A very big show and a small option for the Citizens. The first leg of the Champions League between Manchester City and Real Madrid went beyond its promises on Tuesday, and the Mancunians emerged victorious (4-3). They will however have some regrets because they outclassed their opponents at the start of the match with quick goals from Kevin De Bruyne (2nd) and Gabriel Jesus (11th). Phil Foden (53rd) and Bernardo Silva (74th) also scored in the second half. The people of Madrid were however able to count on Karim Benzema, author of a double (33rd and 82nd, sp) and Vinicius (55th) to stay alive in this double confrontation.
Champions League
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In a boiling Etihad Stadium, the Mancunians took their opponent by the throat from the start and this daring strategy quickly paid off. Riyad Mahrez walked to the right in front of five Madridistas and cut in the middle to cross towards the far post where De Bruyne popped up to score with a diving header (1-0, 2nd). Already scorer in the first leg of the previous round against Atlético (1-0, 0-0), the Belgian put his people on the right track.
Masters of the ball against hesitant visitors, his teammates even flew over this start of the meeting. Foden hit on the left before giving back for “KDB” who crossed from the right and found Gabriel Jesus for a pivot control in front of David Alaba, then a small shot to adjust Thibaut Courtois and already double the bet (2-0 , 11th). The Brazilian confirms his great form after a recent quadruple in the league.
City treats, Benzema too
At this time, the evening promised to be very long for Carlo Ancelotti, annoyed on the sidelines, and his Merengues, tactically lost. The visitors’ defense was however more combative and Alaba beat Gabriel Jesus in front of Courtois’ cage (15th). The Belgian goalkeeper also saw Mahrez send his shot to the side of the frame after a counter (26th). Benzema, he aimed right on his small volley from the left at the penalty spot on a long cross from Ferland Mendy (2-1, 33rd). Reinvigorated by their centre-forward, Real Madrid ended the first period well after the unusual Mancunian right-back John Stones had to make way for Fernandinho due to a relapse of his injury.
Karim Benzema against Manchester City in the semi-final first leg of the Champions League, April 26, 2022
Credit: Getty Images
After the break, this time it was Manchester City who left the strongest, with Mahrez then Foden for a huge double chance (48th). After a ball lost by Mendy in front of Fernandinho and a precise cross, Foden gave his team a two-goal lead with a header (3-1, 53rd).
Madrid still behind
More comfortable with the ball than in defence, the veteran Fernandinho was fooled by Vinicius’ fake body in front of the halfway line and left his compatriot alone on the counter. The young Madrid player also took advantage of Aymeric Laporte’s bad decline to reduce the score again (3-2, 55th). The leaders of La Liga are still surprisingly back in the game? City started again with a vengeance forward. And if Courtois stood up to Laporte (68th), he could do nothing on Bernado Silva’s superb shot in the skylight (4-2, 74th). The Belgian goalkeeper was also beaten after a Mahrez festival in stride, but the ball only passed in front of his cage (76th).
Led, as against Paris, as against Chelsea, Real has not given up. And once again, the visitors reacted, obtaining a penalty for a handball from Laporte. The cheeky and daring Benzema transformed it from a Panenka to bring his total goals in C1 this season to 14 (4-3, 82nd). The former Lyonnais continues his momentum from the round of 16 and quarter-finals and allows his team to stay in the game for a place in the final with only a goal behind before the return leg next Wednesday at the Bernabeu.
Champions League
Benzema in the text, Laporte out of the game: the tops and the flops
AN HOUR AGO
Champions League
Like Zidane in 2006: Benzema’s exceptional panenka
