Champions League: Manchester City vs Real Madrid – As it happened
Man City edge out 13-time European champions Real Madrid in thrilling semi-final first-leg at the Etihad Stadium.
Published On 26 Apr 2022
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Updated:
26 Apr 2022
09:21 PM (GMT)
- De Bruyne scored opener in second minute.
- Jesus, Foden and Silva other scorers for Man City.
- Benzema (two) and Vinicius Jr scorers for Real Madrid.
- Real Madrid looking for 14th European crown.
- Manchester City have never been beaten by Real Madrid at home.
- Real appearing in a Champions League semi-final for a record 15th time.
- City in their second successive Champions League semi-final.
It’s a wrap
Thankyou all for joining us for what was an EXTRAORDINARY game of football.
Thankfully, there’s a second-leg to go. For the winners, there’s a tie awaiting them on May 28.
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For now, it’s goodbye from us.
‘Great game of football’
“For the fans watching, it was obviously a great game of football,” Foden said while speaking to BT Sport.
“We know that if we give the ball away in those areas, they’re going to punish us. It’s something we need to work on. It was end-to-end at times. We had chances to kill them off and in these games, you have to take those chances.”
Meanwhile, Jesus got a goal and the MOTM award.
Another 𝙗𝙞𝙜 shift! 🇧🇷🤙#ManCity pic.twitter.com/fXKbNJLSqd
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 26, 2022
90+3 Mins
Fulltime
Man City 4-3 Real Madrid
It’s been an entertaining game, filled with attacking football. City attacked right from the start, scored in the second minute and while Madrid showed plenty of determination to get themselves back into the game, the early shock left them a mountain to climb.
🏁 FT: @ManCity 4-3 @realmadriden
⚽ De Bruyne 2′, Gabriel Jesús 11′, Foden 53′, Bernardo Silva 74′; @Benzema 33′, 81′ (p), @ViniJr 55′ #UCL | #Emirates pic.twitter.com/gwt6fL9jsK— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) April 26, 2022
90 Mins
At 34-years-old, Benzema continues to break records. Meanwhile, there will be three minutes of second half stoppage time.
5 – After his hat-trick at Chelsea and brace tonight v Man City, Karim Benzema is the first player in Champions League history to score as many as five goals away from home in the knockout stages against clubs from a single nation in a season. Ridiculous. pic.twitter.com/o1IdhlwbEI
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 26, 2022
86 Mins
This time Vinicius Junior puts the ball over the top, wasting a Madrid attack.
Meanwhile, Vinicius is now off and on comes Asensio.
Man City 4-3 Real Madrid.
81 Mins
Benzema scores the penalty
It was a cheeky chipped effort beyond Ederson.
Madrid were awarded a penalty following a handball from Laporte.
Man City 4-3 Real Madrid.
78 Mins
Madrid make a change as Ceballos is on for Modric who has not had the best of games.
They will be hoping that the change can inject some energy into their attack.
Foden has now proven beyond any reasonable doubt that he is a star.
Man City 4-2 Real Madrid.
9 – No English player has scored more goals in the Champions League while aged 21 or younger than Man City's Phil Foden (9, level with Wayne Rooney). Star. pic.twitter.com/l5iQZpPDz0
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 26, 2022
73 Mins
GOAL
Zinchenko probes. He goes down.
Advantage played before Bernardo Silva gets the ball and produces a brilliant finish.
Man City 4-2 Real Madrid.
68 Mins
Both teams have been defending poorly and been impacted by injuries at the back.
Meanwhile, Vinicius and Foden have proven while they have been dubbed “the next big thing”.
Both of the youngsters have maturity far beyond their age in key games as is on display.
Man City 3-2 Real Madrid
63 Mins
This has been a brilliant game.
Plenty of end to end action.
Man City and Real fans will be on the edge of their seats.
Neutrals will be enjoying the action.
58 Mins
Fernandinho created a goal before causing City to concede one just moments later.
This symbolizes the game so far.
Man City 3-2 Real Madrid
55 Mins
Vinicius Jr produces a brilliant solo run to score.
