Man City drew 1-1 with Real Madrid after 120 minutes of play and the two teams had to play in a penalty shootout due to a 4-4 draw after two quarter-final matches. “White Vulture” won 4-3, turning Man City into a former Champions League champion.
With a 3-3 draw at the Bernabeu, Man City and Real Madrid entered the quarter-final second leg at the Etihad to find the semi-finalist. Because UEFA no longer uses the home and away goals rule, the two teams are forced to decide the winner and loser in the quarter-final second leg. After the opening whistle, the two teams entered the game quickly with attacks that threatened each other’s goals.
In the 12th minute, Man City’s defense did not play well, allowing Rodrygo to receive a cross from the right and finish at close range. Ederson was able to push the ball out, but the Real Madrid player continued to finish a second time and he scored. about the opening goal.
Real Madrid players celebrate after opening the score in the match (Photo: AP).
Conceding an early goal at home forced Man City to push their offensive line higher. The home team gradually pushed back the opponent, creating an overwhelming position. In the 19th minute, Haaland jumped high and headed in the center of the penalty area. Real Madrid’s defense stood and watched, but the ball hit the crossbar and bounced back to hit Silva’s body and flew out onto the field.
It was not difficult for Man City to find opportunities in front of Real Madrid’s goal, but the home team could not score after 13 shots. Entering the second half, Man City continued to press, forcing Real Madrid to retreat deep into the defensive formation. Unlike the first half, the away team could no longer create many dangerous counter-attacks.
Guardiola held his head in regret as Man City’s scoring opportunities continued to pass (Photo: AP).
On the defensive front, Real Madrid plays quite discreetly. It seemed that the away team understood Man City’s attack too well, so they blocked Lunin’s path to the goal, causing Man City to continue to fall into a deadlock. Realizing that his students were not playing effectively, coach Guardiola began to make adjustments in the 72nd minute, Doku was brought in to replace Grealish.
Just 4 minutes after entering the field, Doku contributed to helping Man City equalize. In the 76th minute, Doku crossed from the left, Rudiger blocked the ball from flying to where De Bruyne was standing, the Belgian player received the ball and finished at close range, hitting the roof of Lunin’s net, the match score was 1-1 balance.
De Bruyne celebrates after scoring the equalizer for Man City (Photo: Getty).
In the remaining minutes of the match, Man City continuously pressured the opponent, but the home team returned with grace. Man City’s most significant opportunity came in the 82nd minute. De Bruyne comfortably placed the ball from a distance of about 12 meters and the ball went over the bar. At the end of the official match time, the two teams tied 1-1 so they continued to play extra time.
Man City continued to control the ball better than Real Madrid, but coach Ancelotti’s personnel adjustments also helped the away team have better counterattacks than before. In the second minute of extra time of the first extra period, Rudiger escaped to receive a pass from Diaz and then finished from a distance of only about 4 meters, the ball went over the bar. Quite unfortunate for Real Madrid, the opportunity to score was quite clear but Rudiger could not score.
In the second overtime period, both teams failed to create clear goals, so the score remained unchanged. With a 4-4 draw after two matches, Man City and Real Madrid were forced to play in a penalty shootout.
Man City took the penalty shootout first, the home team started well with Alvarez’s successful shot while Modric missed Real Madrid’s first shot. However, Silva and Kovacic missed the next shots, putting Man City at a disadvantage because Bellingham and Vazquez both scored successfully.
Foden and Ederson successfully completed the remaining shots to help Man City hold on to hope. However, Nacho, Rudiger did not make a mistake. Only missing one shot after 5 shots, Real Madrid won 4-3 against Man City, thereby winning a ticket to the semi-finals. Real Madrid’s opponent for the final ticket will be Bayern Munich, the team that defeated Arsenal.
Real Madrid players celebrate after winning the penalty shootout