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Rob DawsonReporter
MANCHESTER, UK – City of Manchester and Real Madrid played a fascinating Champions League semi-final first leg at Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, with Man City making money 4-3 . advantage.
Although City looked ready to run away, Madrid held on tight, and there will be plenty to play in the second leg. Here are three thoughts on the game.
1. Both sides have reason to believe they can finish at the top
The semi-final between Man City and Real Madrid matches the record for most goals scored Champions League the semi-final so far, with Pep Guardiola’s army taking a 4-3 advantage to visit the Bernabeu next week.
Man City took a 2-0 lead after just 11 minutes thanks to goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus prior to Karim Benzema pull someone back before taking a break. Phil Foden made it 3-1 after 53 minutes, with only Vinicius Junior to hit again two minutes later.
Bernardo Silva Scored a spectacular fourth for City, but Benzema scored another from the penalty spot to ensure the game remained level ahead of the second leg in Spain.
Guardiola will feel City’s advantage is even greater after seeing his side miss a series of chances, and Real Madrid will believe they still have a chance to add to their record 13 games. their own victory in this tournament.
That’s especially true of Benzema in the team after the striker netted twice to score nine goals in his last four Champions League games and also surpass the 40-goal tally of the season.
2. Man City’s big game scorers gave Guardiola a quick start
De Bruyne and Jesus probably want to score more goals, but when they find the net, it usually matters.
De Bruyne scored in the net Chelsea, Manchester United, Atlético Madrid and Liverpool home and away this season and his early header gave Man City a game-changing lead Real Madrid. His goal, scored after just one minute and 33 seconds, was City’s fastest goal ever in the Champions League.
Jesus, meanwhile, has found opportunities hard to come by this season but still manages to score in the net ArsenalChelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and now Real Madrid. The Spanish giants will be sick of seeing him after he scores in both games of the round of 16 in 2020.
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The big stage suits De Bruyne in particular, and in the first half here he was comfortably the best player on the pitch.
While other world-class midfielders like Luka Modric and Toni Kroos It took a while to find the rhythm again, De Bruyne scored after just 90 seconds and assisted Jesus 10 minutes later. He ran from the edge of the box to hit his head Riyad MahrezHis cross is a textbook example of a movement in the box.
The Belgian also created golden opportunities for Mahrez and Foden in the first 30 minutes and City could have succumbed before Benzema scored the equalizer before half-time.
Mahrez’s miss, which also missed a square pass to Foden in the back, annoyed Guardiola so much that the City boss rushed into Ancelotti’s technical area as he dashed down the touchline to scream at him. Algerians.
3. Benzema, missed opportunities and Man City’s right-back problem caused Madrid to suffer
If City is at its best then it will all be over, but Real Madrid will return to Spain with the news that they can reach the final in Paris at the end of May.
Mahrez and Foden missed opportunities in the first half, and shortly after half-time, Mahrez hit the post after being hit by Foden. Dani Carvajal on the road with recovery. Even after Foden scored Man City’s third, Aymeric missed another glaring opportunity from Oleksandr Zinchenkoof the cross.
The waste caused Real Madrid to fall while the visitors also benefited from Guardiola’s problems at right-back.
John Stones Not fit enough to practice in front of the cameras yesterday but was named in the starting line-up, and after Benzema’s first-half goal came from a cross from his side, he was almost right. was immediately replaced with Fernandinho.
The 37-year-old started well – it was his cross that made Foden’s header – but struggled more as the game progressed. He was embarrassed by Vinicius Junior when this striker scored to make it 3-2, and every time Real Madrid crossed the ball to the left, the whole Etihad field held its breath.
One thing that Man City cannot control is Benzema’s dazzling form. The Frenchman’s first-half finish was deft and his penalty Panenka cooled. With Benzema on your team playing like this, there is always a chance.