This will go down as one of the goals of the season.
The Brazil international beats Fernandinho before Laporte fails to catch him in his tracks.
Moments earlier City manager Guardiola got a yellow card for dissent.
Man City 3-2 Real Madrid
53 Mins
Foden makes it three for City
Fernandinho has been a super sub. He wins the ball and produces a pin-point cross.
Foden heads beyond Courtois.
Man City 3-1 Real Madrid.
48 Mins
Close
Man City nearly add a third.
Mahrez makes a darting run, capitalizing from poor Madrid defence.
He hits the post before Carvajal blocks Foden’s follow-up.
Man City 2-1 Real Madrid
45 Mins
We are back underway
Madrid have made a change as Alaba has been replaced by Nacho.
Man City 2-1 Real Madrid
45 Mins
Kevin De Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus were brilliant for City
Madrid were all over the place initially but Benzema’s strike brought them back into the game.
City could not have asked for their attackers to be any better but sloppy defending let them down.
Will Real look to make a defensive change or two?
Man City 2-1 Real Madrid
45 Mins
It was an electric first half.
Just as Man City looked like they were going to dominate, the in-form Benzema brought Madrid back into the game.
Pep’s plan to start with Stones in defence clearly backfired.
It looks like we are set for a thrilling second half.
De Bruyne’s opener was the earliest Man City have scored in a Champions League game.
Man City 2-1 Real Madrid
93 – At 93 seconds, Kevin De Bruyne’s opening goal was the earliest Manchester City have ever scored from the start of any Champions League match. Lightning. pic.twitter.com/F7oUczHUiW
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 26, 2022
45 Mins
Half Time: It’s been Man City vs Benzema.
Man City 2-1 Real Madrid
44 Mins
Benzema’s form this season means that he will surely have to be in the conversation for the Ballon d’Or award.
Man City 2-1 Real Madrid
40 – Karim Benzema is the first player to score 40+ goals in a single season for Real Madrid since Cristiano Ronaldo left them in 2018, with Ronaldo the last to do so for the club in 2017-18 (44). Unleashed. pic.twitter.com/LypKVx7epd
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 26, 2022
40 Mins
Even though they are ahead, City can’t afford to sleep at the back while Benzema is in good form.
The Frenchman now has 40 goals in all competitions this season.
Man City 2-1 Real Madrid
💪 VAMOS 💪 pic.twitter.com/Sdz7rJug2N
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) April 26, 2022
36 Mins
Substitution
Man City make an early change.
Fernandinho is on for Stones.
Man City 2-1 Real Madrid
32 Mins
GOAL! Benzema!
Mendy produces a good cross and Benzema produces a lethal finish to pull one back for Madrid.
Ederson had no chance.
Man City 2-1 Real Madrid
30 Mins
Zinchenko steps into midfield and shoots from range. His shot just sails wide.
Man City 2-0 Real Madrid
25 Mins
Ederson’s passing has been poor
City are on top but goalkeeper Ederson’s passing has been a bit poor as he makes his third poor pass of the night.
Man City 2-0 Real Madrid
21 Mins
Jesus is on fire
He now has five goals in two games and is proving to be Mr Reliable for Man City
Man City 2-0 Real Madrid
Chelsea ✅
Liverpool ✅
PSG ✅
Real Madrid ✅@gabrieljesus9 loves the big occasion! 💙🔵 2-0 ⚪️ | #ManCity pic.twitter.com/gBtRTjymMY
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 26, 2022
18 Mins
Madrid have their first chance. Vincius Jr wins a corner.
The corner was a disaster.
Man City 2-0 Real Madrid
15 Mins
It’s City firmly on top.
Foden is causing trouble for the Madrid defence.
Man City 2-0 Real Madrid
10 Mins
Gabriel Jesus makes it two
Foden produces a good run before picking out assist specialist De Bruyne.
Helped out by poor defending from Alaba, Jesus slots expertly to double City’s advantage.
Man City 2-0 Real Madrid
6 Mins
Ederson nearly gifted Madrid a goal with a poor pass.
