Real Madrid stunned Manchester City 3-1 in the Champions League on Wednesday, setting up a clash with Liverpool in the final. Karim Benzema struck an extra-time penalty for Real Madrid.
Riyad Mahrez put City 1-0 up and 5-3 up on aggregate, but Rodrygo, who came on as a substitute, struck an incredible late double to send the tie to extra time. His goals in the 90th and 91st minutes sent the tie to extra time.
Real Madrid hit the knock-out blow with Benzema earning and then converting a spot-kick to clinch a 6-5 win on aggregate, adding another incredible comeback to the Santiago Bernabeu’s long record of great European nights.
Madrid had already pulled off unlikely comebacks against PSG in the last 16 and Chelsea in the quarter-finals this season, but considering the stakes and how close they were to losing, this one against Manchester City was undoubtedly the most spectacular.
City, like PSG and Chelsea before them, will be pondering how they lost a game they mostly controlled, and there will be renewed focus on coach Pep Guardiola, who, despite his accomplishments, will miss out on another year of leading City to European glory.
City’s collapse would have been virtually unfathomable if they hadn’t been playing Real Madrid, who have advanced to their 17th final.
They are one win away from winning their 14th European Cup after defeating Liverpool.
Before kick-off, a sign hanging over the stand at one end read, “Another magical night from the kings of Europe,” but for the majority of normal time, this match failed to live up to the seven-goal thriller at the Etihad Stadium last week.
Real Madrid were the more proactive early on, with Benzema being afforded a pair of difficult chances that only he could have expected to convert in his present form. Instead, he walked over to the target and blasted a high shot.
In the interim, Luka Modric and Rodri argued following a Casemiro challenge, and City stepped forward, pressuring Madrid into mistakes. Kevin De Bruyne hit Thibaut Courtois from afar, forcing the goalkeeper to make a superb reflex save from Bernardo Silva.
Before the break, Real Madrid survived and then improved, with Modric causing a cry of delight when he outsprinted De Bruyne to cut off a counterattack.
Dani Carvajal found space along the right side of the box seconds after the restart, but Vinicius Junior fired wide at the back post.
City were on the back foot as space opened up in the box for Modric, but his finish was hampered by a weak touch.
Casemiro was sent free by a clumsy Kyle Walker pass, but the weaving Vinicius was unable to find a way through.
– Mahrez scores – Madrid’s momentum was halted by an injury to Walker, and when the game resumed, City struck, with Ilkay Gundogan’s pass cutting through Madrid’s midfield and finding Silva, who danced his way to the outside of the box.
Instead of shooting, Silva pushed the ball right to Mahrez, who hammered it hard and early past Courtois.
Modric left, and part of Madrid’s faith seemed to leave with him.
City should have made it two with a goal from Jack Grealish, who came on as a substitute, but Ferland Mendy cleared the ball off the line before another Grealish drive flew past the post.
It seemed insignificant because Madrid appeared to be dead and buried, but they found a way back out of nowhere.
When Benzema cushioned a ball perfectly across for Rodrygo to flutter in at the near post in the 90th minute, the goal was barely overshadowed by the stadium announcer’s announcement that there would be six minutes of added time.
Madrid only needed one as City, which had been so compact and composed for so long, had suddenly sprawled, and all Carvajal had to do was swing a cross into the box, which the small Rodrygo headed in.
When play resumed, Madrid came out on top, and four minutes later, they had a penalty, with Benzema collapsing over Ruben Dias’ exhausted, lunging leg before rolling the spot-kick into the corner, disregarding City’s attempts at distraction.
When Courtois parried Fernandinho’s shot at the back post, City surged forward. City’s final chance was thwarted when Dias’ late flick into the box landed harmlessly in Courtois’ hands.
