The game: Real Madrid vs. Manchester City – A Battle of Titans

The game: A little calm after the storm

We were treated to a totally crazy first leg (3-3) with three goals after only 14 minutes of play. On Wednesday, it was clear from the start that neither side had any desire to give the same frantic pace at this meeting. It was very slow at the start of the match, then Real took a dive (12th). What followed was what we expected: a large English possession (61% in total, 69% in the second half), a Madrid block well in place and ready to do damage on counterattacks.

Until the caricature. 18 corners to 1 for City, 120 attacks to 19, 33 shots to 8, 88 balls in the area to 12. But if the Citizens first multiplied the clear situations, like Erling Haaland’s bar ( 19th), they skated a little more after the restart. The solution finally came both from the bench – thanks to the percussion of Jérémy Doku – from a big error by Antonio Rüdiger, and from the talent of Kevin De Bruyne, still as formidable in C1, still as ruthless against Real.

On arrival, the two favorites for the final victory neutralized each other in two different types of matches, one unbridled, the other more closed, and each in their own style – ultra possession against solidity and the game of transitions. There were only penalties to decide the last two winners of the competition. Small game in which Real showed itself cold, when Bernardo Silva, visibly overheated, precipitated the fall of his team, who were taking part in the first penalty shootout in the history of the Mancunian club in the European Cup.

The players: De Bruyne tried everything, Lunin almost rejected everything

We had almost forgotten his absence in the first leg as the match had been spectacular and rich in classy gestures, but Kevin De Bruyne once again proved that he was one of the compasses of this Manchester City. The Belgian equalized, but missed the qualifying ball. Kyle Walker, at fault on the opening score for Real, showed for the rest that he was indeed the lethal weapon against Vinicius Junior.

Opposite, while Jude Bellingham is struggling to regain his brilliance – despite his superb control at the start of the Madrid goal – Rodrygo continues to perform in the shadows, he who is Madrid’s top scorer in C1 this season. In the Real goals, Andriy Lunin once again brilliantly compensated for the absence of Thibaut Courtois. The Ukrainian international suffered a few scares but held his own against the opposing team on his surface, before releasing two consecutive shots on goal, those of Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic.

Rodrygo celebrates opening the score

Credit: Getty Images

The X factor: City misses the mark at the end of the match

Now involved in 12 goals in his last 13 Champions League matches, Kevin De Bruyne could have made the numbers perfectly equal. After his equalizer (76th), he first curled a shot just above (78th) then missed the target again in an ideal position in the area (82nd). Two balls of 2-1 in the money time and in the biggest weak time for Real in this match. And an elimination at the finish.

At state: 17

Real Madrid will play the 17th Champions League semi-final in its history, a record further improved. This will be Carlo Ancelotti’s 10th as coach, which allows the Italian to equal the benchmark in the field, a certain… Pep Guardiola.

Declared: Jude Bellingham (TNT Sports)

Most teams collapse when City dominate them, but we held up very well. Today, everything came down to mentality

The question: Is it the same story again?

It took one of Manchester City’s best performances under Pep Guardiola to disgust Real Madrid in their competition. Last year, the Etihad Stadium was the scene of a demonstration inflicted on the Merengue by the Citizens in the semi-final return (4-0). Enough to erase the terrible disillusionment of 2022, where Real, already in the half, had crucified this same opponent during a crazy return match at the Bernabeu (3-1, 4-3 for City in the first leg), as he said had the secret. Enough to say that Pep Guardiola had found the solution and combined arms to put an end to Real’s hegemony in the competition. That this almost mystical force which accompanies Real had, perhaps, finally left it.

“The favorite was in this quarter, it’s even clearer now”

But Bernardo Silva warned at a pre-match press conference on Tuesday: the Madrilenians remain “the kings of the competition”. Those who can adapt to the absences of Thibaut Courtois, David Alaba and Aurélien Tchouaméni facing the densest squad in Europe. Who marched on Europe thanks to their midfield trio Casemiro – Modric – Kroos and who continue to do so while the first has left, the second now sits on the bench and even allows himself to miss his shots to goal. Who can contain City on their lawn, in a competition where the outgoing champion had scored three times in each match played so far this season. Who enjoy applying the same plan again and again, with a few adjustments to “Don Carlo” – like Vinicius in a more axial position.

And if City had found the key against what looked like an inevitability, Real confiscated it. We knew, the favorite was in this quarter-final. But the king, who has won five of the last ten editions of the competition and who has just reached the last four for the fourth time in a row, is still the same. Who can dispute it? No more evidence appears on paper.

Antonio Rudiger – Real Madrid

Credit: Getty Images

2024-04-18 06:17:00
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