Luckily for him, Rodri was aware and cleared the danger.
Man City 1-0 Real Madrid
5 Mins: 90 seconds
That was all it took for City to take the lead.
Madrid now have some work to do. The are trying to press further up.
Man City 1-0 Real Madrid
2 Mins: GOAL
De Bruyne gives City the lead
Mahrez does some good work to set up the goal.
Man City 1-0 Real Madrid
Dream start for Manchester City!
📸 De Bruyne nods the hosts in front ⚽#UCL pic.twitter.com/anQGj4xYaq
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 26, 2022
🕒 1: We are off
City start proceedings.
Which team will make the final?
Kick off approaching
The two teams are in the tunnel.
We are nearly starting
The two teams are about done with their pre-match preparations.
Excitment is building throughout the world!
Are you ready?
Momentum building 📈#ManCity pic.twitter.com/aYJQNHEKYQ
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 26, 2022
City are in good form
City’s passing accuracy in the Champions League this season is almost 91% and they are averaging 2.4 goals per match.
Madrid are Champions League giants
Madrid are 13 time European Champions.
This is their 10th semi-final appearance in 12 seasons and record 15th semi-final appearance.
This has the makings of a true classic
Historical stats suggest that this tie could go either way.
Both teams are also entering the tie on the back of good form.
7 – This will be the seventh meeting between Manchester City and Real Madrid in European competition, each in the Champions League; after failing to win the first four (D2 L2), the Citizens won both legs in the round of 16 against Real in this competition in 2019-20. Rematch.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 26, 2022
Grealish misses out for Man City again
Jack Grealish continues to be overlooked for Champions League games!
Some Man City fans are clearly not happy.
Criminal to leave Jack Grealish on the bench. I’m fuming.
— Shaurya Vashisth (@The_Real_SV) April 26, 2022
Benzema checking in
Today will mark Benzema’s 600th appearance for Real Madrid!
Can he break Man City hearts in their own backyard?
6️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ games for Real Madrid.
Karim Benzema is a club legend. 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/i6POd3v6QL
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) April 26, 2022
Can City end their Champions League drought?
City have never won the Champions League.
The Champions League has eluded Guardiola since 2011.
Eyes on the prize 👁#ManCity pic.twitter.com/mH3rolqW41
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 26, 2022
Mind games!
It appears that Pep was playing mind games all along! John Stones starts at right back for Man City!
Have a feeling Pep is playing mind games and we’ll see John Stones start at RB. Wouldn’t put it passed him tbh
— ⁹ (@JesusRoIe) April 26, 2022
Lineups:
Man City: Ederson, Stones, Dias (C), Laporte, Zinchenko, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Mahrez, Foden, Jesus
TEAM NEWS 📋💙
XI | Ederson, Stones, Dias (C), Laporte, Zinchenko, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Mahrez, Foden, Jesus
SUBS | Steffen, Carson, Ake, Sterling, Gundogan, Grealish, Fernandinho, Egan-Riley, Mbete, Palmer, McAtee, Lavia#ManCity pic.twitter.com/9mNWYwXigB
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 26, 2022
Real Madrid: Courtois, Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Kroos, Benzema, Modric, Valverde, Vini Jr, Rodrygo, Mendy
📋✅ Our starting 𝗫𝗜 🆚 @ManCity! #UCL pic.twitter.com/RL3F5C7lDx
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) April 26, 2022
Is Jesus the man for City tonight?
Gabriel Jesus scored four in his last game. How many can he score tonight?
A Gabby goal against Real! 🤙 #ManCity | #UCL pic.twitter.com/l6CGlPw6OG
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 26, 2022
Preview: Glittering history gives Real an advantage
Real Madrid’s glittering history in the Champions League gives them an advantage when they face Manchester City in the first leg of the semi-finals, according to the Spanish side’s coach Carlo Ancelotti.
Meanwhile, manager Pep Guardiola admitted Manchester City cannot compete with Real Madrid’s European pedigree but said they can write a new chapter of their own.
Read our match preview here.
Source: Al Jazeera