Champions League Semi-Final – Real Madrid beat Man City HIGHLIGHTS: Real Madrid are through to the Champions League final after producing one of the most dramatic comebacks in the history of the competition, defeating Manchester City 3-1 on the night and 6-5 on aggregate. Real Madrid will play Liverpool in a rematch of the Champions […]
Champions League Semi-Final – Real Madrid beat Man City HIGHLIGHTS: Real Madrid are through to the Champions League final after producing one of the most dramatic comebacks in the history of the competition, defeating Manchester City 3-1 on the night and 6-5 on aggregate. Real Madrid will play Liverpool in a rematch of the Champions League final. Follow InsideSport.IN for the latest sports news and updates
Champions League Semi-Final: COMEBACK KINGS Real Madrid beat Manchester City in EXTRA-TIME to reach UCL FINAL: Man City are ELIMINATED, Real Madrid face Liverpool in Champions League FINAL
REAL MADRID WINS 3-1: Leading 4-3 from a pulsating first leg, Pep Guardiola’s side appeared set for a second successive final appearance when Riyad Mahrez put them ahead in the 73rd minute at Santiago Bernabeu, but comeback kings Madrid sealed their place in Paris with a 6-5 aggregate triumph.
Real Madrid will face Liverpool in the #UCL final – they have beaten Manchester City 6-5 on aggregate.
Champions League Semi-Final: Real Madrid beat Manchester City HIGHLIGHTS
73’ – MAHREZ FINDS THE NET WITH A ROCKET. 1-0 CITY. The visitors take the lead on the night and a two-goal advantage in the tie courtesy of a super effort from Mahrez. Silva leads a break forward for City to the edge of the box before offloading to Mahrez in the inside-right channel. The winger connects first-time on his left foot, beating Courtois for pace and precision into the top-right corner.
90’ – RODRYGO GETS A GOAL BACK! 1-1! Madrid have a glimmer of hope as Rodrygo converts at the near post. Benzema steers a cross from Camavinga towards the middle and Rodrygo reacts ahead of Ederson to fire home.
90’+1 – RODRYGO LEVELS THE TIE! 2-1 ON THE NIGHT! Out of nowhere Madrid are back in the game as Rodrygo dispatches a perfect header past Ederson. Asensio delivers a precise cross from the right flank, allowing the Brazilian to rise between Laporte and Dias to place his effort into the top-left corner.
Champions League Semi-Final: COMEBACK KINGS Real Madrid beat Manchester City in EXTRA-TIME to reach UCL FINAL: Man City are ELIMINATED, Real Madrid face Liverpool in Champions League FINAL
93’ – PENALTY TO REAL MADRID! Dias brings down Benzema with a lunge and the referee points to the spot.
95’ – BENZEMA PUTS MADRID AHEAD IN THE TIE. 3-1 ON THE NIGHT, 6-5 ON AGGREGATE! Once again in the Champions League Benzema holds his nerve. The Frenchman dispatches his effort low and hard into the bottom-right corner to send the Bernabeu into raptures.
Champions League Semi-Final: COMEBACK KINGS Real Madrid beat Manchester City to face Liverpool in UCL FINAL
City carried the greater threat in the first half, Thibaut Courtois making a brilliant stop from Bernardo Silva before denying Phil Foden just prior to the interval. Madrid should have taken the lead early in the second half, yet Vinicius Junior was unable to convert Dani Carvajal’s cross at the far post.
But City had shown more control and the lead was theirs when Mahrez arrowed a brilliant first-time finish beyond Courtois.
Champions League Semi-Final: COMEBACK KINGS Real Madrid beat Manchester City in EXTRA-TIME to reach UCL FINAL: Man City are ELIMINATED, Real Madrid face Liverpool in Champions League FINAL
City’s progression seemed secure, and Madrid appeared down and out when Jack Grealish burst through only to see a strike cleared off the line before Courtois then denied the £100million man moments later.
