Real Madrid and Manchester City finish first leg

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Doug McIntyre

Football journalist

real madrid And Manchester city He played to a 1-1 tie Tuesday in the marquee’s opener, two games Champions League The semi-final between the cup holders and the title favourites.

Cruel goal for the Brazilian striker Vinnie Jr. Hosts gave Real Madrid an early lead before Kevin De Bruyne The second half goal canceled that out, ensuring both teams will have everything to play for when they meet again in Manchester next Wednesday for a place in the final in Istanbul on June 10.

Here are three quick thoughts on Tuesday’s game:

De Bruyne is the champion of Manchester City

In the first 36 minutes of Tuesday’s game at the Santiago Bernabeu, Manchester City produced a near-perfect away game. Not only did Pep Guardiola’s side take the home crowd out of the game by dominating the bulk of possession, he was defensively flawless on the rare occasions when they did concede the ball, preventing the star-studded hosts from amassing too many crowds. shot towards Ederson Goal.

That all changed in an instant when, after a lunge, he ran into the visitors’ half at left back Eduardo CamavingaViene Junior put the hosts ahead with his 15th Champions League goal – one more than compatriot and Real Madrid legend Ronaldo Nazario.

The strike revitalized Carlo Ancelotti’s side and stunned Guardiola. Before and just after half-time, Real looked like the team who would score next.

Bruin had other ideas. to all Erling Halland Greatness, the veteran Belgian remains City’s all-time best player. And just when City’s dreams of eliminating the most successful European club of all time on their way to winning their coveted first continental trophy seemed to be shattered once again, De Bruyne silenced the Bernabéu fans with a draw that was as good as the opener.

It is the third consecutive year that De Bruyne has scored a vital goal in the quarter-finals of the competition. And while it’s not a traditional ‘goal away’ – UEFA canceled the tie-break long ago last year – psychologically speaking, it’s huge to see City come home. If City reach the final, it will be the most important of all.

No magic for Real Madrid in the Champions League this time

When Vinnie Junior’s shot went past Ederson and into the net, the script looked all too familiar. With 14 European titles – twice as many as any other team – Real Madrid know how to win Champions League matches better than any other team.

Injuries, a revolving door for coaches and players, no matter what Los Blancos form in La Liga is going on at the time – none of that seems to matter when it comes to success in this tournament. Of course Real will find a way to take the lead despite the visitors being professional in the first half. And once they did, they searched for the world from which the hosts’ championship pedigree would unfold just as it did in the final moments of the last half-year against the same opponent, when Real Madrid began perhaps their most memorable comeback yet on the way to another. Title.

And for much of the second half, City were stunned for victory. You could almost feel the insecurities of the guests growing with each passing moment. This time, though, Real Madrid were unable to muster a response once De Bruyne brought the foes back to level terms.

There is still 90 minutes (at least) to play. Counting Real Madrid would be laughably foolish. However, if the hosts can’t secure the victory they need in Manchester, then their failure to win at home will be seen as the main reason why they don’t progress.

It will be the decisive match that cannot be missed

While hardcore partisan supporters on both sides may be disappointed with Tuesday’s result, the first leg was a treat for the neutrals. With all due respect to fellow semi-finalists Inter And AC MilanReal and City, who open their game on Wednesday, are the club’s two best teams – and it’s not particularly close.

The intensity, body, and quality that was on display on Tuesday was an absolute delight. Certainly, my first-go goals are a far cry from the seven scored in the first-leg last year. But it’s all still in play for both sides on May 17. As much as it’s a shame it’s not for the titles themselves, seeing these giants lead twice in eight days more than makes up for them.

Doug McIntyre is a football writer for FOX Sports. Prior to joining FOX Sports in 2021, he was a writer for ESPN and Yahoo Sports, and has covered the United States men’s and women’s national teams at multiple FIFA World Cup tournaments. Follow him on Twitter at @employee.