MANCHESTER CITY – REAL. An incredible game. This Tuesday evening, Real Madrid and Manchester City delivered an incredible performance in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
13:00 – End of the live!
Thank you all for following this live between Manchester City and Real Madrid in the semi-final first leg of the Champions League.
12:55 – Manchester City v Real Madrid, the semi-final with the most goals
7 is the number of goals that there were between Manchester City and Real Madrid yesterday in the semi-final first leg of the Champions League. It was the most prolific semi-final in history with Ajax 5-2 Bayern Munich (April 1995) and Liverpool 5-2 AS Roma (April 2018).
12:35 – New record for Benzema
After his hat-trick at Chelsea and a brace at Manchester City yesterday, Karim Benzema has become the first player in Champions League history to score five goals in the knockout stages against clubs from the same country in a single season.
12:10 – Karim Benzema in the big leagues
Thanks to his double scored yesterday against Manchester City, Karim Benzema has exceeded 40 goals scored in a single season. He joins Cristiano Ronaldo, Ferenc Puskas, Alfredo Di Stefano and Hugo Sanchez.
11:45 – Kevin De Bruyne’s goal, a record
Kevin De Bruyne opened the scoring after 93 seconds. It was the fastest goal in Manchester City’s history in the Champions League.
11:20 – Benzema one goal from Lewandowski
After his double against Manchester City in the first leg of the Champions League, Karim Benzema brings his total goals in C1 to 85 goals. He only needs one achievement to equal Robert Lewandowski and get on the podium, behind the untouchable Lionel Messi (125) and Cristiano Ronaldo (140).
10:55 – Benzema chooses the Champions League
Favorite for the Ballon d’Or 2022, Karim Benzema has made his choice between winning the Champions League or the individual award: “For now, I’m focused on winning La Liga and the Champions League. If I have to choose with the Ballon d’Or, I take the Champions League, direct.”
10:30 – Real Madrid defense in trouble
Yesterday, the four Real Madrid defenders (Carvajal, Militao, Alaba then Nacho and Ferland Mendy) struggled against Manchester City attackers. Carvajal and Alaba were rated 3 in L’Equipe while Militao, Mendy and Nacho were rated 4.
10:25 – Karim Benzema’s panenka on video
Trailing 4-2, Real Madrid got a penalty in the 82nd minute after Aymeric Laporte’s handball. A penalty converted by Madrid striker Karim Benzema.
10:20 – Bernardo Silva: “We can be frustrated”
After Manchester City’s victory, Citizens midfielder Bernardo Silva regretted the result: “We created a lot more chances and it’s only 4-3. We can be frustrated, but we played the match we wanted. We started very well, we should have maintained our advantage better” .
10:15 – Benzema on his panenka: “Sometimes you have to change”
After Aymeric Laporte’s handball, Karim Benzema converted the penalty obtained on a panenka. A way of shooting like any other for the Real Madrid striker: “Penalties, if you don’t take one you don’t miss. Panenka? Goalkeepers watch a lot how I shoot, so sometimes you have to change.”
10:10 – Benzema: “They entered the game better”
At the microphone of RMC, Karim Benzema tried to be positive despite the defeat of his team: “They came into the game much better, but in the second half we were able to take the ball and come back. When you play against a great team, there are times when you have to bend your back. That’s what we did. Opposite, it’s still City.”
10:05 – Pep Guardiola: “Proud of my team”
After Manchester City’s victory against Real Madrid (4-3) yesterday, Pep Guardiola was satisfied with his players: “I’m not complaining about the result or the performance, I’m so proud of the way my team played, we tried everything to win, we were very brave with and without the ball. I wouldn’t say that we deserved better because the result is what it is, but we played very well.”