Champions League “Real never dies”: Spectacle leaves the starting point open
Toni Kroos (M) and Real Madrid drew 3-3 with Manchester City. photo
© Nick Potts/PA Wire/dpa
After a football festival in the Champions League quarter-finals, Real Madrid and Manchester City draw 3-3. It’s not just the coaches who are overwhelmed before the tense second leg.
What a football spectacle, what a celebration – or as the Spanish sports newspaper “Marca” wrote immediately after the final whistle: “Real Madrid never dies.” At least not in the high-class 3-3 draw against Manchester City in the quarter-final first leg of the Champions League, which was probably robbed of its dream final with this duel. City led twice, Real only once, and in the end it was a draw.
“I can imagine the spectators had a good time if there is a game with six goals,” City coach Pep Guardiola joked afterwards. “We know that the game is never over against Madrid in this stadium.”
Manchester took the lead in the second minute through Bernardo Silva. But it only lasted ten minutes. After a double blow in the 12th and 14th minutes with an own goal from Rúben Dias and a goal from Rodrygo, the Whites were now ahead. Then again Phil Foden (66th) turned the game in City’s favor with a shot into the corner and former RB Leipzig professional Joskos Gvardiol (71st). Fede Valverde (79th) finally made the final score.
“I’m happy,” said Real coach Carlo Ancelotti afterwards. “We fought and if we do the same in the second leg we can progress.” But it’s not just the experienced trainer who should be warned. Last season both teams met in the semi-finals. Almost a year ago, Real also fought for a draw (1-1) in the first leg – but then lost 4-0 in Manchester.
dpa
#Subjects
