Manchester City-Real Madrid 4-3: Benzema (brace) saves Ancelotti

The best match of the year, one of the most exciting ever in the Champions League. The 4-3 with which Manchester City beat Real Madrid in the first leg semifinal was something wonderful, almost difficult to tell due to its infinite beauty. He would like to thank football, also because there will be another 90 minutes at the Bernabeu which promises to be just as memorable. In the end, the result is a bit tight for City, which had some crazy flare-ups that Madrid struggled to contain. But you cannot in any way belittle a Real who has never been crushed and has always found the strength not to leave the game. The first time with the jewel of the possible next Golden Ball, Karim Benzema, after a Mahrez at times sumptuous but not always lucid in his choices had thrown away the 3-0 counterattack. And then in the final at 4-2, when Laporte essentially gave Benzema the penalty of a brace.

THE MATCH

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City plays 25 ‘/ 30’ from Olympus lob. Foden and Mahrez sow panic: the former Leicester draws the inclusion of De Bruyne, who scores after less than 2 ‘. Real never takes the Citizens: Gabriel Jesus mocked Alaba, who had sought a complex advance in the area, and cold Courtois. In the worst moment of Real, with City going double, Benzema converts a not too special Mendy cross into the 2-1 goal with a left-footed turn that is a masterpiece. Maybe Zinchenko is not perfect in scoring, but how many forwards can score like this? It starts again in the second half with the City pushing: Fernandinho, inside for the injured Stones, recovers the ball high and puts it on Foden’s head. 3-1. Shortly afterwards Fernandinho himself fails on Vinicius, who gets a metacampo ball and chain and immediately shortens. In a match like this, you also need a great referee: Kovacs gives a very intelligent advantage after a foul on Zinchenko, ball to Bernardo Silva and crossing the posts. If he finished 4-2 Guardiola would have a great advantage over Ancelotti, instead Laporte’s gullibility and Benzema’s coldness arrive, who also spooned Ederson. Now, come early next Wednesday. And may the best go to the final: after these 90 ‘they both deserve it.