Couple Lucas Michel
Published yesterday at 10:56 p.m., Updated 1 hour ago
Valverde’s joy after his goal. Juan Medina / REUTERS
At the end of a Homeric duel, the last two European champions parted in a draw before the return in a week (3-3).
Exceptional goals, an unreal scenario but no winner at the end of a historic first round between Real Madrid and Manchester City (3-3). Still opposed before a final fantasized by many observers, the last two European champions offered a magnificent spectacle at the Bernabeu stadium, witnessing strokes of genius throughout the match. Starting with that of Bernardo Silva, who set the tone by deceiving everyone, starting with Andreiy Lunin, on a free kick from elsewhere (2nd).
Picked cold in its carefully closed bowl – to put popular pressure on City, the Bernabeu finally roared ten minutes later, time for Eduardo Camavinga (12th) and Rodrygo (14th) to turn everything around, with a bit of luck timely. The luck of a champion? City didn’t seem like it, after a first period spent humming and exposing itself to Madrid’s supersonic counterattacks, where all that was missing was the finish (19th, 30th, 33rd, 41st).
Without De Bruyne, City in favorable waiver
Caricatured in the first period, lacking offensive inspiration like Erling Haaland once again transparent, Pep Guardiola’s City proved his coach right, who found it “almost impossible to beat Real two years in a row” . Before his players released two new strokes of genius, starting with Phil Foden, who after missing the boat (60th, 65th) ended up cleaning Lunin’s top corner (66th) to equalize. Five minutes later, Josko Gvardiol pulled out a shot from nowhere, and with his wrong foot, too, to turn the table over (71st). All without Kevin De Bruyne, accustomed to the exercise but left on the bench.
Obviously, Guardiola will need his master to play in a week at the Etihad Stadium, where everything remains to be done since Federico Valverde scored his exceptional goal, a perfect volley on a service from Vinicius (79th). Real therefore maintains its luck but above all the legend of this duel which has invariably given birth to the identity of the future winner for two seasons. And if the outgoing champion seems to have a slight advantage seven days before the outcome, this duel certainly has other surprises in store.
SEE ALSO – Luis Enrique : “Barça has 5 Champions Leagues, PSG zero, so the pressure is not on us»
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