Real Madrid made it through to the Champions League semi final after beating Man City 4-3 on penalties. This sets up a mouth watering clash against Bayern Munich who beat Arsenal earlier.
Madrid fired early when Dani Carvajal launched the ball down the pitch for Jude Bellingham to pluck out of the air, dribble past on coming defenders and pass it on to Fede Valverde who slipped in Vini Jr.
The electric winger then squared it to fellow Brazilian, Rodrygo, whose initial attempt was scuffed and straight at Ederson but made no mistake in finishing off the rebound to put Real ahead.
A beautiful pass from Rodri to Doku, who goes after Valverde. Rudiger’s foot was tangled in the cross as his clearance found Kevin De Bruyne’s feet, and he fired his finish high into the net’s roof above Lunin’s head. City level, and game-on with 15 minutes left.
The two teams couldn’t edge each other out in the 90 minutes and in extra time, which sent the tie to penalties.
City won the coin toss and Julian Alvarez dispatched the first of City’s penalties. Luka Modric stepped up next but surprisingly unleashed a tame effort for Ederson to save. Advantage City.
Bernardo Silva went up for City next, but his effort was extremely rushed and sent it down the middle, which goalkeeper Andriy Lunin just stood up straight and caught it.
Jude Bellingham followed that up by cooly converting his penalty. Kovacic took the next penalty but couldn’t place it in the corner enough and it allowed Andriy Lunin to make a second save in a row. The rest of the penalty takers scored their penalties including Ederson who took City’s crucial 5th penalty.
Up step Antonio Rudiger. The former Chelsea man had the chance to knock City out and send Real through. Which he did in spectacular fashion, when he placed a penalty off the post and in, beyond the reach of Ederson.
Madrid mania and City disappointment afterwards.
On Saturday, Manchester City and Chelsea will play in the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley. Then, on Thursday, April 25, City will visit Brighton to continue their Premier League title challenge.
The next Sunday, three days later, they travel to Nottingham Forest.
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