April 10 – Real Madrid and Manchester City delivered a Champions League classic in the first leg of their quarter final, with Real equalising late to make the final score 3-3.
Even the ISIS bomb threat, which left Spanish police on high alert, was unable to ruin an enthralling football festival filled with fine finishes and late drama at the Santiago Bernabeu.
A cheeky free kick by Portuguese winger Bernardo Silva opened the scoring in the second minute, sliding a low shot around the wall and into the bottom left corner before Lunin even knew what was happening.
Shocked into action by their early clumsiness, which also saw Aurelien Tchouameni ruled out for next week after picking up an early yellow card, Real hit back with two quick-fire goals courtesy of two significant deflections.
The first, taken by Eduardo Camavinga, ricocheted off Ruben Dias to offset City’s early lead. Two minutes later, Rodrygo broke away from City’s back line, racing toward Stefan Ortega. Manuel Akanji was able to rush back to block the Brazilian’s path to goal, but the youngster cooly slotted the ball between his legs, giving his side an unlikely lead after 14 minutes.
City responded in the second half with two thumping efforts from Phil Foden and Josko Gvardiol, both rifling into the top left corner with no hope for the goalkeeper.
To draw an enthralling game level, Vinicius Junior delivered a delicious ball across the box to Federico Valverde, who met the ball at full sprint and drove it into the bottom left corner.
With the score a level 3-3 at the Bernabeu, City hold the slight advantage in the reverse fixture next week. Pep’s side haven’t lost at home since before the 2022 World Cup, where the citizens suffered a 1-2 defeat to Brentford in the Premier League.
City boss Pep Guardiola challenged a suggestion it was a missed opportunity after being in a winning position with 11 minutes remaining.
“It’s fine,” the Spaniard said post-match. “It’s the Bernabeu my friend. You are from England so don’t know what it means in the Bernabeu.
“We lost more balls than usual in the first half but it is Madrid. They have the legs and quality to make the transitions.
“Second half we showed personality. I cannot say more. To score three in Bernabeu is very good.
“It’s Madrid. You can be 3-2 and the game is over – here it is never over.”
Guardiola alluded it’s impossible to control the 14-time winners of the competition but added that his side would have lost the game in previous campaigns.
“I had the feeling it is a process. This result in the first seasons together we would lose 4-1, 5-1,” he said.
“We were not stable emotionally. And being stable emotionally is so important.”
City host Real Madrid at the Etihad stadium in Manchester on April 17.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1713957251labto1713957251ofdlr1713957251owedi1713957251sni@g1713957251niwe.1713957251yrrah1713957251