Real Madrid drew 1-1 with Manchester City on Tuesday in the first leg of the Champions League semifinal at the Santiago Bernabéu, leaving the tie open for the second leg next week.
The Spanish team went ahead with a shot from the front of Vinicius Jr. (36′), but Kevin DeBruyne He equalized with another powerful shot (67 ‘), leaving everything to be resolved in the rematch in Manchester, where a ticket to the continental final will be at stake.
The merengue team began suffering handcuffed by the pressure of the Citypractically the only team on the field during the first half hour of the game, before starting to grow after Vinícius’s goal.
De Bruyne gave the first warning with a shot from the edge deflected by Thibaut Courtois (8′), who had to stretch again after fifteen minutes from a long shot from Rodri (14′).
“Vini” surprises
City was the absolute dominator of the ball with more than 70% possession in the first half, but it was difficult for him to connect with Erling Haaland, whom the white defense kept a close eye on and was barely able to participate.
The Norwegian, who tried to surprise with a header stopped by Courtois (16′), had a tough duel with the Merengue center-back Antonio Rüdiger, a partner on Tuesday with David Alaba before Militao’s sanction.
Haaland entered the game very little, even going down to the center of the field to look for the ball due to the lack of supply of balls in front.
He real Madrid He suffered sustained in the good performance of his goalkeeper, but when the locals were worse, Vinicius Junior He gave a first warning reaching the end line to leave a cross that Ruben Dias took when Karim Benzema was already preparing to finish off (25 ‘).
The Brazilian reappeared 10 minutes later to unleash a shot from the edge that slipped into Ederson’s goal (36′).
BUT WHAT PLANET DID YOU COME FROM, YOU PIECE OF CRACK!! Spectacular goal by Vini at 36′ PT for Real Madrid’s 1-0 vs. city in the #CHAMPIONSxESPN.
? Look at the #UCL by #ESPNenStarPlus | #StarPlusLA pic.twitter.com/BC9MGyABLT
– SportsCenter (@SC_ESPN) May 9, 2023
The goal served to encourage Madrid, which would begin to grow until it took control of the game against a “citizen” cast that lowered the intensity of its pressure, going from dominant to dominated.
Real Madrid got more, with chances for the meringues in Benzema’s boots (50′) and a distant shot by Federico Valverde (59′).
The French striker once again experienced a bad night at the Bernabéu, far from his best performances in the Madrid fiefdom.
De Bruyne equalizes
Benzema ran into the goalkeeper Ederson again with a header at the far post that the City goalkeeper denied (78′).
Without the intense pressure from the first half of City that had canceled out Real Madrid, the game opened up more with the two teams going to look for the opposite goal.
De Bruyne then appeared to unleash a great shot from the edge that slipped past Courtois’s right post (67′).
ANOTHER TOP GOAL AND A DRAW FOR CITY!! De Bruyne appears at 21 ‘ST for 1-1 vs. Real Madrid in the #CHAMPIONSxESPN. CRAZINESS.
? Look at the #UCL by #ESPNenStarPlus | #StarPlusLA pic.twitter.com/K60iFUMSqs
– SportsCenter (@SC_ESPN) May 9, 2023
The goal fell like a jug of cold water for the meringues who saw their rival tie when Manchester City was going through the most trouble.
With the score level and the two teams more concerned about not making any mistakes than scoring, Real Madrid had one last chance with a great shot from the edge by Aurélien Tchouaméni that Ederson took (90′).
Thus, everything was pending resolution for the rematch game, which will take place at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, May 17 (3:00 p.m.).
