Champions League: City top Madrid 4-3 in thriller
Manchester City just couldn’t shake off Real Madrid. In a wild Champions League match that resembled a basketball game at times, City beat Madrid 4-3 in the first leg of the semi-finals, but will leave Etihad Stadium wondering how the record 13-time champions were still in it.
Ultimately, Karim Benzema’s cheeky ‘Panenka’ penalty in the 82nd minute saw Madrid escape with some hope of pulling off a comeback in next week’s second leg at Santiago Bernabeu.
City, looking to reach the final for a second straight year, were 2-0 ahead after 11 minutes — through goals by Kevin De Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus — and should have been further clear before Benzema steered in a volley off the post in the 33rd.
Phil Foden restored City’s two-goal lead in the 53rd, Vinicius Junior replied two minutes later for Madrid, and the chances kept coming for both teams before Bernardo Silva curled a shot inside the near post after the referee played the advantage, following a foul on Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Benzema had the final say on the night by converting a penalty, after Aymeric Laporte’s handball, to become the competition’s top scorer on 14 goals and continue the best scoring form of his career, with 40 in all competitions this season.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti lost 5-0 in his most recent visit to the Etihad — with Everton on the final day of last season’s Premier League — and City could easily have scored many more, powered by their spectacular start.
With Madrid fielding a ball- playing midfield — of Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Federico Valverde — that lacked the bite of injured Casemiro, City cut through the visitors at will.
De Bruyne’s late run through the middle wasn’t picked up and he stooped to head in, via his left shoulder, an inswinging cross by Mahrez after barely 90 seconds.
When Jesus turned David Alaba with ease, following De Bruyne’s ball into the middle, and slipped home a finish, the Etihad erupted again and Ancelotti flung his arms into the air.
Jesus, fresh off a four-goal haul against Watford on Saturday, was a constant threat — Alaba couldn’t handle him and was substituted at halftime — and Mahrez was being given so much space down the right.