The semi-final opener between Manchester City and Real Madrid is a hotly contested affair, with one team a 13-time Champions League trophy winner and the other a rising star in European soccer just a step away. Both teams have been in impressive form this season, with Real Madrid needing just one point to seal the La Liga title and beating Paris and Chelsea in the Champions League. Manchester City is leading the Premier League with a narrow one-point lead, and topped the UEFA Champions League group stage against Paris, eliminating powerful Atletico Madrid in the quarterfinals. This first-round clash will undoubtedly be a feast of soccer.
Just a minute into the match, the in-form De Bruyne lit up the Etihad Stadium with a header. However, that was just the appetizer. Just nine minutes later, Jesus, who had scored four goals in the previous game, was at it again, stopping the ball and turning back to break the Real Madrid goal against his Brazilian hometown, Militão. Subsequently, City's lack of ability to grasp the opportunity began to show, Mahrez and Foden missed opportunities, while Real Madrid showed great resilience. The state of bursting Benzema facing Mendy's pass, a crash shot for Real Madrid to equalize a city.
That was the end of the first half, while the second half was even more exciting. Just two minutes into the game, Mahrez got past Militang to form a one-two, but the shot bounced off the far post, and Foden's follow-up shot was again blocked by Carvajal on the goal line. But then City did not miss another chance as Fernandinho grabbed a cross and Foden made it two with a header from inside the area. Vinicius then showed his flair by getting back past Fernandinho before running all the way down the field to score from a narrow angle to bring another goal back for Real Madrid. The two sides then went into a controlled phase and started to wear down their opponents by passing the ball around.
Goals and excitement returned after a brief period of silence. First of all, Zinchenko was put down, Real Madrid players are frozen in place, and B seat kills out a short adjustment and then blasted the world wave, the ball hanging in the corner, Courtois can only look at the ball to sigh. However, the home fans were attacked by Benzema again after 7 minutes of joy. Laporte's hand touched the ball while defending a free kick, and the referee awarded a penalty kick. On the Real Madrid side, it was Benzema who stood in front of the twelve-yard box, and the Frenchman, facing Ederson and the pressure, chose the right spoon to take the penalty, and the ball fell into the net with ease, making Benzema's kingly demeanor clear. Subsequently, there were several other chances for both sides, but they were not capitalized on.
The match was a visual feast for fans of both sides. Goals came thick and fast, with all kinds of soccer elements such as teamwork, world waves, long-distance running goals, and scoops of penalties. It was also the third time in the history of the Champions League that the first leg of a semifinal match scored at least seven goals. The exciting goal battle also led to high praise from many foreign media outlets. World soccer official said on social media, "This Champions League, listen to me say thank you." And the official social media of the Champions League also expressed their excitement, they wrote: "This is why soccer is the best." This campaign not only had us in stitches with all types of goals, but it also retained the most important suspense of the game. Let's look forward to the second leg of the match at the Bernabeu next week to see who can have the last laugh.
