0
0
Real Madrid has advanced to the Champions League semifinals after defeating Man City 4-3 on penalties at Etihad Stadium.
Real Madrid advanced to the Champions League semi-finals with a penalty shootout victory over holders Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
The two clubs were deadlocked at 3-3 following a tense quarter-final first leg in Madrid, and there was no separating them after extra time in Manchester, when Kevin De Bruyne struck late to cancel out Rodrygo’s early strike.
Penalties were required to determine the tie, and while Luka Modric missed Real Madrid’s first, Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic were denied in the shootout, with Los Blancos winning 4-3 on penalties.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side advances to the semi-finals, where they will face Bayern Munich, while Manchester City’s emphasis will now go to the Premier League and FA Cup, with Pep Guardiola’s side still capable of winning a domestic double, but their ambitions of back-to-back trebles are dashed.
Real Madrid make their way into the final four
Man City had the first half-chance of the match in the eighth minute, but Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin collected a dangerous De Bruyne cross just ahead of the waiting Erling Haaland, before the returning Ederson was called into action down the other end to keep out an Eduardo Camavinga effort.
Real Madrid broke the deadlock in the 12th minute, with Rodrygo scoring from close range after being denied by Ederson on his first attempt; Kyle Walker was close to the Brazilian but was unable to prevent the forward from scoring twice, with the England international losing his footing.
Haaland headed a dangerous Bernardo cross over in the 17th minute, before the Norway international hit the crossbar with another header in the 19th minute, and Silva bundled the rebound wide as the home side began to gain control of the game.
Lunin made a smart save to keep out a powerful De Bruyne drive in the 27th minute, before Jack Grealish had a dangerous effort deflected wide of the Real Madrid goal in the 32nd minute; De Bruyne also shot over during a strong spell for Man City, but Real Madrid were so dangerous on the break.
Grealish saw another effort diverted into the side-netting in the following session, before Lunin had to tip a dangerous De Bruyne corner over the crossbar, giving Real Madrid the lead at the break.
Early in the second half, Lunin made an incredible save to deny a strike from Grealish. Then, with Man City firmly in the lead and the visitors only going for the break, the Real Madrid goalkeeper did well to stop a deflected effort from Phil Foden.
Real Madrid will play Bayern Munich in the semi-finals
Real Madrid, who were having difficulty breaking out of their own half, put on a backs-against-the-ball display until Lunin produced another outstanding stop to deny Grealish in the 70th minute.
In the 76th minute, Man City equalized the score when Kevin De Bruyne scored from close range after Antonio Rudiger mishandled a cross from Jeremy Doku.
De Bruyne blasted one just over the crossbar immediately after, and the Belgium international strangely missed the target with a side-footed effort in the 82nd minute, as Real Madrid were handed a massive break in Manchester.
Haaland shot wide in the closing stages as the game headed into extra time, and it was more of the same following the restart, with the home team in control of possession and pressing the issue.
Foden missed to convert a superb Bernardo cross in the 98th minute, then Rudiger shot just over from a great Brahim Diaz throw late in the first half of extra time.
Man City lead in the shootout after Julian Alvarez’s superb effort, but Modric and Bernardo both missed. Bellingham leveled it at 1-1, but Kovacic missed Man City’s second, allowing Lucas Vazquez to put Real Madrid ahead.
Real Madrid now faces a Clasico against Barcelona on Sunday evening, and Los Blancos will go into the game with an eight-point lead over their second-placed opponents in La Liga.
Manchester City, meanwhile, will face Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-finals on Saturday, with the Citizens hoping to advance to the competition’s final once more.
