City rally to beat Real in CL
Tousart’s goal gives Lyon 1-0 win over lethargic Juventus
MADRID, Feb 27, (AP): With two late goals in five minutes, Manchester City turned the tables on Real Madrid and boosted their chances of finally winning an elusive Champions League title while they can.
Gabriel Jesus scored an equalizer in the 78th minute and Kevin De Bruyne netter an 83rd-minute winner from the penalty spot as Man City came from behind for a 2-1 win over Madrid in the first leg of the last 16 at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium.
“It’s a great satisfaction to be able to win at the Bernabéu,” Man City coach Pep Guardiola said. “We are not used to these types of results. It shows that we can go to any stadium and win.” chance until Isco’s goal was a closerange header by Karim Benzema saved by Ederson before the break.
“We created good chances but we were off-target and Courtois made some great saves,” Guardiola said.
Madrid historically have thrived at the Bernabéu in the Champions League, but they have won only three of their last 10 European matches at the stadium, drawing three and losing other four. They were eliminated by Ajax in last year’s round of 16 after a 4-1 home loss. That marked the first time since 2009-10 the Spanish powerhouse failed to reach at least the semifinals.
It was the third straight setback for Madrid, who were coming off a draw and a loss in the Spanish league, results that dropped the team behind Barcelona at the top of the Spanish league.
Man City have filed an appeal against UEFA’s ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but if the UEFA punishment stands, City won’t be back in the Champions League until the 2022-23 season.
Guardiola said he is not using the ban to motivate his players this season.
“We cannot control what happens off the pitch, we can only control what happens on the pitch,” he said. “It’s not easy for our club to live (through this), but I’m confident that everything is going to go well. Hopefully the board and the lawyers can convince UEFA that we did the right things, not the wrong things.”
Juventus’ Alex Sandro shoots on goal before Lyon’s Karl Toko Ekambi (left), can block the shot during a Champions League, Round of 16, first leg soccer match between Lyon and Juventus at the Lyon Olympic Stadium in
Decines, outside Lyon, France on Feb 26. (AP)