Real Madrid narrowed the gap again two minutes after that goal. On the halfway line, Brazilian Vinicius Junior passed his compatriot Fernandinho, before sliding the ball in after a sprint of almost sixty meters.
Fifteen minutes before the end, referee Istvan Kovacs applied the advantage after a foul on Manchester City defender Oleksandr Zinchenko, which took advantage of Bernardo Silva. While his direct opponent Eduardo Camavinga expected a whistle, the Portuguese rushed the ball into the penalty area and passed Courtois. The final chord came in the name of Real striker Benzema, who signed for his second of the evening from the spot after a handball by Aymeric Laporte: 4-3.