Real Madrid vs. Manchester City in Tuesday’s Champions League quarterfinal had it all: thrilling goals, fast-paced play, and moments of outstanding skill.
The first game concluded 3-3 in Madrid’s Estadio Santiago Bernabéu after more than 90 minutes of intense action, setting up the return leg on April 17.
Even though there was no winner that evening, spectators were treated to an abundance of activity that began very immediately.
Following the match, Jamie Carracagher, a CBS pundit and former Liverpool player, remarked, “Amazing and that is exactly what the Champions League is about.”
“We are most likely examining the two greatest sides in the league, Real Madrid’s past and Manchester City’s current winning squad.
“That was just a privilege to watch and I can’t wait for the second leg.”
It all began fewer than two minutes into the match when Bernardo Silva’s outstanding free kick gave City the lead.
Nearly every spectator in the stadium anticipated a cross into the box as the midfield player stood over the set-piece. But Silva had other ideas and decided to go for goal instead, surprising Los Blancos goalie Andriy Lunin. Perhaps he ought to have done better, the Ukrainian shot-stopper attempted to return across to thwart the attempt.
The first goal of the match established the tone, and the host quickly leveled the score. Just ten minutes after Silva had given City the lead, Eduardo Camavinga’s long-range strike, which deflected wickedly off Rúben Dias, gave Madrid the equalizer.
In just two minutes, the Madrid supporters had gone wild with joy and hardly had time to settle down before their team took the lead.
After Vinícius Jr. sent a fantastic through ball, Rodrygo sprinted onto it and maintained his calm to push his shot past Stefan Ortega in the City net.
An Insane Second Half
Following an intense beginning to the match, both teams tried to gain control of the action before halftime. All that, though, was different with the reboot.
The best Champions League goal ever scored by City came from Phil Foden in the sixty-sixth minute.
With a little window of opportunity created by himself on the Real Madrid box’s edge, the Englishman fired a simply amazing left-footed attempt that found its way into the top corner of the net.
With that game-winning goal, Foden’s significance for City was highlighted once again.
After the game, Foden said, “I just felt the sweet connection and it’s something I always practice in training where you receive it on the edge of the box.”
“Sometimes, they don’t go in, but I’m just thankful today to see it go in the top corner.”
Five minutes later, defender Joško Gvardiol gave City the lead with a long-range attempt of his own. Cutting in from the left, the Croatian struck a beautiful long-range shot that found the far corner of the net, possibly inspired by what he had just witnessed.
However, the match was not over, and Los Merengues began to press for an equalizer.
Federico Valverde, the 14-time European champion, eventually found a way through with an incredible volley into the net’s corner in the 79th minute. The objective was once more of the highest caliber.
It was an incredible game. There was so much quality on display, two extraordinary teams,” as said by Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti following the game.
“We’re happy with how we played and we hope for a repeat performance on their patch.”
“We could have won it at 2-1, and lost it at 2-3. It was a fair result given what the two teams showed in the game.”
With a spot in the Champions League semifinals up for grabs, all eyes will be on the return leg on Wednesday. It has been quite the action-packed match.
Additionally, the decisive match will be impossible to miss if the first leg gave any indication.
