Real Madrid and City give a show and leave everything for the Etihad

Real Madrid and City give a show and leave everything for the Etihad

The whites, spurred on by a dedicated Bernabéu, showed character to overcome an effective English team on two occasions

   MADRID, 9 Abr. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Real Madrid and Manchester City tied (3-3) this Tuesday in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals, in a true offensive and character show by both teams, which postponed the decision of the tie to the return at the Etihad, after a duel with goals from Camavinga, Rodrygo and Valverde for the locals, and from Bernardo Silva, Foden and Gvardiol for the English.

The whites took advantage of their strength in the first half and were able to overcome the Portuguese midfielder's early goal, coming back in just two minutes. First Camavinga and then Rodrygo established the state of euphoria in a Bernabéu that he believed in. But City was not going to sell its defeat cheaply, and knew how to be patient, without Haaland neutralized by Rüdiger, taking refuge in the flashes of Foden and Gvardiol in a very 'citizen' second half.

With the changes, Real Madrid improved and was able to cement a definitive 3-3, at least in the first leg, thanks to a precise and forceful volley from Valverde when the 80th minute was approaching. This tie in a spectacle between both teams leaves everything open for the return to English territory next Wednesday, April 17.

The match started with the worst possible scenario for Real Madrid in the Champions League quarterfinals. When the referee had barely whistled the start, City recovered a ball and came out quickly in the boots of Grealish, against whom an early cautioned Tchouameni committed a foul. And it was then that Bernardo Silva invented a genius to surprise a Lunin who could do more with his stick to make it 0-1 and freeze the cauldron atmosphere with which the Bernabéu received his team.

Real Madrid recovered with a couple of dangerous approaches, a mistake by Rodri in the through exit, and bottling up Guardiola's men, who had no trouble putting together some meaningful play. In one of those, Grealish served a good ball to Haaland inside the area, but the Ukrainian goalkeeper stood firm and took it firmly.

The 'citizen' enjoyed control of the ball in the first ten minutes, although their threat was tempered, and on one of the occasions Ancelotti's men enjoyed a long combination that was rewarded. Eduardo Camavinga received a throw to the right and feinted with a forward pass to get in line and hit with his left, fortunately one of the centre-backs deflected it, equaling the visitors' goal with the whites' first shot on goal.

The 1-1 score sparked Real Madrid, who turned the game around a minute later, with the help of that typical Champions League atmosphere and the ecstasy of the stands. Vinícius saw Rodrygo's unmarking on the left into space and served him a perfect ball that the São Paulo player took advantage of one on one, with a subtle touch that beat Ortega low. The Madrid team took the lead, when the match seemed to be going in other directions, once again challenging the planned script.

The score upset a City with less control and that could not find its 'compass' Rodri, while Real Madrid grew play by play, spurred on by a dedicated public with each successful play. The possessions of the English were sterile, and Ancelotti's pupils controlled the situation well, reaching out with some blows against Rodrygo that were easy for Ortega.

With the first half already dying, City was able to tie after a great combination that Grealish finished off, although his shot was blocked by a toned Tchouameni. In response, the whites came out quickly in just three touches from the left, 'Vini' stopped in the area to give it to Rodrygo, who shot very powerfully, but off target, and with the Bernabéu standing. Exchange of blows that did not move the score in a first half that ended with controversy, when Rodrygo protested an elbow from Akanji that the referee did not sanction.

After passing through the locker room, Grealish was the first to try to test Lunin from the left, with a very high shot. City started better, although within that tense calm that they already took advantage of at the start of the game. And so it happened, the 'citizen' team made a mistake in getting the ball out, with the fortune for the locals that the ball fell to Bellingham, who with two cuts saved Rúben Dias, although his shot went wide of the post.

Shortly after, before the hour mark, Vinícius responded by collecting a good deep delivery from Rodrygo in the race, without clairvoyance when defining and sending a good opportunity to extend the advantage and establish tranquility in the Bernabéu. It was City that focused on not losing their nerve and making their plays more mature, with long possessions without risk.

Real Madrid lost their fangs, also supported by the score in their favor, and only taking refuge in the verticality of 'Vini' and Rodrygo. Ancelotti's men fell back more and more, and they saw how in one of their block defenses under Foden, collecting a pass from Stones, he took a shot from his hat that was as powerful as it was precise to the right corner of the Madrid goal. Again, a draw and a somewhat more dangerous situation for the locals, with a City team somewhat more comfortable.

The improvement of the English was confirmed with the 2-3, like the previous one, with a long shot. On this occasion it was Gvardiol who surprised from the left, after a pass from Grealish, to hit the ball with his right leg, impossible for Lunin. A bucket of cold water for a Bernabéu that did not lose faith in its team, already with Brahim and Modric on the field as a catalyst.

And it seems that they had an effect, although in an isolated play. In another quick exit, the only weapon in the match for the whites, Modric started a good drive, saw Vinícius on the left, who first served from above for a Valverde who did not think about it to convert a plastic volley and make his first goal in 2024 and in the Champions League. As in the first half, the goal gave wings and oxygen to the locals, who stretched out on the grass and believed in a final stretch without too many chances.

--RESULT: REAL MADRID, 3 - MANCHESTER CITY, 3 (2-1, at half-time).

REAL MADRID: Lunin; Carvajal, Tchouameni, Rüdiger, Mendy; Valverde, Camavinga, Kroos (Modric, min.72), Bellingham; Rodrygo (Brahim, min.72) and Vinícius (Joselu, min.86).

MANCHESTER CITY: Ortega; Akanji, Stones, Dias, Guardiol; Rodri, Kovacic; Foden (Alvarez, min.87), Bernardo Silva, Grealish; Haaland.

0 - 1, min.2, Bernardo Silva.

1 - 1. min.12, Eduardo Camavinga.

2 - 1. min.14, Rodrygo Goes.

2 - 2nd min.66, Phil Foden.

2 - 3. min.71, Josko Gvardiol.

3 - 3rd min.79, Fede Valverde.

--REFEREE: François Letexier (FRA). He cautioned Tchouameni (min.2) and Carvajal (min.81) for Real Madrid. And to Akanji (min.37) and Bernardo Silva (min.88) at Manchester City.

--Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.