Real Madrid qualified for the semi-finals of the Champions League by defeating Manchester City (1-1, 4-3 after tab) on Wednesday at the Etihad Stadium in the quarter-final second leg of the competition. In the first leg, the two teams separated with a score of 3 goals.
After being neutralized (3-3) last week at Santiago Bernabeu, everything remained to be done for Real Madrid and Manchester City. And it was the Madrilenians who qualified for the semi-finals of the Champions League by beating the Cityzens on Wednesday April 17 at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester after extra time (1-1, 4-3 tab).
The first ten minutes of the match saw both teams setting up their game, turning the ball over and looking for each other. We had to wait until the 11th minute to see the first opportunity of the match. She is for Real Madrid. Camavinga – scorer in the first leg – tries his luck from the left after a nice collective movement, but the ball is easily captured by the City goalkeeper.
The Madrilenians really start the match a few moments later. Served by Valverde on the right side, Vinicius, on the edge of offside, crosses hard in front of the Cityzens goal. The ball arrives at the feet of Rodrygo who finishes in two stages (0-1, 12th).
Manchester City was quick to respond. Haaland heads a cross from Bernardo Silva, but the ball goes over Lunin’s goal. The Norwegian striker does it again in the moments that follow, but sees his new header attempt hit the crossbar of the Real goalkeeper (19th).
The Cityzens continue to push. Kevin de Bruyne tries his luck with a powerful strike from the right, but sees his attempt repelled by Lunin (27th). The Belgian tries again six minutes later (33rd), but the ball goes over. A few moments later, around Jack Grealish to see his attempt, blocked by the Real defense, finish in the small net of the Madrid goals.
Despite the pressure from the Cityzens, the score did not change until half-time. 0-1 for Real, then qualified (4-3, cumulative score).
Real’s defense is cracking
The Cityzens continue to put pressure on after returning from the locker room and attack from the start: Grealish sees his powerful volley repelled by Lunin. Despite the pressure exerted by City, Real Madrid are still holding on, and the opportunities are becoming rarer.
We had to wait until the 71st minute to see Grealish once again create a great opportunity in the Madrid area, but his powerful low shot landed in the arms of the Real goalkeeper.
The Cityzens are finally rewarded for their efforts. In the 76th minute, Doku enters the Madrid area and crosses hard in front of the goals. The ball is poorly pushed back by Rüdiger into the feet of Kevin de Bruyne who pushes the ball into the back of Lunin’s net (1-1). Everything has to be done again.
The Belgian midfielder tries to do it again in the seconds that follow with a superb shot from the left which passes just above the Real goals. Kevin de Bruyne created another opportunity a little later, catching a strong cross from the left with his flat foot, but saw his attempt go over (82nd).
For lack of another goal added on either side, and despite the four minutes of added time, the two teams part with a score of one goal everywhere, i.e. 4-4 on aggregate. matches. Manchester City and Real Madrid are finally heading into extra time.
Lunin, hero of Real during the penalties
The opportunities become a little rarer during overtime… due to fatigue. We had to wait until the end of the first period to see the Madrilenians on the verge of taking the lead. Brahim Diaz crosses from the left side for Rüdiger, but the latter shoots over the City goal.
Both teams fail to find the fault. Julian Alvarez tries his chance from the right in the Real area, but sees his shot easily captured by Lunin.
And as there was no winner after 120 minutes of play, the two teams were decided on penalties. In the end, it was Real Madrid who emerged victorious, notably with two shots on goal saved by Lunin.
In the semi-final, Real Madrid joins victorious Bayern Munich (1-0) from Arsenal – in the other match which was also played on Wednesday evening.