Rodrygo stole in to turn home Benzema’s square ball and, 91 seconds later, planted a wonderful header into the top-left corner.
The most remarkable of turnarounds was complete when Benzema calmly sent Ederson the wrong way from 12 yards after he was fouled by Ruben Dias in the box, with Fernandinho missing a glorious chance to prod in an equaliser as Madrid set up a meeting with Liverpool on May 28.
COMEBACK KINGS REAL MADRID
It felt unlikely that Madrid would ever better their last-16 comeback against Paris Saint-Germain, but then they mustered a similarly decisive effort against Chelsea. And when they seemed down and out, Ancelotti’s side hit back with a comeback that might just trump them all.
Champions League Semi-Final: COMEBACK KINGS Real Madrid beat Manchester City in EXTRA-TIME to reach UCL FINAL: Man City are ELIMINATED, Real Madrid face Liverpool in Champions League FINAL
Madrid progressed from what was only the third Champions League semi-final to see 10 or more goals across both legs. It is also the first time in six attempts that Los Blancos have prevailed from a semi-final tie in this competition after losing the first leg.
KARIM BENZEMA SCORES THE WINNER AGAIN
Just like in the last 16 and quarter-finals, Benzema was the matchwinner for Madrid with his calm penalty settling the tie.
The skipper netted his 10th goal in this season’s Champions League knockout stages; becoming the first player to reach double figures in a single campaign since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2016-17. He is also only the fourth player to score in both legs of the quarter-final and semi-final in this competition during the same season.
Champions League Semi-Final: COMEBACK KINGS Real Madrid beat Manchester City in EXTRA-TIME to reach UCL FINAL: Man City are ELIMINATED, Real Madrid face Liverpool in Champions League FINAL
May the fourth be with Mahrez
Exactly a year to the day since his brace saw off Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-final second leg, Mahrez was on target once more for City.
It took his tally for the campaign to 24 goals in all competitions, with Mohamed Salah (30) the only player to manage more for a Premier League team in 2021-22. But the Algeria international would surely gladly give that statistic away if it meant his strike had proved the winner, as seemed set to be the case.
Key Opta Facts
Madrid have reached their 17th European Cup/Champions League final, six more than any other team. It is their first since 2018, when they beat Liverpool 3-1.
There were 11 goals across the two legs of this tie, the second-most of any two-legged semi-final tie in Champions League history, behind only Liverpool 7-6 Roma in 2017-18.
City boss Pep Guardiola has now suffered six eliminations at the semi-final stage of the UEFA Champions League (also 2009-10 and 2011-12 with Barcelona, 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16 with Bayern Munich), the joint-most of any manager along with Jose Mourinho.
Two Champions League as a player with AC Milan.
Two Champions League as a coach with AC Milan.
One Champions League as a coach with Real Madrid.
One more UCL final now after winning La Liga & breaking the record by winning the title in top 5 leagues.
Ancelotti has reached his fifth Champions League final (2003, 2005 and 2007 with Milan, 2014 and 2022 with Madrid), the most of any manager in the competition’s history.
Since 2003-04 when the last 16 was introduced, Madrid are the first team to lose a match in the last 16 (0-1 vs PSG), quarter-final (2-3 vs Chelsea) and semi-final (3-4 vs City) in a season and still reach the Champions League final.
Benzema has scored seven Champions League goals against English teams this season, the most by a player in a single campaign in the competition’s history.
What’s next?
Madrid will now look ahead to the Champions League final against Liverpool on May 28 at the Stade de France. Los Blancos are next in action against Atletico Madrid on Sunday in the Madrid derby on the road. City have to pick themselves up after losing in such dramatic fashion with their Premier League title hopes still in the balance. They play Newcastle at home on Sunday.
Champions League Semi-Final: COMEBACK KINGS Real Madrid beat Manchester City in EXTRA-TIME to reach UCL FINAL: Man City are ELIMINATED, Real Madrid face Liverpool in Champions League FINAL
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