It was a hugely dramatic UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg as Manchester City’s epic encounter with Real Madrid went the distance at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday evening. Real Madrid somehow survived a near-constant barrage of pressure from the hosts to take the tie to a penalty shoot-out with the score at 1-1 after extra time, and they went on to clinch a stunning victory.
Andriy Lunin was the hero as Real Madrid overcame Manchester City on penalties to reach the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.
The goalkeeper saved from Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic, before Antonio Rudiger netted the decisive spot-kick as the 14-time winners dethroned the reigning champions.
Following a 3-3 draw in last week’s pulsating first leg, Madrid struck first at the Etihad Stadium as Rodrygo put them ahead inside 12 minutes, slotting home at the second attempt after Ederson saved his initial effort.
City looked to respond with Erling Haaland’s header hitting the crossbar, and Lunin making strong saves to deny fierce efforts from Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish.
However, the hosts finally broke their visitors’ stubborn resistance 14 minutes from time when Rudiger cleared Jeremy Doku’s cross straight to De Bruyne, who calmly lifted the ball into the roof of the net.
Pep Guardiola’s side continued to dominate proceedings, but they could not find that winning goal as the tie edged towards a penalty shoot-out.
Although Ederson denied Luka Modric with Madrid’s first kick to give City the early advantage, Lunin came up trumps to deny Silva and Kovacic and swing the shoot-out back in favour of the visitors, who subsequently prevailed with Rudiger’s successful final kick setting up a last-four date with Bayern Munich.
TALKING POINT – DOMINANT BUT WASTEFUL CITY PAY THE PENALTY
Pep Guardiola will be wondering how his side are not in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. City dominated large periods of the contest with 67.2 per cent of the possession.
They completed 846 passes – more than double their opponents’ tally (373) – out-shot Madrid by 33 to eight, and had 88 touches in the opposition box to the visitors’ 12.
However, the reigning champions, who also had an xG of 2.73, were punished for not converting their dominance into goals.
Indeed, Madrid simply hung on and hung on before holding their nerve from the penalty spot, and a 15th European crown is now a real possibility.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH – ANDRIY LUNIN (REAL MADRID)
Honourable mentions go to the likes of De Bruyne and Rudiger, but Lunin’s shootout exploits just about give him the edge.
Although, the Madrid stopper did not only shine when it came to penalties, as he had to be alert to wave after wave of City attacks, and indeed he was, keeping out eight of their nine shots on target throughout the second leg.
Lunin then took centre stage in the shoot-out by guessing correctly to thwart Silva and Kovacic, paving the way for Rudiger to send Madrid through to their 33rd semi-final in this competition.
PLAYER RATINGS
Man City: Ederson 7, Walker 8, Dias 7, Akanji 8, Gvardiol 7, Rodri 8, Foden 7, Silva 7, De Bruyne 8, Grealish 8, Haaland 6. Subs: Doku 8, Alvarez 7, Stones 6, Kovacic 6.
Real Madrid: Lunin 9*, Carvajal 7, Rudiger 9, Nacho 8, Mendy 7, Valverde 7, Camavinga 7, Kroos 7, Rodrygo 8, Bellingham 8, Vinicius 8. Subs: Modric 7, Diaz 7, Vazquez 6, Militao 6.
Image credit: Getty Images
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
12′ – GOAL!!! MANCHESTER CITY 0-1 (3-4) REAL MADRID (RODRYGO): The visitors strike first in the second leg! A neat move involving Bellingham and Valverde sees Vinicius cross for Rodrygo. Although Ederson denies the latter’s first attempt, the Madrid winger reacts quickly to slot home the rebound.
19′ – OFF THE BAR: Although Lunin pushes De Bruyne’s cross away, the danger is not over for Madrid as Akanji sends the ball back in. Haaland’s looping header clips the crossbar, and Silva cannot react quickly enough to turn in the rebound.
47′ – GOOD HIT: City make a purposeful start to the second half and force a corner. Foden’s corner is punched out to Grealish, whose fierce volley is beaten away by Lunin.
76′ – GOAL!!! MANCHESTER CITY 1-1 (4-4) REAL MADRID (DE BRUYNE): The hosts finally have the breakthrough, and they level the tie! Rudiger has been magnificent tonight, but he fails to clear properly from Doku’s low cross into the six-yard box. Instead, he directs the ball straight to De Bruyne, who takes a touch before lifting it into the roof of the net.
78′ – GREAT EFFORT: De Bruyne fancies another goal as he cuts inside onto his left foot, before taking aim from the edge of the box. It flashes whiskers over the crossbar with Lunin struggling to get there.
82′ – WHAT A CHANCE: Doku feeds Akanji, who sends a low ball across the box towards the unmarked De Bruyne. However, he fires his first-time effort over from 12 yards out.
105+2′ – CHANCE: City go to sleep as Diaz whips a dangerous ball in from the left flank. Rudiger ghosts into the six-yard box, but cannot keep his first-time shot under the crossbar. SAVE! MANCHESTER CITY 1-0 REAL MADRID: Modric is first up for Madrid, but Ederson guesses correctly as he dives to his right and keeps out the kick.
SAVE! MANCHESTER CITY 1-0 REAL MADRID: That’s a poor penalty from Silva, who chips the ball down the middle of the goal and straight into Lunin’s arms.
SAVE! MANCHESTER CITY 1-1 REAL MADRID: Lunin gets down to his right to keep out Kovacic, and Madrid have the advantage.
GOAL!!! MANCHESTER CITY 3-4 REAL MADRID (RUDIGER): Madrid are through to the semi-finals as Rudiger, who has been magnificent in the heart of the defence, drills home the decisive penalty. The visitors have been on the back foot for most of the match, but held on and held on, and have reaped their rewards. They will play Bayern Munich in another blockbuster Champions League semi-final.
4 – Rodrygo has scored four goals for Real Madrid against Manchester City – his outright most against a single opponent in all competitions for Los Blancos. Thorn. pic.twitter.com/W0aVAFf131
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 17, 2024
