MADRID: Real Madrid overcome a 3-4 deficit in the first leg of the semi-final to stun Manchester City and booked the Champions League final against Liverpool.
In a high-octane clash between the two sides, the first half of the match featured some heavy striking and a lot of drama but yet no team could make the strike with City, still leading the scoreboard in terms of the aggregate.
City, which already had the aggregate in their favour, looked even more favourite to advance into the final when Riyad Mahrez made the first strike for the side in the 73rd and extended the lead to 5-3.
Madrid’s Rodrygo Silva de Goes made a timely 90th-minute strike to force the match into the extra time. The Brazilain footballer then scored his second goal within a minute to level the aggregate score.
In the 95th minute, Benzema rushed to a loose ball in the box but City’s defender Ruben Dias brought him down. He then opted to take the penalty by himself and converted it as the match-winning strike and a ticket to the Champions League final for his side.
Madrid will contest the second major final in the ongoing month as the La Liga 2022 champions will take on Liverpool on May 29 at Stade de France.
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MANCHESTER: Pep Guardiola said he had to reiterate to his players they had beaten Real Madrid 4-3 in a Champions League classic on Tuesday despite the disappointment of not killing off their semi-final tie at the Etihad.
Kevin De Bruyne, Gabriel Jesus, Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva were on target for Guardiola’s men, who held a two-goal lead three times.
But Karim Benzema’s double and a brilliant individual effort from Vinicius Junior gave Madrid hope of another famous Champions League fightback at the Santiago Bernabeu on May 4.
Guardiola lamented letting Liverpool escape “alive” in the Premier League title race after a 2-2 draw at the Etihad nine days ago and will have similar regrets after a blistering opening that could have seen City go 4-0 up inside half an hour.
Madrid, the record 13-time European champions, were playing in their 30th semi-final to City’s third, but the English champions lived up to their tag as pre-tie favourites early on.
Only 92 seconds had passed before the Madrid rearguard was breached by Riyad Mahrez’s quick feet and perfect cross for De Bruyne to stoop and head past Thibaut Courtois.
Jesus pounced to make it 2-0 after just 10 minutes when David Alaba failed to deal with De Bruyne’s cross.
The Spanish champions-elect were without Casemiro and his absence showed as City cut through midfield on the counter-attack at will.
Guardiola was furious with Mahrez after he selfishly smashed into the side-netting with Foden awaiting the cross for a tap-in.
Moments later it was Foden who was guilty of wasting a glorious chance when he dragged wide another pinpoint De Bruyne through the ball.
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