Real Madrid and Manchester City drew at the Bernabéu in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals, the tie will now have to be decided at the Etihad Stadium next Wednesday. It was a beautiful and balanced game overall as both teams were defending and attacking regularly but without breaking their compactness. Vini Jr. scored for us in the first half with a spectacular right-footed drive from outside the box and De Bruyne answered with another powerful strike from the edge of the area after the break. Ancelotti's side deserved more, but it's still all there for the taking in the second leg.
The first half started with Manchester City taking control and having the lion's share of possession, but creating very few chances. The only danger came with long-range shots from De Bruyne in the eighth minute and Rodri six minutes later, but both were dealt perfectly with by Courtois. Midway through the first half, the script changed and Madrid began to create problems for the English side. Vini Jr. stole the ball from Rodri in the 25th minute and Dias was on hand to clear when Benzema, with Ederson already beaten, was waiting to tap the ball home.
The Whites were more convincing in their next effort; a spectacular one-two in their own half between Camavinga and Modrić, who returned the ball with the outside of his boot, the Frenchman then steered the ball into the path of Vini Jr. The Brazilian received a good few yards from the edge of the area and from there he unleashed a bullet that Ederson was helpless to deal with in the 36th minute. A worldy by the Brazilian to put Madrid in the lead.
With the score at 1-0, Ancelotti made a tactical tweak to the team, placing Camavinga in the middle at the start of the half. The adjustment surprised Manchester City and in the 50th minute the second goal could have come after a great combination between the Frenchman, Vini Jr, Carvajal and Benzema. The Ballon d'Or's left-footed shot was not on target and Stones appeared to clear the danger. Our team were the better side, but in the 67th minute City equalised with a close-range De Bruyne shot from the edge of the area. Manchester City benefited from a mistake by Rodrygo Goes, who lost the ball in a key area, although there remains doubt in Madrid that the ball had gone out of play on the touchline just beforehand.
There were over 20 minutes to go and Madrid went after the goal to make it 2-1 and head into the second leg with an advantage. They were close to taking the lead on 78’ when Kroos whipped in a free-kick and Ederson stuck out a strong hand to stop Benzema’s header at the back stick. The Brazilian shot-stopper was at it again on 90’, getting across to turn Tchouameni’s powerful drive behind for a corner with his outstretched glove. Ancelotti’s team deserved more, but the tie remains wide open ahead of the second leg. Still all to play for at the Etihad Stadium.
One very positive note among the others was the ability of Madridistas to nullify Haaland as he was seen as the main danger and was also exalted (not unfairly) by the media for his amazing capabilities. However the defensive line did a great job and almost never let him do what he does best. Rudiger was the one who had the duty to be near him and did quite a great job. The Norwegian striker played all 90 minutes at the Bernabeu, but Antonio Rudiger, David Alaba, Toni Kroos and the defensive structure created a cage from which Haaland could not escape.
Ancelotti put Rudiger on Haaland, as Eder Militao was sidelined due to suspension, and the German international offered a lesson on how to stop Halaand. Rudiger lost his opponent just once, in the 54th minute, when Alaba came to his teammate's rescue to block Haaland's shot. The Norwegian shot twice on target for a 0.30 xG and attempted 12 passes, completing nine of them for a 75 percent succession rate. Meanwhile, he lost possession on five occasions. Such was Rudiger's display on Tuesday night that he could be a candidate to start again in England despite Militao returning after serving his one-game ban.
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