:quality(80)/cdn-kiosk-api.telegraaf.nl/3ca9afb8-cbf2-11ec-b82f-0218eaf05005.jpg?fit=%2C&ssl=1 "Real Madrid after bizarre comeback against Manchester City CL finalist | Football")
sport">After the first leg, in which the public was treated to a real football show, expectations were high on Wednesday evening. Could Real Madrid and Manchester City put on such a great pot again?
sport">The Spaniards knew they had to get to work and undo a 3-4 defeat from England, but were brimming with confidence. Last Sunday, after a resounding victory, the 35th national title in history was captured. Manchester City is still engaged in an exciting battle with Liverpool for the league title in England.
sport">It was clear that the pressure was on Wednesday evening. Within ten minutes the flames had already broken and Luka Modric and Aymeric Laporte got into a fight. Both men received an early yellow card.
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Casemiro saved
sport">The first real big chance of the game was for the visitors. Bernardo Silva came in for Casemiro, but Thibaut Courtois made the save and kept Madrid alive. City got the game more and more under control, but the game got off to a slow start. The dressing room was therefore searched halfway through without goals.
sport">It was also striking that Casemiro went to tea without a yellow print. The defensive midfielder of the Spaniards made two fouls worthy of a yellow card. So he escaped.
Real throws off trepidation
sport">Real clearly came out of the dressing room with a mission, because it was close to the ball being in immediately after the whistle. Vinicius Junior killed a great opportunity at close quarters.
For Manchester City there seemed to be no problem until the 90th minute.
Ⓒ ANP/HH
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sport">The home team had the better of the game after the break and pushed the English back. Pep Guardiola’s formation mainly had its hands full with Vinicius Junior, but it always didn’t go well for the Brazilian.
City scores
sport">City let Madrid rage and gradually regained control of the game. Carlo Ancelotti knew he had to force something and made an attacking substitution. Toni Kroos was relieved by Rodrygo. This later turned out to be a golden move.
sport">Fifteen minutes before the end, Riyad Mahrez hurt Madrid by shooting City ahead. The Algerian didn’t hesitate for a second, lunged hard and passed Courtois. The English could smell the final. The assignment was now very difficult for Madrid. The team needed two goals in the end of the game to drag out extra time.
Rodrygo was vital for Madrid on Wednesday evening with two goals.
Ⓒ ANP/HH
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Crazy final phase
sport">Ancelotti responded immediately by bringing in Eduardo Camavinga for Modric and Marco Asensio for Casemiro. In the 90th minute, the tension completely returned after Rodrygo equalized.
sport">The home side had six minutes to drag out extra time and just two minutes after his first goal, Rodrygo Bernabeu exploded by making it 2-1. Madrid already seemed dead and buried, but was suddenly alive again.
sport">The evening got better and better for Madrid, as five minutes after extra time had started, the home team made it 3-1. Ruben Dias knocked Benzema down in the penalty area and the referee pointed resolutely to the spot. The Frenchman went behind the ball himself and did not fail: 3-1. With his fifteenth goal this Champions League season, he shot his team to the final after another spectacular piece.
sport">And so Real Madrid will face Liverpool on May 28 in the final in Paris.
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