Real Madrid and defending Champions League champions Manchester City drew 3-3 in the first leg of their quarter-final tie on Tuesday. Bernardo Silva gave City the lead with a low free-kick, but Ruben Dias’ own-goal and Rodrigo Gos set up Real’s dramatic comeback. City’s 14th win in a row was rocked by quick second-half braces from Phil Foden and Josco Gvaldiol, but they were spared through Fede Valverde’s volley Evened the score. The exciting game was played in the shadow of threats from the Islamic State group to target the first leg of the quarter-finals, with heavy security surrounding the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
Spanish officials said 2,000 police would be deployed, but there were no incidents outside the game. Above, there’s a lot going on under the enclosed stadium roof, creating a thunderous atmosphere.
Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola said: “I thought it was a very good, interesting game that gave it dignity.”
His Madrid teammate Carlo Ancelotti agreed.
“I said yesterday that of course it will be a good game given all the quality we saw on the pitch,” the Italian said.
“There’s a lot of quality, two good teams and I think the result was right.”
Guardiola omitted influential playmaker Kevin De Bruyne after the Belgian expressed unwell shortly before the game.
The former Barcelona coach also chose Stefan Ortega as goalkeeper over the experienced Ederson, who was recovering from a thigh injury, while Gvardiol overcame fitness issues to start.
Ancelotti chose defensive midfielder Aurelian Chuameni at centre-back instead of Nacho Fernandez, with the Frenchman’s reckless early challenge paving the way for City’s opener.
After 33 seconds, Chuameni clumsily chopped down Jack Grealish and was booked, meaning he would miss the second leg.
Silva further punished Madrid with a free-kick, latching on to goalkeeper Andre Lunin at the near post and sliding a low shot into the net.
Lunin was slow to react and although he reached out to catch the ball, he was unable to block it.
Ancelotti, who is coaching a record 200th Champions League game, claimed his side lacked courage and character when they were beaten by Manchester City in last season’s semi-finals, but showed mental strength to quickly turn the tables.
This kind of feat is Real Madrid’s usual trick in the Champions League, and they scored two goals in two minutes, reminiscent of the 2022 semi-final victory over Manchester City with Rodrygo’s brace.
Dias deflected the first ball into his own net as he tried to block Camavinga’s long-range piledriver, and Rodrygo fired in Manuel after Vinicius Junior had tipped him over. Akanji slipped in the second goal with the help of another deflection.
– Breathtaking battle –
The first 45 minutes were breathless, and so was the rest of the game, which has increasingly become known as the Champions League’s “clásico.”
Rodri scored with a header for the visiting team and Vinicius scored with a header. Manchester City completed the reversal and extended their unbeaten record to 26 games.
Foden leveled with a brilliant strike from the edge of the box.
The England international is enjoying his best goalscoring season yet, scoring his 22nd in all competitions.
Foden went off injured late on, but Guardiola said the injury was just “a knock”.
City took the lead after five minutes as Antonio Rudiger tied down Erling Haaland.
Gvaldiol’s ferocious strike from distance denied Lunin a chance and silenced the Bernabeu – but that didn’t last long.
After Vinicius’ cross, Valverde’s brilliant volley flew past Ortega to level the score and set the stage for the second leg on April 17.
“We have to win there now,” Rodrigo told Movistar.
“Everything is open, whoever makes the fewest mistakes will advance.”
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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