Well, that was a fun game of football.
Man City and Real Madrid played out a stone-cold UEFA Champions League classic on Tuesday evening at the Etihad Stadium, with the home side running out 4-3 winners.
City made a quick start to the game. And by 'quick start' we mean they scored the quickest goal in UEFA Champions League semi-final history.
The goal came from the brilliance of Riyad Mahrez who curled the ball to the back post where Kevin De Bruyne was on hand to head home.
Mahrez is always bloody brilliant in the Champions League, isn't he?
Mamma mia, that’s a fast start
— Chris Deeley (@ThatChris1209) April 26, 2022
That pass from Mahrez just made me scream so damn loud my goodness
— Aaron West (@oeste) April 26, 2022
Ah, 1-0 to Man City. Just where Real Madrid want them…
— Stefan Bienkowski (@SBienkowski) April 26, 2022
The home side's dominance continued thereafter, and about 10 minutes later they were two goals to the good.
This time De Bruyne turned provider, crossing into Gabriel Jesus who, after 'controlling' (the ball bounced around a bit and landed at his feet), coolly side-footed into the bottom right corner of the net.
This one's for the heads out there. pic.twitter.com/Pkdcc5nkaM
— Matt O'Connor-Simpson (@matthewOCS) April 26, 2022
Gabriel Jesus’ last five starts in all competitions:
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) April 26, 2022
?️ vs Southampton
⚽️ vs Liverpool
?️ vs Liverpool
⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️?️ vs Watford
⚽️ vs Real Madrid
Could be on the move this summer… ? pic.twitter.com/Lr7isDoWJf
11 - Manchester City are only the second side in Champions League history to score twice in the first 11 minutes of a semi-final match, after Juventus v Man Utd in April 1999 and Man Utd v Arsenal in May 2009. Heaven. pic.twitter.com/lXc6ujQhGq
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 26, 2022
11. We're on ?
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 26, 2022
It's an assist for @DeBruyneKev... no surprises there! ?♂️
He whips one into Gabby who turns and places one past Courtois to reward our sustained pressure! ?
? 2-0 ⚪️ | #ManCity
It was then so nearly three in the 25th minute.
After a quick counter-attack led by De Bruyne (who else?), Mahrez was played through on goal on the right of the penalty area.
With Foden unmarked on the other side of the box however, the Algerian forward elected to have a pop at goal and sliced his shot just wide of the right post.
He probably should've passed to Foden...
Mahrez could have done better with that chance
— Thierry Nyann (@nyannthierry) April 26, 2022
Mahrez pass. Selfish there
— Saddick Adams (@SaddickAdams) April 26, 2022
And after spurning that chance, guess who scored?
Yep, Karim Benzema.
The forward brilliantly volleyed a Ferland Mendy ball into the box across goal and into the bottom right corner of the net.
Game. On.
Karim Benzema’s 40th goal of this campaign.
— Luis Miguel Echegaray (@lmechegaray) April 26, 2022
Modric won the ball. Mendy's cross. Benzema's first-time finish.
— The Spanish Football Podcast (@tsf_podcast) April 26, 2022
That goal came from nowhere and Real Madrid were very lucky not to be 4-0 down when it did, but at the same time: that was a nothing cross from Mendy, and Benzema had no right at all to make anything of it. He's extraordinary.
— Rory Smith (@RorySmith) April 26, 2022
Not to be deterred by conceding, City rushed out of the blocks at the start of the second half and, miraculously, didn't score a third.
The Cityzens had saw two brilliant chances go abegging, first when Mahrez curled a shot from eight-yards out off of the post, and then immediately afterward when the ball fell to Foden on the edge of the six-yard box.
The England international's subsequent, rather tame, effort on goal was blocked brilliantly on the line by Dani Carvajal.
Carvajal's clearing the ball off the line would be remembered as HISTORICAL if Real Madrid go through!#ManCityRealMadrid
— Sajjad Lattef (@ImSajjadLattef) April 26, 2022
[47'] POST! Riyad Mahrez! 2-1. #UCL
— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) April 26, 2022
Moments later Foden made amends for that miss.
The 21-year-old headed home from just inside the six-yard box, latching onto a wonderful cross from Fernandinho.
Phil Foden #MCIRMA | #UCL pic.twitter.com/RwZ8lryKxk
— MØ (@M0AFC) April 26, 2022
Real Madrid getting done by a 36-year-old makeshift left-back…#MCIRMA #UCL
— ReviewFootball (@ReviewFootball) April 26, 2022
Phil Foden has been directly involved in 75 career goals for Man City:
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) April 26, 2022
? 164 games (100 starts)
⚽️ 44 goals
?️ 31 assists
What. A. Talent. ???????✨ pic.twitter.com/XcG5OKWUzn
Just when Real Madrid looked dead and buried, they found a way back into the game again.
This time the goal would come from some astonishing play from Vinicius Jr, who dummied the ball through Fernandinho's legs before rushing down the flank and curling past Ederson.
Top class.
Oh my, Vinicius. What a goal. This game is an all-time #UCL classic!
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) April 26, 2022
This game ?
— Leanne Prescott (@_lfcleanne) April 26, 2022
Phil Foden Vinicius Jr
— 90min (@90min_Football) April 26, 2022
?
Wonderkids at the top of their game pic.twitter.com/WYjH0j6oHb
In the 73rd minute we got another goal.
Yep - ANOTHER ONE.
It was the home side who would get it, as the referee played advantage following a foul on Oleksandr Zinchenko, allowing Bernardo Silva to take the ball into the left-hand side of the penalty before lashing into the top corner.
What a fantastic game at the highest of levels. Two managers, two teams that have “gone for it”. You don’t often get it like that but we have. @realmadriden @ManCity ???? #UCL
— Taylor Twellman (@TaylorTwellman) April 26, 2022
Bernardo Silva goal. Ref right to have played the advantage.
— Saddick Adams (@SaddickAdams) April 26, 2022
Play to the whistle
Amazingly, that wasn't the end of the drama.
Aymeric Laporte handled the ball inside the box, gave Real Madrid a penalty, and Benzema stepped up to PANENKA it into the middle of the net.
Disrespectful to Joe Hart that from Benzema
— Duncan Alexander (@oilysailor) April 26, 2022
He missed his last two penalties…. So, naturally, what does Karim Benzema do for his next one?
— Gabriele Marcotti (@Marcotti) April 26, 2022
A freaking PANENKA!#confidence
This is possibly the most extraordinary Champions League game I’ve ever seen!! Take a bow #benzema #mcfc
— Rob Dorsett (@RobDorsettSky) April 26, 2022
And that was how it would finish.
What. A. Game.
We can't wait for the second leg next Wednesday night.
?ℍ??. ?. ???ℂℍ.
— Manchester City US (@ManCityUS) April 26, 2022
We head to the Bernabéu with a 4-3 lead over Real!#ManCity │ #UCL pic.twitter.com/lzWF5Dqdd0
Source : 90min