Real – Manchester City. At the end of a balanced semi-final, Madrid and Citizens did not manage to decide, De Bruyne having answered Vinicius. The return match in Manchester in eight days promises to be electric.
23:35 – Suspense maintained, the summary of the semi-final
We had hoped for a first leg match as unbridled and fiery as that of last season (4-3 for City, editor’s note), it will not have happened and that perhaps says everything about the new maturity of Manchester City. Less flamboyant than usual, the Mancunians managed to avoid collapsing at the height of Madrid’s domination and finally resurface when we thought they were almost resigned, running after a ball that their rivals had fun carrying around. far from them.
Rarely, the champion of England will have run so much behind, suffering what he is used to inflicting on his rivals. And paradoxically it was during this period that he found the strength to come back to score. Following a very high pressing Rodri recovered the ball. In pivot position, harassed behind his back by Rüdiger, Gündogan resisted and gave back to De Bruyne. Where a few minutes earlier, the Belgian had hesitated to strike without control before limply trying his luck, he didn’t ask himself any questions and took the ball with his right foot. The shock resounds in Santiago-Bernabeu. No matter how much Courtois relaxed, he could do nothing against the power and precision of the Citizens artificer. The equalizer echoed in the Madrid arena where the public was stunned.
Nothing, however, foreshadowed such a scenario when Real Madrid had taken the measure of their opponent, having instilled in them the venom of fear throughout a first act executed masterfully. The reigning European champion had shown a cold realism which should not displease the Italian roots of Carlo Ancelotti. The former Milan technician knew that his team was going to suffer at the start of the match and he had organized it so as not to offer any space to the English. Grouped together in its last 30 meters, or even lower, it offered a block as compact as it was robust, preventing the taking of intervals and the creation of speed. City tried from distance and Rodri forced Courtois to relax on his right to take out a powerful low shot. Very thin for the best attack in Europe. At the same time, Real left the threat hovering with its sharp but not successful attacks. The Citizens were not quiet and were going to pay it. On the left, Camavinga combined with Modric who put him back in the race to eliminate two players. The merengue side then went up the whole field then gave in the axis to Vinicius who intelligently took the ball. At 20 meters, the Brazilian then unleashed a pure shot from the right which passed in front of Dias and pierced Ederson’s net. Madrid’s first strike had been the right one.
From then on, the balance of power was reversed and City seemed to lose the thread of their football when Real Madrid, pushed by their supporters, grew bolder. However, and the Madrid club knows it, being dominated is not winning. In this trompe l’oeil match where the team that had control was surprised each time, there could be no winner. In this sense, therefore, is perhaps the victory of Manchester City, that of having had the maturity to return when everything seemed to escape it, in the manner of clubs ready to conquer. With this nil result, the men of Pep Guardiola give each other the chance to play everything at home, where their collective expression reaches another level Not enough to scare Benzema, unhappy on a header against Ederson, and his partners who sublimate themselves in the most hostile atmospheres. Failing to have won us, this first leg will at least have had the merit of sparing the suspense and opening up the prospects of an electric return to the North of England.
23:10 – Grealish: “The result is right”
“It was difficult to get back to the locker room 0-1 down but we reacted brilliantly and managed to equalize thanks to Kevin (De Bruyne). I think the result is fair and we return to the Etihad in good shape. position”spoke at the microphone of Canal+ Jack Grealish.
23:05 – Camavinga: “We will win there”
“It’s not a bad result. Of course we didn’t come away with the victory but I think it’s a very good start against Manchester City and we will win there”said at the microphone of Canal+ Eduardo Camavinga author of a full match in his left lane and rewarded with a decisive pass for Vinicus.
23:00 – Bernabeu was not fatal to him
By snagging a draw at the Santiago-Bernabeu, Manchester City kept their chances of qualifying for the Champions League final. It was not so obvious for the Mancunians who had so far lost 3 times during their four visits to the Madrid lair.
22:53 – Real and Manchester City failed to decide (1-1)
After a semi-final first leg full of tension, Real Madrid and Manchester City parted ways back to back (1-1). Dominated in the first act, the people of Madrid were able to unite and find the fault on their only opportunity by Vinicius, author of a clear strike. Emboldened, they pushed back from the locker room to make the difference but missed the boat and were caught on a cannon shot from De Bruyne. Everything will be played in 8 days at the Etihad Stadium.
