“Kevin De Bruyne secures 1-1 draw for Manchester City against Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabéu”

MADRID (VG) (Real Madrid – Manchester City 1-1) Real Madrid neutralized Erling Braut Haaland (22) – but not Kevin De Bruyne (31).

The Belgian silenced the Santiago Bernabéu with a sharp shot from just outside the penalty area when he equalized at 1-1. Vinicius Junior had then given the home team the lead with another fine finish in the first half, after a lovely build-up.

A draw and 1-1 means that Manchester City take an extremely good starting point to the second leg next week – Wednesday 17 May.

Ståle Solbakken, Norway’s national team coach, says on TV 2 that he thinks Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola “had his heart in his throat” along the way.

– I think he was very unhappy with the second half because Manchester City lost control of the game, says Solbakken.

– Manchester City will be satisfied with the result. They dominated before the break, then Madrid were better after, says Michael Owen, expert on BT Sport.

– City are now small favourites, says Steve McManaman, who won the tournament with Real Madrid twice.

However, those who expected the same goal bonanza as last season were disappointed. So did those who hoped they would be Haaland’s match, it wasn’t.

The home fans were frustrated by the visitors’ ball rolling and the whistle concert was intense in the first half. The big chances failed, the small ones that came got Haaland.

Only when he tapped in with his left club after a pass from Kevin De Bruyne: Thibaut Courtois saved from a kneeling position.

Then when he was able to head quite unhindered on Jack Grealish’s cross: Right into the arms of Courtois. The home fans’ cheers every time the Norwegian was blocked: enormous.

The home team’s tank stopper Antonio Rüdiger was never far from the Norwegian. Together with David Alaba, they did everything they could to limit the back room Haaland could operate in.

The latter put in a great tackle when the Norwegian was able to get free in the second half.

But this match was not so much about Haaland, he was more of an extra than we are used to seeing him, he was eaten up with few deliveries and tight packing.

Real Madrid made the first move. Eduardo Camavinga pushed forward from his retrained left-back position and found Vinicius Junior in the gap between midfield and defence.

The Brazilian shot in stride and knocked the ball into the goal from around twenty meters, and pulled out the club emblem in celebration with compatriot Rodrygo.

There is everything to play for in the second leg, Wednesday 17 May in Manchester.