While the 4-3 final is certainly frustrating for Manchester City, the Champions League semi-final first leg against Real Madrid on Tuesday gave birth to a legendary match between two teams attacking headlong.
Manchester City were ill-rewarded for their display of audacity and attacking determination, having been caught in their own trap when the flow of the match escaped them. In the end, this meager advantage seems very flattering for Madrid who played more on reaction but who can always count on the diabolical skill of their duo Vinicius Junior and Karim Benzema, allowing them to keep hope for the return to Santiago Bernabeu.
Totally absent for the first twenty minutes, Real found themselves trailing by two goals after twelve minutes of play, unheard of in their long history in the Champions League. From the 2and minute, Riyad Mahrez wandered on his right wing to transplant in the center without being attacked and deposit the ball on the diving head of Kevin de Bruyne who stung the ball, despite the presence of Carvajal’s foot a few millimeters from his forehead (1-0).
Bernardo Silva’s Skylight
Less than ten minutes later, on a cross from the same de Bruyne, David Alaba missed his intervention and Gabriel Jesus only had to open his foot to double the lead (2-0, 11and). Real then managed to keep the ball a little, but Mahrez preferred to play “personal” an opportunity at the 25and, which made Pep Guardiola visibly exasperated on his bench. The end of the first act was less hectic for the Spanish defense, but its torment resumed as soon as the locker room returned.
At the 48and, Mahrez again came on alone against Thibaut Courtois only to see his inside left-wing pushed back by the post on Phil Foden, whose instantaneous recovery was saved on the line by Carvajal. It was only a postponement, since five minutes later, Foden, six meters, did not let Fernandinho’s offer pass (3-1, 53and), who replaced John Stones in the 36and minute at right-back where suspended Joao Cancelo and injured Kyle Walker were already missing.
And what about the sublime strike from Bernardo Silva in the top corner which left Courtois speechless (4-2, 74and) or the slalom of Mahrez in the opposing defense, concluded with a strike a little too crossed (76and). Still, the Sky Blues will only go with the smallest of advantages in Madrid.
Benzema extinguishes the Etihad with a “panenka”
The fault – or the merit, it depends – still largely lies with Karim Benzema who honored his 600and match in a Real jersey, becoming the first non-Spanish to reach this milestone. After creating Madrid’s first thrills by placing the ball on the head of David Alaba (30and) for a header that was too uncrossed, like an alchemist, he transformed into gold, with a skilful recovery from the left, a center from Ferland Mendy who was however nothing of a gift (2-1, 33and).
He also scored the third goal of the hope, a “panenka” which silenced the Etihad for a second of amazement, on a penalty eight minutes from the end (4-3, 82and). With this new double, he became the first Real player to exceed forty goals in a season since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo in 2018. Meanwhile, at the 55andit was his attacking partner Vinicius Jr who, taking advantage of an error by Fernandinho, threw himself and was trapped by his compatriot’s fake body, to finally go and deceive Ederson with great composure ( 3-2, 55and).
The whistle was almost greeted with frustration at not seeing the show go on. But the confrontation is still very undecided eight days before the return. Between the realism of the Merengues and the ease with which the Citizens found flaws in their rearguard, everything suggests an equally prolific second act.