22:52 – Camavinga does not pass
Vinicius still has legs and clinches to open up space where he puts the ball in for Camavinga. The Madrid side strikes, transplants inside and continues with a shot from the right at ground level. Walker puts his foot down to prevent the shot from reaching the goal.
22:51 – Additional time: 3 minutes
There will be three minutes of added time in this second half of the Champions League semi-final first leg between Real Madrid and Manchester City.
22:50 – Tchouaméni cannon shot
On a cross from the left, Benzema cleverly put back on the ground for Tchouaméni. At 20 meters, the former Bordeaux weapon with the right a heavy strike which forces Ederson to take out a parry with his left hand to prevent the ball from ending up near his skylight.
22:48 – Rüdiger cuts the counter
Grealish takes over in the race with his defender and pushes his action in the Madrid camp in the middle of three opponents. He wants to give space to Haaland who made the call on the left but his pass is intercepted by the tackle of Rüdiger who harangues his people.
22:47 – Two actions for nothing
The Madrid free kick, at the left corner of the English area, is sent to the far post where an opposing header deflects for a corner. The latter does not bring anything more to the people of Madrid.
22:45 – Dangerous free kick for Real
Vertical pass from Rüdiger to Modric on the edge of the box. The Croatian stumbles on Haaland but the ball bounces to the left where Vinicius puts his foot just before Bernardo Silva’s clearance and scratches one from less than 20 meters away. Yellow card for the Portuguese.
22:44 – Tchouaméni on the lawn
New change for Real Madrid with the entry of Tchouaméni in the 84th minute. He replaces Kroos in the midfield.
22:43 – Without rhythm
The Manchester City players have put their foot on the ball again and are turning without really giving the impression of wanting to attack. There is no longer any rhythm and the public at the Santiago-Bernabeu whistles in the face of this spectacle.
22:42 – First change for Real Madrid
It took until the 80th minute to witness the first substitution in this semi-final first leg of the Champions League. Rodrygo is returned to the bench by Carlo Ancelotti who launches Marco Asensio onto the lawn.
22:40 – Yellow for Camavinga
After a bad control, Camavinga wants to catch up but throws his right leg forward and puts a sole on Rodri’s foot. Yellow card for the left side of Real Madrid.
22:38 – Ederson intervenes in front of Benzema
On an eccentric free kick on the left, Kroos deposits a magnificent ball at the far post. Stones is beaten and Benzema can take a powerful header. On his line Ederson makes a perfect save.
22:34 – Rüdiger headed off
20 meters on the right, De Bruyne wraps a center with his right foot. Rüdiger is well placed in front of Haaland and throws himself to get the ball out of the head.
22:33 – Alaba above
At 20 meters, shifted to the right, Alaba takes his responsibilities but his free kick from the left does not fall and goes well above Ederson’s goal.
22:32 – Gündogan warned
At the left corner of his surface, Gündogan tries a complicated gesture to get out of Madrid’s pressing but misplaces his ball. He then commits an anti-play foul on Carvajal.
22:27 – Goal: Manchester City FC picks up the score (1-1)!
The match is restarted: Manchester City FC come back to score in the 67th minute of play in this 2nd half thanks to Kevin De Bruyne. After an excellent job of pressing and a high recovery from Rodri at 20 meters, Gündogan takes his time to give back to his captain who asks no questions and strikes hard with the neck of the right foot. His shot is perfectly placed low to the ground and deceives Courtois on his right.
22:25 – Benzema blocked
City’s counter is aborted by Valverde’s good placement on the pass line between Bernardo Silva and De Bruyne. In motion, Modric stands out on the right and put back behind for Camavinga who slips past Benzema in the left axis. The French strikes from the left but a defender is in the way.
22:24 – Dias closes the door
Right side, Grealish closes his legs to avoid the small bridge but the ball rebounds and Rodrygo with a double contact eliminates Akanji before resisting the Englishman. It takes Dias’ foot to end the action. The following corner does nothing for Real Madrid.
22:23 – De Bruyne misses the target
In the back position of playmaker, De Bruyne wraps a cross returning to the far post but it is too deep and Bernardo Silva cannot save the ball from the Belgian.