MANCHESTER CITY – REAL. The Citizens won the Champions League semi-final first leg. At the end of a totally crazy match which ended with a score of (4-3), Pep Guardiola’s men took an advantage before the return match. Totally dominated in the first act, the people of Madrid were able to react and come back to score several times, in particular thanks to a double from Karim Benzema. Summary of the game.
23:22 – The summary of the match
A totally crazy game. Manchester City hosted Real Madrid on Tuesday for the Champions League semi-final first leg. A superb poster that more than lived up to its promises. Favorites at the Etihad Stadium, Pep Guardiola’s men started the game on foot and opened the scoring in the 2nd minute thanks to a goal by Kevin De Bruyne. Taken by the throat in the first quarter of an hour, the people of Madrid concede a second goal through Jesus (11th). Totally dominated, however, Merengue managed to reduce the score on a goal from the insatiable Karim Benzema (33rd). After the first 45 minutes, the score is (2-1). Real Madrid is doing very well as the Citizens have multiplied frank actions without managing to find the net. Upon returning from the locker room, the Citizens continue to unfold. After the post of Riyad Mahrez (49th), Phil Foden finally scored the third goal for the Citizens (53rd). A short-lived benefit. Two minutes later, Vinicius concludes a magnificent solitary rush (55th). And it’s not over, the meeting gets carried away and the two teams surrender blow for blow. In the 74th minute, Bernardo Silva sends a shot from the left in the top corner and restores a third time a two-goal advantage to Manchester City. But at the end of the game, Aymeric Laporte, in a duel with Benzema on a corner, touches the ball with his hand, penalty for Real. The number 9 merengue, who had missed two penalties against Osasuna, deceives Ederson with a splendid panenka and offers his 14th goal in the Champions League this season. The Citizens finally won (4-3) after a spectacular match and took a slight advantage before the return match at the Santiago Bernabeu.
23:17 – The splendid panenka of Karim Benzema in this Manchester City – Real
Real Madrid can thank Karim Benzema. Totally dominated in the first act, it was he, as always this season, who gave hope to his people on one of the rare dangerous situations of Madrid. In the second half, the Frenchman, who had missed his last two penalties in La Liga against Osasuna, scored a splendid goal: a perfectly dosed panenka to deceive Ederson.
23:10 – Silva: “A very good match”
After Karim Benzema it was Bernardo Silva, author of a superb strike in the top corner, who spoke to the journalists of Canal + “We had a very good match. We started perfectly by pressing and scoring goals. But it’s hard to keep our advantage. Three times we led by two goals. But hey, it’s always a good score. We have one game left in Madrid. It’s not going to be easy but we’re playing to win. Real doesn’t need a lot of chances to hurt. Today we had a lot more chances but in the end there was only a goal difference.”
22:59 – Benzema: “We know how to round our backs”
After the final whistle, Karim Benzema, who scored twice, gave his impressions to the microphone of Canal +: “It was a great Champions League match, a great semi-final. They started the match better But we didn’t give up. We know how to keep our backs. We continued our work and we managed to score 3 goals. My penalty? The last two in La Liga I shot them well but the goalkeeper had stopped them well. “Sometimes you have to change and that’s what I did. The Ballon d’Or? Honestly I think mostly about La Liga and trying to win the UCL.”
22:54 – Manchester City wins (4-3)
What a crazy game! After 90 high-flying minutes, the Citizens won (4-3) thanks to goals from De Bruyne, Jesus, Foden and Siva. Benzema’s double and Vinicius’ goal were not enough for Real Madrid to be totally dominated in the first act but who managed to find ways to come back to score on several occasions.
22:53 – Istvan Kovacs whistles the end of the match at Etihad Stadium (4-3)
Manchester City FC’s superiority can be seen in the numbers: after this duel, possession of the ball is mathematically to their advantage (58% against 42% for Real Madrid). Manchester City FC also got the most serious situations with 6 shots on target against 5 shots on target for Real Madrid and therefore won quite logically (4-3) in this match.
