Madrid edge past City on penalties

Another gripping and tense tie between Manchester City and Real Madrid finished with Madrid, as they do, finding a way and knocking out the European champions on their own patch via a penalty shootout.

LINEUPS

MCI XI: Ederson; Walker*, Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol; Rodri; Foden, De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Grealish; Haaland

MCI SUBS: Carson, Ortega Moreno, Stones, Ake, Lewis, Sergio Gomez, Kovacic, Matheus Nunes, Bobb, Doku, Julian Alvarez

RMA XI: Lunin; Dani Carvajal*, Rudiger, Nacho, Mendy; Kroos; Fede Valverde, Camavinga; Bellingham; Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior

RMA SUBS: Arrizabalaga, Fran Gonzalez, Eder Militao, Fran Garcia, Modric, Dani Ceballos, Brahim Diaz, Guler, Lucas Vazquez, Joselu

Action: It was yet another fast start in a match between these two European juggernauts with both Manchester City and Real Madrid having early chances at the Etihad Stadium.

It was Real Madrid, though, that struck first on the evening to give themselves a 4-3 aggregate lead. Jude Bellingham plucked a ball out of the air before casually laying off for Fede Valverde. The Uruguayan then fed Vinicius Junior who flashed across goal for strike partner Rodrygo to have a shinned effort saved by Ederson but the Brazilian forward reacted well whilst back tracking to put in.

Jude's touch in the build-up to Madrid's goal... 😮‍💨#UCL pic.twitter.com/2FDlJrcbvT

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 17, 2024

City then continued to grow into the game with Jack Grealish being instrumental in attack, as was the case at the Bernabeu last week in the first-leg.

City’s closest chance came when Erling Braut Haaland looped a header back across goal and against the cross bar with Bernardo Silva then having an opportunity to put in on the rebound but he failed to sort his feet out quickly enough and the ball dribbled wide.

The defending champions were excellent and intense at the start of the second-half, too, with Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva beginning to turn the screw on Dani Carvajal.

Madrid defended resolutely, though, with Nacho Fernandez dramatically clearing from more or less off the line before Phil Foden then had an opening saved well by Lunin.

The breakthrough and equaliser did eventually come, though. Antonio Rudiger made a mess of a block-clearance and the ball fell to Kevin De Bruyne. The Belgian fired high and hard past Lunin to make it 1-1 and send the Etihad into delirium.

De Bruyne then had two good chances before full-time to nick it with the second of which being a glaring chance from around 15 yards but he lent back and blazed over.

Extra-time came and basically went with few chances and few clear cut opportunities. The main theme of the extra 30 minutes was simply knackered players, most notably Rodri, as both sides hobbled through to the shootout. 

In the shootout, 2022 FIFA World Cup winner Julian Alvarez stepped up and scored confidently. The experienced Luka Modric was next up but his effort was beaten away low by Ederson. Bernardo Silva went straight down the middle and one of the weirdest penalties ever was easily saved by Lunin. 

Jude Bellingham confidently rolled the ball the wrong way of Ederson. Mateo Kovacic then stepped up and had his hard, low effort saved by Lunin. After a few keepy-uppys, Lucas Vazquez confidently put the ball into the corner to give Madrid the lead. Foden, with no doubt, clipped the ball high the wrong way to Lunin’s dive before Madrid club captain Nacho Fenandez cooly slotted home himself.

City ‘keeper Ederson stepped up for the fifth and crucial and calmly slotted past Lunin. Antonio Rudiger stepped up, though, to put into the bottom corner and send Madrid through to the semi-finals. 

The big picture: The dream of a ‘double treble’ for Manchester City is over as, despite being the better team on the night, two saved penalties by Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic gave Real Madrid a sniff of victory – and you do not give the 14-time European champions even a sniff. City will focus on an FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on Saturday evening, whilst Madrid face Barcelona in El Clasico as they close in on La Liga with Los Blancos facing Bayern Munich in the semi-finals. 

Man of the match: Dani Carvajal. Both Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku had lots of chances to torment the Spaniard and did so a fair bit but the experienced pro gave as good as he got and edged the two battles.

Expected goals: Manchester City (2.34) 1-1 (1.28) Real Madrid

EVENTS

Kick-off

’12 | GOAL: Rodrygo (0-1)

Half-time

’76 | GOAL: De Bruyne (1-1)

Full-time

Extra-time kick-off

Extra-time half-time

Extra-time full-time

Penalties

Penalties (3-4)