Manchester City edged out Real Madrid in one of the most entertaining Champions League games in recent memory, to take a one-goal lead into the second leg of their semi-final.
Pep Guardiola's side exploded out of the blocks. They took the lead early on after working the ball out to Riyad Mahrez, who had time to lift the ball into Kevin De Bruyne's path from deep. The Belgian headed home, and it was a dream start for the hosts.
The Etihad had been a strangely subdued place counting down to kick-off. Now it stirred and, when the second goal came, there was joy, even disbelief. Foden got away up the left and, when he found De Bruyne, the cross was whipped into the area. David Alaba tried to nip in front of Jesus to pinch possession, which felt risky, and he got it all wrong. When Jesus spun, the ball was still there at his feet. The finish was simple.
City pushed again after the Vinícius goal. When Oleksandr Zinchenko was fouled by Toni Kroos, everybody seemed to stop – certainly Eduardo Camavinga and Dani Carvajal did. Bernardo Silva did not. With the referee, Istvan Kovacs, playing a smart advantage, the City midfielder arrowed a shot into the near, top corner and Guardiola could lose himself in delight.
The defensive jitters, though, were not exclusive to Real. The City goalkeeper, Ederson, played a couple of poor passes in the first half, inviting pressure, and Dias was caught on the ball more than once. Vinícius flickered, Alaba rose to flash a header wide and then Benzema scored with a controlled volley from Ferland Mendy’s cross.
An excellent Benzema volley - which came out of nothing - halved the deficit to make it 2-1 at half-time.
Guardiola looked as if he wanted to curl up into a Ball when Rúben Dias surrendered possession shortly afterwards and allowed Vinícius Júnior to run through, although the Real forward could not finish. City’s defending was unusually loose.
And what about the moment on 54 minutes, shortly after Foden had made it 3-1? Guardiola had expected a throw-in for his team only for it to go the other way. He reacted by chasing after the fourth official to earn a yellow card. Vinícius would make it 3-2 almost immediately.
Guardiola had to replace the injured John Stones, who filled in at right-back in the absence of Kyle Walker and João Cancelo, with Fernandinho. It was the 36-year-old who crossed for Foden’s goal – moments after Éder Militão had allowed Mahrez to run through to curl against the far post. From the rebound Foden shot and Carvajal blocked.
But it was Fernandinho who was beaten and outpaced by Vinícius for 3-2, City’s defensive cover nowhere to be seen. Laporte and Mahrez missed big chances either side of Silva’s goal but the last word would go to Benzema
But it was Fernandinho who was beaten and outpaced by Vinícius for 3-2, City’s defensive cover nowhere to be seen. Laporte and Mahrez missed big chances either side of Silva’s goal but the last word would go to Benzema
Real’s defenders were uncomfortable, especially on the ball when City pressed. The visitors were there for the taking and it felt as if City were about to inflict grievous damage. Mahrez had to pass to Foden only to take on the shot – a bad decision – and Foden dragged wide of the far post after a fluent counterattack. Foden’s quick feet and velvet touch were an eye-catching feature
The final act had Dias stretching at Real’s far post to meet a cross only to fail to stretch enough. Guardiola went through his last set of contortions. In the heat of the moment it was possible to forget that City had actually beaten Spain’s champions-elect, outplaying them for long spells. They should have scored more goals. It is never a good thing to allow this opponent to fight another day.
It would not last, Real catching a break to rally again. Leaping for a high ball, Aymeric Laporte nodded it into his outstretched arm. Penalty. Nobody doubted that Benzema would convert but the Panenka, dinked up the middle, the disguise perfect, was audacity and composure from another plane. Benzema is the competition’s leading scorer with 14 and he has 41 goals in 41 appearances for Real this season. Guardiola slumped on to a drinks cooler.
Real had been second best for long spells of the last-16 and quarter-final ties against Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea. Yet they found a way to get through – partly thanks to Benzema’s goals, partly because of their history, who they are. The 13-times winners refuse to lose in this competition. And they are still alive in this edition.