22:52 – Yellow card for Nacho
New warning in this Manchester City – Real Madrid. This time it is the Madrid defender, Nacho who receives a yellow card.
22:50 – Real pushes
Carlo Ancelotti’s men put pressure on the Citizens in the last minutes of this Manchester City – Real. Carlo Ancelotti’s men have the weapons to equalise.
22:47 – New change in this Manchester City – Real
New change for Carlo Ancelotti in this Manchester City – Real: Vinicius is replaced by Asensio.
22:43 – Manchester City, new dangerous center of Mahrez
New center fleeing from the Algerian international in front of Courtois’ goal. Dias throws himself at the far post, he is very close to pushing the ball to the bottom.
22:42 – Benzema’s panenka!
Incredible composure from Karim Benzema. After missing two penalties in the last La Liga match, the tricolor striker deceives Ederson with a sublime panenka.
22:40 – Karim Benzema reduces the delay of Real Madrid (4-3)!
It is done ! Real Madrid scores on this Karim Benzema penalty. The score goes to 4-3 at Etihad Stadium!
22:40 – Change for Real Madrid
New change for Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid: Luka Modric is replaced by Dani Ceballos for the last minutes of Manchester City – Real.
22:40 – Penalty for Real Madrid!
The referee whistles a penalty for the benefit of Real Madrid. The score could soon change on the side of the Etihad Stadium.
22:34 – And 4 for the Citizens in this Manchester City – Real
Zinchenko is mowed at the entrance to the surface by Kroos. The people of Madrid stop playing, Bernardo takes the opportunity to take the ball and land a sublime shot in the top corner. That’s (4-2) for the Citizens.
22:32 – Another goal at the Etihad Stadium for Manchester City FC (4-2)!
Bernardo Silva finds the fault for Manchester City FC in the 74th minute of play in this 2nd half! Manchester City FC take the lead in this game against Real Madrid. Here we are at 4 to 2 at the Etihad Stadium!
22:29 – Madrid’s first substitution
Carlo Ancelotti makes his first change in the second act of Manchester City – Real: Camavinga replaces Rodrygo.
22:27 – Laporte resumes Zinchenko’s strike
Long phase of possession of the Guardiola men, Zinchenko is found by De Bruyne. The Ukrainian international tries his luck. His shot is hit by Laporte at the penalty spot. It is captured in two stages by Courtois.
22:23 – Mancunian domination in this Manchester City – Real
As in the first act, it was the Citizens who dominated the match, faithful to their style of play. But Madrid’s counter-attacks were increasingly incisive.
22:22 – Foden’s goal on video
Discover in video the third goal of the Citizens in this Manchester City – Real. On a perfect cross from Fernandinho, Foden deceived Courtois with a header,
22:14 – Vinicius Junior reduces the gap at Etihad Stadium (3-2)!
Vinicius Junior scores and reduces the gap in the 55th minute of play in this 2nd period! But the people of Madrid are still trailing 3-2 at the Etihad Stadium.
22:11 – New goal at Etihad Stadium for Manchester City FC (3-1)!
Phil Foden finds the fault for his team in the 53rd minute of play in this 2nd period! Manchester City FC take the lead in this duel against Real Madrid. We are 3-1 at Etihad Stadium!
22:05 – This Manchester City – Real remains open
Outrageously dominated in the first act, Real Madrid came out very well with the reduction of the score of Benzema. The Skyblues had several 3-0 bullets. Everything is still possible in this semi-final first leg of the Champions League.
22:05 – Mahrez’s post!
The Algerian international gets the better of Militao and heads for goal. Skyblues number 26 comes in front of Courtois and opens his foot. His strike crashes into the right post of Real’s cage. The ball returns to Foden but the England international’s shot is cleared on his line by Carvajal. Another ko ball in this Manchester City – Real.