A delicious mix of freshly cut grass, sweat, grandeur and drama: there is no doubt, the sweet scent of big European matches is back and the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid is where it is expressed most clearly.
This Tuesday, Manchester City and Real Madrid opened the quarter-finals of the Champions League in the most beautiful way: the two teams engaged in a fight of crazy intensity, with spectacular goals (3-3), to which they had the very good taste of adding the necessary ingredients for a dramaturgy which prevented us from taking our eyes off the screen and already made us salivate for the return match.
The legendary Madrid arena saw renowned opponents pass through to wage a merciless battle against Real Madrid. To do him credit, Pep Guardiola’s Cityzens arrived in the ring with the firm intention of causing pain from the start of the fight: it didn’t take two minutes for Grealish to push Tchouaméni to make a mistake, then for Bernardo Silva to brilliantly transforming a free kick that no one expected hit at the near post (0-1, 2nd).
Two teams who went blow for blow
But if the last few seasons have taught us, or rather reminded us of anything, it is that Real are never as formidable as when they are on one knee. City may have presented themselves in the center of the ring with a belt to defend and by delivering the first blow, Real delivered the next two. A strike from Camavinga blocked by poor Ruben Dias in his goals (12th), a terrible rush from Rodrygo transformed with a little success (14th), and Madrid turned the tide in two minutes (2-1).
Without De Bruyne or Ederson at kick-off, City then began to absorb the blows. But to better counterattack, as soon as possible, using your opponent’s methods to send him back to the ropes: deliver one blow to stun, then immediately knock out with the second. The revolt came from Foden: a check at the entrance to the area, a shot into the top corner, and here was the young English genius who woke up City (2-2, 66th). Four minutes later, Gvardiol scored a sublime shot curling with his bad foot into Lunin’s small net (2-3, 71st).
Once again, Real has its knees on the ground. And is, therefore, formidable. Put into orbit by Vinicius, who had clearly seen his teammate alone at the entrance to the area on the right side, Federico Valverde equalized with a brilliant volley (a Nacho, even a Pavard!) completely unstoppable for Ortega (3-3, 79th ). Unstoppable, incredible, unpredictable: Real could not let City win a match which would have deserved two winners, at the end of a sublime evening which, it should be noted, also went well in terms of security despite the threats of The Islamic State.
As there must only be one left in the semi-final, we are already looking forward to seeing the second round, next week in Manchester (April 17, at 9 p.m.). Anyone who comes out alive will already have the look of a future European champion.
Real Madrid – Manchester City 3-3
my time 2-1
Referee. M. Letexier (FRA).
Buts. Real Madrid : Ruben Dias (12e, csc), Rodrygo (14e), Valverde (79e) ; Manchester City : Bernardo Silva (2e), Foden (66e), Gvardiol (71e).
Warnings. Real Madrid: Tchouameni (1st), Carvajal (81st); Man. City: Akanji (37th).
Real Madrid. Lunin – Carvajal, Tchouameni, Rüdiger, Mendy – Valverde, Kroos (Modric, 71e), Camavinga – Rodrygo (Diaz, 71e), Bellingham, Vinicius Jr (Joselu, 86e).. Entr. Carlo Ancelotti.
Manchester City. Ortega – Stones, Akanji, Ruben Dias, Gvardiol – Rodri, Kovacic – Silva, Foden (Alvarez, 87e), Grealish – Haaland. Entrance Pep Guardiola.
