3-1 win over Manchester City
After the spectacle of the semi-finals: Real Madrid meets Klopp’s Liverpool in the Champions League final
Toni Kroos and his teammates celebrate entering the final of the Champions League
© Javier Soriano / AFP
One thing is certain: Real Madrid will meet Jürgen Klopp’s Reds from Liverpool in this year’s Champions League final. The Madrilenians secured their ticket to Paris in a thrilling semi-final thriller against Manchester City.
Last-minute madness and goal guarantor Karim Benzema: Real Madrid’s comeback kings made the dream final against Liverpool in the premier class perfect. With a brace in the last minute by Rodrygo and Benzema’s golden penalty goal in extra time, the royals beat the English champions with star coach Pep Guardiola in a dramatic 3-1 (2-1, 0-0) in the second leg of the semi-finals on Wednesday the bitter knockout in the Champions League This means that Real is back in the final for the first time since 2018, and again on May 28th in Paris the opponent is Liverpool FC with coach Jürgen Klopp. Man City, who won 4-3 in the first leg, have to postpone their dream of winning the first cup again.
Rodrygo, who came on for Toni Kroos, saved twice (90th and 90th + 1) Real in extra time, which was no longer considered possible, in which Benzema made the decision with a penalty kick (95th). For the French it was the 15th premier class goal this season. Man City thought they were already on course for the final after Riyad Mahrez’s goal (73rd). Like in 2018, there will be a duel with Liverpool. At that time, the Madrilenians had won 3-1 in Kyiv thanks to Loris Karius’ mistake and won the title for the 13th time.
Emotional game – on the pitch and on the sidelines
After the great spectacle of goals in the first leg, the madness continued at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu. As in the round of 16 against Paris Saint-Germain and in the quarter-finals against Chelsea, Benzema and Co. turned around a game they thought they had lost. City experienced almost the same trauma as Bayern did in the 2-1 draw with Man United with two late goals in the 1999 final. This time the main actor was Rodrygo.
High quality football was also offered. And it got down to business emotionally, whether on the sidelines with Guardiola, who was acting a little more hectic, or on the pitch, where Real superstar Luka Modric and City professional Aymeric Laporte fought a tangible argument.
With the fans behind them, the Madrilenians acted with much more pressure than a week ago, with the fast winger Vinicius Junior causing major problems for the city defense. The Guardiola team could not raise its dominant attacking game as desired. This caused Kevin De Bruyne and Co. to be dissatisfied time and time again on the field.
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Madrid’s Rodrygo makes a sensational turnaround
The big chances to score didn’t materialize in the first 45 minutes. Man City had a great opportunity through Bernardo Silva, but Real keeper Thibaut Courtois made a strong save (20′). Kroos had the best chance for the hosts with a deflected free kick just over the goal (27th).
After the break, Real shifted up a gear. Vinicius Junior had a huge chance to take the lead a few seconds after the restart, and Modric’s shot was blocked shortly afterwards (52′). But the English were allowed to celebrate – and Ilkay Gündogan played his part in that. Shortly after his substitution, the midfielder launched an attack that Algeria international Mahrez completed from the inside right position, which is well worth seeing.
After that, Jack Grealish should have made everything clear with two huge chances. That should take revenge when Rodrygo made the sensational turnaround. In extra time, Benzema was then fouled by Ruben Dias, and the French converted coldly.