What a semi-final we got introduced to by Manchester City and Real Madrid. This wasn't just a game like any other, it was a classic. I've never been so engrossed in a game like this because in a minute, with a blink of an eye, you cannot be sure of what's going to happen.
The atmosphere was electric, the game was end to end and this was a game that was deserving of a semi-final berth and we were fully entertained. Manchester City might have won the game by 4-3, they sure know that this game isn't over as long as Karim Benzema and Luka Modric are still very much in the second leg.
Manchester City scored 4, thanks to Kevin De Bruyne, Gabriel Jesus, Phil Foden and Bernado Silva while Real Madrid got 3 at the Etihad, thanks to a brace from Benzema and a solo goal from Vinicius Jr. Manchester City should have sealed the game and put it beyond all reasonable doubt if they were clinical enough, thanks to misses from Mahrez, Foden and Zinchenko. They would have been clearly out of sight and won big at home and they now have themselves to blame for it.
Apart from losing chances they should have been scoring, they allowed Real Madrid back into the game with individual errors which was a credit to Real Madrid for their high pressing to force these errors.
Speaking of Benzema, what a leader he is. He is the first Real Madrid player to score against Manchester City at home and he has done it three times now. He also got his 41st goal of the season for Real Madrid and the 40th came with his first goal after that brilliant delivery from Mendy. He has shown himself to be clinical, smart, and impressively aware of his surroundings because of the way he got to the end of the cross and guided the ball into the back of the net.
He is a living legend and this cannot be stressed enough. Real Madrid has gotten 9 goals in the knockout stage and only Benzema got 8 of them and he is also the first person to inflict the first knockout goal conceded by Manchester City on them. No one is more deserving of that than Karim Benzema.
He also showed character which you won't find that often in younger players but a player of his calibre cannot shy away from responsibilities. He missed two penalties against Osasuna over the weekend and there he was, taking one against Manchester City after a handball. He didn't only score the penalty but he did it in style.
Guardiola would have some harsh words for Mahrez and the whole team for those missed chances and the individual errors. He would let them know that they bottled this when they could have been plainly out of sight. They won but this is Real Madrid we are talking about. They cannot afford to slack off in the second leg.
We know how jittery Manchester City can get especially at this time in the competition because of how they have come so close and yet missed lifting the trophy. This might have played a significant part in their errors but they showed character and fight. They showed they are ready to get their hands on the trophy. They have been devastating and they would need to take advantage of the fact that Real Madrid doesn't always play the best of football at home, at least since PSG came over and outrun them, same with Chelsea as well, who came so close but couldn't get the job done.
It's going to be another cracker of a match for the second leg and I can't wait to see what would happen. I actually thought they would play a draw for this first leg but from what they treated us to with that match, the game is not over, both teams know it, the fans know it and the neutrals like me knows it too. Next week Wednesday it is.
Thank you for your time.
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Definitely one of the best games of this season, exciting from start to finish. I find Real Madrid's resilience incredible, the great experience of their players allows them to come through even in the most difficult games. Everything will be decided in the second leg, let's hope it will be as exciting as the first one.
I believe it would be exciting. The experience they have always make them make use of bad situations and it has worked for them so far. They would need to score early against City if they want to have a chance.
I have a feeling there is still more to come in the second leg, I can feel it.
Of course and we are open to the surprise.
It was a fantastic show at the Etihad stadium and both sides made errors that cost them a lot.
Alabama wasn't into the match and bringing Nacho on didn't make things better, the second leg would be tough and I wouldn't miss that for anything.
Nacho was a mistake 🤣🤣😂🤣🤣 big one. I can't wait to see how it plays out in the second leg.
Rain isn't allowing to watch the Liverpool match, I have been listening to commentary.
what a great night of football we witnessed yesterday,,Going into the 2nd league will be more cracker..I dipped Madrid to sail through with the experience they are having in this tournament
They surely have the experience but they make too many mistakes at home. I know it would be exciting as usual.
with the fans at their back, I think they will be able to close most of the spaces they open up,,,,Casemeiro comeback will really help them to sail through
I really hope so because they have been terrible at home since the PSG game.
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Yaaaaaay.
Hala Madrid 😁⚽
Hahahaha. They battled hard.
What got me is how the English media had written off Madrid. This is Real Madrid and Benzema is paying out of his skin!
Benzema never stops. With Modric and him...with their wealth of experience, they are never out. I only hope they would play better at home this time around.
Well we shall see, you never know what will happen except as they have always done, they will concede!
However tomorrow is the mega one for me, Rangers are massive underdogs against Leipzig the inform German dream! I can dreammm
That's so true. We never know.
Rangers! Wow. That's going to be a clash.
Summit delivered more than what we expected
Absolutely... mind-blowing.