Manchester, United Kingdom: Real Madrid exacted revenge on Manchester City to reach the Champions League semi-finals 4-3 on penalties after withstanding a barrage on the Etihad on Wednesday.
Rodrygo gave the guests an early lead earlier than Kevin De Bruyne hit again for the holders to go away the match degree at 1-1 on the evening and 4-4 on combination.
However, City’s defence of the competitors got here to an finish after Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic noticed spot-kicks saved by Madrid’s unlikely hero Andriy Lunin.
The Ukrainian, who has deputised this season for the injured Thibaut Courtois, had been at fault for City’s early opener in an exciting first leg however greater than made amends.
Madrid will face Bayern Munich within the final 4 after the German giants beat Arsenal 3-2 on combination.
City had not misplaced at dwelling within the Champions League since 2018 however the holders had been held at bay by a heroic defensive effort by the 14-time European champions regardless of having 34 makes an attempt on objective.
“It’s so troublesome. They are repeatedly probing with the ball and transfer you round. Most groups would disintegrate when City get on prime of you however we stood up very well,“ mentioned Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham.
“Today it got here down to mentality.”
Madrid had been blown away by an early City blitz in a 4-0 defeat on the Etihad 11 months in the past as Pep Guardiola’s males went on to win the competitors for the primary time.
City additionally edged a semi-final first leg thriller 4-3 on dwelling soil two years in the past solely to be surprised by a late Madrid fightback within the return leg.
“In different sports activities for the stats we’d win however soccer is like this and it’s marvellous,“ mentioned Guardiola.
“Congratulations to Madrid as a result of their capability to resist and defend until the top, they did so fantastically. We didn’t handle to rating within the remaining cross or remaining shot.
“I don’t have any regrets. Always we strive to create extra and concede much less (than the opponent) and we did all the things.”
Carlo Ancelotti’s males flipped the script on Wednesday with an assured begin that was rewarded within the opening objective.
Bellingham plucked the ball out of the sky with an immaculate contact to set Real roaming down the proper.
Vinicius Junior picked out the unmarked Rodrygo and he tapped within the rebound after his first effort was parried by Brazilian worldwide teammate Ederson.
Doku makes distinction
If City had been gradual to heat to their activity they shortly had Madrid penned in opposition to the ropes however failed to land a telling blow for 76 minutes.
Erling Haaland failed to rating for a fourth consecutive conflict between the perimeters however has not often come up nearer than when his looping header got here again off the crossbar and left Silva no time to regulate to flip within the rebound.
Lunin was pressured to flip behind De Bruyne’s shot from outdoors the field and the tenacious Antonio Rudiger deflected Jack Grealish’s effort into the side-netting.
The Madrid goalkeeper saved two extra efforts from Grealish at first of the second half earlier than Guardiola sacrificed the England worldwide for the additional tempo of Jeremy Doku.
That proved an impressed change as Rudiger failed to take care of a Doku cross and offered the ball completely for De Bruyne to smash into the roof of the web 14 minutes from time.
De Bruyne ought to have turned the tie round single-handedly as he then blazed a wonderful probability over.
However, City’s menace was blunted throughout extra-time as each Haaland and De Bruyne had to get replaced.
It was Real who had the very best probability of the additional half-hour when Rudiger sliced over with a transparent sight of objective after staying ahead from a uncommon Madrid nook.
But the German defender was nonetheless to have the decisive say as he slotted within the remaining penalty of the shootout.
Ederson’s save from Luka Modric had given City an early lead.
But Lunin calmly collected Silva’s tried chip down the center after which denied Kovacic low to his proper.
Bellingham, Lucas Vazquez and Nacho put Madrid on the brink earlier than Rudiger landed the deadly blow to City’s hopes of a second consecutive treble.
