Real’s latest great escape is City’s worst nightmare
The ‘‘Si se puede! [Yes we can!]’’ chants gradually faded at the Santiago Bernabeu yesterday as the minutes passed and Real Madrid looked beaten.
As the end of regulation approached, many in the stands – and on the field – were close to giving up as Manchester City defended their 1-0 lead. It seemed that there would be no magical night at the Bernabeu for the 13-time European champions this time.
But Madrid took their Champions League comebacks to another level yesterday, rallying late with two goals in two minutes by substitute Rodrygo to force extra time and defeat Manchester City 3-1 to reach the final – a showdown with Liverpool on May 28.
Karim Benzema, the hero of Madrid’s previous comebacks this season, converted a penalty kick in extra time for the decisive goal that allowed Madrid to advance 6-5 on aggregate after a 4-3 first-leg semifinal loss in which they escaped losing by a bigger margin.
‘‘I didn’t think we could do it again because we were struggling,’’ Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said. ‘‘We had already eliminated some top teams that
spent a lot of money to try to win a Champions, but today it was more impressive.’’
Madrid had already pulled off thrilling comebacks at the Bernabeu against Paris SaintGermain in the round of 16 and Chelsea in the quarterfinals.
‘‘I cannot say we are used to living this kind of life, but what happened tonight happened against Chelsea and against
Paris,’’ Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. ‘‘If you have to say why, it is the history of this club that helps us to keep going when it seems that we are gone.’’
Madrid booked a spot in the final in Paris against Liverpool, who advanced after defeating Villarreal. Madrid beat Liverpool in the 2018 final, when the Spanish powerhouse clinched their record-extending 13th title.
‘‘We have a score to settle,’’ Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah said on Twitter after Madrid’s win. Salah was injured early in the 2018 final.
The result ended City’s latest quest for their first Champions League trophy. Pep Guardiola’s team lost in the final last year to Chelsea.
‘‘We were close but at the end we could not reach [the final],’’ Guardiola said.
Madrid looked defeated near the end of regulation before Rodrygo scored his goals two minutes apart. Riyad Mahrez had put City ahead in the 73rd but the Brazilian forward equalised in the 90th and got the go-ahead goal with a header a minute into stoppage time.
Madrid carried the momentum into extra time. Benzema gave the hosts the 3-1 lead by converting a 95th-minute penalty after he was fouled in the area.