Real Madrid are through to the semi-finals of the Champions League, defeating Manchester City on penalties after an epic encounter at The Etihad this evening.
With the sides level after the first leg, the Spanish side had a dream start in the game, with Rodrygo finishing off a strong counterattack to give the visitors the lead.
Rodrygo gives Real Madrid the lead at the Etihad! 🤩
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK #UCL pic.twitter.com/90xbbybexj— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 17, 2024
Both sides would have a few half chances over the remainder of the first half, and while Manchester City would dominate possession, they struggled to break down the opposition.
Their dominance kicked up a gear or two after the interval, with Real Madrid struggling to get out of their own half. City's pressure would eventually pay off, with Kevin De Bruyne getting the equaliser.
Kevin De Bruyne equalises for Man City! 🔥
It's game on in Manchester... 👀
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/khNYGtO9GZ— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 17, 2024
The Belgian would have two more good chances before the end of normal time, one of which was well saved and the other being blazed over the bar.
Extra-time would produce relatively few chances, with Antonio Rudiger missing arguably the best of them. The game always seemed destined for penalties, something that proved to be the case.
Despite missing their first penalty of the shootout, Real Madrid would eventually emerge victorious. After misses from Bernardo Silva and Matteo Kovacic, Rudiger would redeem his earlier miss by scoring the winning penalty.
Real Madrid beat Man City 4-3 on penalties to progress to their 33rd #UCL semi-final 🔥 pic.twitter.com/GK2caLV3rY
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 17, 2024
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Brian Kerr baffled by Manchester City penalty call vs Real Madrid
Penalties are always a lottery, but Real Madrid had a strange sense of confidence heading into the shootout. This is something they retained despite missing their first of the night.
Everything seemed to change after Bernardo Silva missed City's second penalty, with Andriy Lunin easily stopping a team effort down the middle.
🚨🚨| WHAT AN AWFUL PENALTY FROM BERNARDO SILVA!!!! pic.twitter.com/48Rga149zE
— Transfer Sector (@TransferSector) April 17, 2024
Kovacic would go on to miss their next spot kick, putting Real Madrid in the driving seat.
It was an awful penalty from Bernardo Silva, who had never previously taken a spot kick during his senior career. We perhaps saw why tonight.
Speaking on Virgin Media after the game, Brian Kerr questioned the decision to allow the Portuguese midfielder to hit a penalty against the Spanish club.
[Real Madrid] earned the right to get to penalties. Two of the centre halves took them, Nacho and Rudiger, who took the big pressure one at the end.
You feel sorry for Kovacic and Silva. It's a strange one that Silva had never taken one in his professional career, that's a very strange one. He took an awful penalty.
IT doesn't say a lot about the other players that the goalkeeper Ederson had to take one either.
Real Madrid earned to get to penalties and they won it. You should never doubt them...
This was an atrocious penalty. The goalkeeper never went to move, so I don't know why he's chipping it down the middle. It's dreadful.
It's like you're trying to give the goalkeeper a bit of confidence by chipping one into his hands.
It proved to be a costly decision.
While Manchester City still have plenty to play for this season, they may well feel this is an opportunity missed in the Champions League after coming up against what many regard as a less talented Real Madrid side.
Of course, the Spanish club always seem to have the ability to get the job done in Europe.
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