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Man City1 - 1Real Madrid

sportsmole.co.uk, 17 April 2024, 21:47
Real Madrid have progressed to the semi-finals of the Champions League courtesy of a penalty-shootout victory over the holders Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

The two teams were level at 3-3 after a pulsating quarter-final first leg in Madrid, and there was also no separating them after extra-time in Manchester, as Kevin De Bruyne scored late to cancel out an early goal from Rodrygo.

Penalties were needed to decide the tie, and while Luka Modric missed Real Madrid's first, both Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic were denied in the shootout, with Los Blancos triumphing 4-3 on spot kicks.

Carlo Ancelotti's side march onto the semi-finals, where they will take on Bayern Munich, while Man City's focus will now be on the Premier League and FA Cup, with Pep Guardiola's side still capable of winning a domestic double, but their hopes of back-to-back trebles are over.

Real Madrid navigate their way into the final four

The first half-chance of the match came for Man City in the eighth minute, but Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin managed to gather a dangerous De Bruyne cross just ahead of the waiting Erling Haaland, before the returning Ederson was called into action down the other end to keep out an effort from Eduardo Camavinga.

Real Madrid made the breakthrough in the 12th minute of the contest, with Rodrygo striking into the back of the net from close range at the second time of asking, having been denied by Ederson from his first effort; Kyle Walker was close to the Brazilian but could not prevent the forward from having two chances to score, with the England international losing his footing.

Haaland headed a dangerous Bernardo cross over in the 17th minute, before the Norway international hit the crossbar with another header in the 19th minute, and the rebound was then bundled wide by Silva, with the home side starting to work their way into the match.

Lunin made a smart stop to keep out a powerful De Bruyne drive in the 27th minute, before Jack Grealish had a dangerous effort deflected wide of the Real Madrid goal in the 32nd minute; De Bruyne also struck another effort over during a strong spell for Man City, but Real Madrid were so threatening on the break.

Grealish had another effort deflected into the side-netting in the period that followed, before Lunin had to tip a dangerous De Bruyne corner over the crossbar, and Real Madrid were ahead at the interval.

Lunin made a super save to keep out a strike from Grealish early in the second half, before the Real Madrid goalkeeper did well to keep out a deflected effort from Phil Foden, with Man City very much on the front foot, and the visitors simply playing on the counter-attack.

Lunin made another excellent stop to deny Grealish in the 70th minute, and it was a backs-against-the-ball performance from Real Madrid, who were struggling to get out of their own half.

Man City managed to level the scores in the 76th minute, with De Bruyne finding the roof of the net from close range after Antonio Rudiger failed to deal with a cross from Jeremy Doku.

De Bruyne curled one just over the crossbar shortly after, before the Belgium international somehow missed the target with a side-footed effort in the 82nd minute, as Real Madrid were given a huge let-off in Manchester.

Haaland headed wide in the latter stages, with the contest heading for extra time, and it was more of the same after the restart, with the home side in control of the possession and forcing the issue.

Real Madrid will face Bayern Munich in the semi-finals

Foden failed to make the most of a brilliant Bernardo cross in the 98th minute, before Rudiger fired just over down the other end from an excellent Brahim Diaz delivery late in the first half of extra-time.

Penalties were required to separate the two teams after an energy-sapping 120 minutes of football.

Julian Alvarez fired Man City ahead in the shootout with a sensational effort, which set the tone, but Modric and then Bernardo took it in turns to miss; Bellingham levelled it up at 1-1, before Kovacic missed Man City's second, allowing Lucas Vazquez to send Real Madrid 2-1 ahead.

Foden made it 2-2, before Nacho sent the Spanish giants into the lead once again; it became 3-3 when Ederson netted his spot kick, but Rudiger won it for Ancelotti's side in incredible circumstances.

Real Madrid now have the small matter of a Clasico with Barcelona to come on Sunday evening, and Los Blancos will enter that match with an eight-point lead over their second-placed opponents in the La Liga table.

Man City, meanwhile, will face Chelsea in the semi-finals of the FA Cup on Saturday, with the Citizens bidding to book their spot in the final of the competition once again.

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