Real Madrid and Manchester City they gave… a football recital at the “Santiago Bernabeu” and left open accounts ahead of the second quarter-final between them for this year’s Champions League!
In an extremely exciting match that had tremendous pace, incredible quality, constant changes of emotion and beautiful goals, City took the lead in the 2nd minute with a brilliant free-kick from Bernardo SilvaReal pulled the plug before the 15-minute mark thanks to an own goal Ruben Dias and his goals Rodrigowhile the visitors took the lead again with a goal of their own Foden (66′) and Guardiol (71′), before o Valverde make the final 3-3 in the 79th minute!
Thus, the qualification case remains… wide open, with the rematch on April 17 in Manchester to be awaited with great interest!
The match
The big showdown started with Tswameni to overturn Grealish seeing the yellow card just 32” after the cross (he will be suspended for the Etihad game) and with Bernardo Silva to execute the free kick brilliantly, surprising Lunin and opening the scoring, “freezing” the packed “Santiago Bernabeu”!
City almost doubled their lead in the 7th minute when Lunin saved a one-handed finish from Haaland from a lateral position, while later in the phase and after Real’s defense was unable to clear, o Gryllis shoot at bodies.
The pace was very fast in the first minutes, with the hosts equalizing in the 12th minute, when the Kamavinga found space by making the individual energy and shot, which he countered Ruben Dias before ending up in Ortega’s net, with UEFA charging the goal as an own goal by the Portuguese defender! In fact, just two minutes later (14′) the hosts made the upset, with City’s defense being very high and with Vinicius to punish her with an excellent slash for him Rodrigo. The Brazilian entered the big area, making the play that was a bit against him Akanjibefore ending up in the net for 2-1!
In the 19th century Valverde he swerved from the right and shot at Ortega, while an effort from him had the same fate Rodrigo in the 31st minute. With the pace having dropped compared to the… crazy first quarter, Manchester City had more of the ball but Real were very well organized defensively and looked more threatening with their quick counter-attacks.
In the 33rd minute and after another quick transition of the ball by the “queen’s” players, Rodrigo found himself in an advantageous position but shot powerfully high out, while in the 42nd minute the Vinicius made the race from the left, placing on the Ortegawith the exciting first half ending with Real taking the lead.
The first chance of the second half was for City, with Gryllis to converge from the left by placing high out, while Real responded in the 53rd minute, when Bellingham capitalized on Foden’s errant back pass, beating Bernardo and Stones before slotting past Lunin’s left-hand post. In the 56th minute, Acelotti’s side (who became the first manager to reach 200 Champions League matches) threatened again on the counter-attack, with Rodrigo meeting Vinicius’ vertical drive with a pass, who headed high from a very good position. .
As time wore on, City’s players took more and more of the initiative, eventually finding the equalizer in the 66th minute, with Foden to take the ball just outside the wide area and send to the “window” of Lunin’s goal with an improbable foul shot! In fact, five minutes later (71′), the visitors scored again for the upset in the upset, with Guardiol to achieve an equally beautiful goal, with an amazing shot from outside the area, with the right although left-footed!
Entering the “final stretch” of the exciting match, and specifically in the 79th minute, Real Madrid managed to find the equalizing goal, with Valverde may he also achieve a goal of rare beauty! THE Vinicius raced in and crossed from the left, with the Uruguayan midfielder catching a terrific volley on the move and before the ball hit the grass, leaving Ortega no room to react and thus making 3-3! A minute later (80′), Valverde made a great ball for Bellingham, but he couldn’t score with projection, having been thrown between Ortega and Acanzi, while in 89′, Alvarez headed home at the last minute in front of Bellingham after his cross Modric, and just like that one was completed one of the most exciting games in Champions League history!
MVP: Many could take the title of most valuable. Rudiger shut out Haaland, Rodrigo and Vinicius were constant sources of danger for City’s defense in Real’s counter-attacks, Valverde and Bernardo Silva also performed very well for both teams in the center of the pitch, while Foden has achieved high standards of performance in midfield for Guardiola’s side.
The whistle: The French Letesie he controlled the game and did not have to deal with the very difficult phase, while contributing to the very fast pace of the game, without whistling in the slightest. Very good in general his refereeing.
The compositions of the groups
Real Madrid (Ancelotti, 4-3-3): Lunin – Carvajal, Rudiger, Tswameni, Mendy – Valverde, Kamavinga, Kroos (72′ Modric) – Rodrigo (72′ Brahim Diath), Bellingham, Vinicius (86′ Joselu)
Kepa, Fran, Militao, Nacho, Bathketh, Thembayos, Fran García and Guler were not used.
Manchester City (Guardiola, 4-3-3): Ortega – Akanji, Stones, Dias, Gvarniol – Rodri, Kovacic, Bernardo Silva – Foden (87′ Alvarez), Grealish, Haaland.
Ederson, Carson, Doku, De Bruyne, Gomes, Nunes, Bob, Susoho and Lewis remained on the bench.
The Live of sport-fm.gr
Source: Sport Fm
I am currently a news writer for News Bulletin247 where I mostly cover sports news. I have always been interested in writing and it is something I am very passionate about. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and spending time with my family and friends.
