Foden outshines Bellingham to give City the edge
Phil Foden won the battle between two of England’s brightest stars to give Manchester City the upper hand after a thrilling Champions League quarter-final, first leg against Real Madrid ended 3-3 at the Santiago Bernabeu.
In a game lit up by stunning strikes, none was better than Foden’s smash into the top corner to haul City level at 2-2 midway through the second half. Further rockets from Josko Gvardiol and Federico Valverde left it all to play for at the Etihad on April 17.
City will feel confident thanks to a stellar home record in the Champions League, that includes hitting Madrid for four in each of the past two seasons. Pep Guardiola’s men are unbeaten in their last 30 home Champions League games, going back to 2018.
The 20-year-old Jude Bellingham rejected the advances of City and other Premier League giants when offered a chance to return to his homeland in favour of becoming a darling of the Bernabeu. Yet, his hot streak in front of goal has cooled off just as Foden has hit top form this year.
Foden is lethal on his left side and Madrid paid for leaving him too much space on the edge of the box to fire into the top corner for his 22nd goal of the season.
“I just felt this sweet connection,” Foden said. “It’s something I always practise in training where you receive it on the edge of the box and thankfully I saw it go into the top corner.”
At just 23, Foden’s prime years still lie ahead of him and he stood up to be counted on a night City needed him without Kevin De Bruyne. The Belgian fell ill in the hours before kick-off.
“He has this spark,” Guardiola said of Foden. “This incredible talent, to score goals, to create something, it is the truth.”
Mikel Arteta warned Arsenal to learn from costly mistakes in their dramatic 2-2 draw against Bayern Munich if they want to reach the semi-finals. Arteta’s side ensured their quarter-final clash remains finely balanced thanks to Leandro Trossard’s late equaliser in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal’s old tormentor-in-chief Harry Kane had ignored a hostile reception from Gunners fans to mark his return to north London with an ice-cool penalty that put Bayern 2-1 up in the first half.
Former Tottenham striker Kane’s sixth career goal at the Emirates came after ex-Arsenal winger Serge Gnabry cancelled out Bukayo Saka’s early opener for the Gunners.