Manhandled for a good part of the match after opening the score in the 12th minute, Real Madrid was able to hold back to secure qualification for the Champions League semi-final on penalties against Manchester City (1-1, 3-3 on the way out). The title holder, for his part, gives up his crown.
Real Madrid washed away the insult. Swept by Manchester City in the semi-final last year (1-1, 4-0), the Merengue took their revenge by knocking out the English club in the quarter-final of the Champions League this Wednesday. While they did not shoot once on goal between the 24th minute and the 105+2nd, the Madrilenians held their back until the end of extra time to snatch victory on penalties and eliminate the champion in title (1-1, 3-3 in the first leg). Bernardo Silva and Matéo Kovacic missed their shots on goal, compared to only one missed on the Madrid side (Luka Modric).
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For the fourth consecutive year and the 12th time since 2011, the Spanish club is in the semi-finals of the most prestigious club competition. They remain in the race to win their 15th Champions League title, a quest which will involve a double confrontation against Bayern Munich in the semi-final (first leg on April 30 or May 1, return on May 7 or 8).
Used to offering us emotional peaks in the Champions League, with the last episode being a drunken evening last week at the Bernabeu for the first leg (3-3), the two teams knew they were particularly expected. Unlike the first round, where the nets shook three times at the end of the first quarter of an hour (Real led 2-1 after 14 minutes), this time the match did not descend into complete madness. . But out of awareness, and true to its reputation, Real Madrid did not wait long before igniting the match.
Carlo Ancelotti’s men launched hostilities in the 12th minute. After a magnificent control from Jude Bellingham, Vinicius is launched into the English area, on the right side. The Brazilian puts the ball in front of goal and finds Rodrygo, helped by a missed intervention from Kyle Walker. Ederson saves the Mancunian house for the first time but can do nothing on Rodrygo’s second attempt. From point blank range, the Real striker (23 years old) scored his fifth goal of the season in the Champions League.
At the back of the wall, Manchester City tries to react immediately. In the 19th minute, Erling Haaland, singled out in recent weeks for his lack of effectiveness in big matches, is very close to forgetting his ghostly first leg. But his head crashed into the post of a largely beaten Lunin. Behind, Bernardo Silva is surprised to see the ball come back to him less than a meter from the cages.
Haaland once again very discreet
If Real Madrid always poses a constant threat in transition, with Vinicius ready to exploit every space, Manchester City then confiscates the ball and creates the biggest situations. Jack Grealish, the most restless Skyblue, sees two of his blocked strikes pass right next to the Madrid cages (32nd, 36th).
Upon returning from the locker room, possession obviously remains in favor of the English. But Pep Guardiola’s team is having a thousand problems shaking up the Madrid block, perfectly in place and determined to preserve this small goal lead. For Haaland, the post hit in the 19th minute ultimately proved to be one of the only small bright spots in a meeting which was unlikely to extinguish all the criticism. The Norwegian had very few good balls to negotiate and would end up being replaced by Julian Alvarez before the start of extra time. Next to Cyborg, Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva have long seemed incapable of igniting the match with a stroke of genius.
De Bruyne as savior
We had to wait for the entry into play of Jérémy Doku, in the 72nd minute to replace Grealish, for a wind of madness to take hold of the Etihad Stadium. Four minutes after arriving on the pitch, the former Rennais accelerated on the left and crossed hard in front of the goal. The ball is painfully pushed back by Antonio Rüdiger into the feet of De Bruyne, who does not hesitate to crucify Lunin at point blank range. Sick and last minute withdrawal from the first leg, “KDB” turned into a savior and punished Real Madrid who were ultimately too wait-and-see (1-1, 76th).
In the process, De Bruyne has a golden opportunity to knock out Real once and for all and send his team into the last four. On a cross from Akanji, the Belgian is completely alone but his flat foot flies into the English sky (82nd). One last thrill before an extremely closed extension which will ultimately be fatal for the Citizens.