Real Madrid and Manchester City duked out a pulsating 1-1 draw, with the first leg of the Champions League semi-final ending all square on Tuesday night after a pair of sensational goals from Vinicius Junior and Kevin De Bruyne.
Manchester City dominated possession in a tepid opening half-hour, passing the Santiago Bernabeu into a slumber as Real Madrid were penned back. Some spectators fell into the familiar trap of relating City’s dominance with Madrid’s inferiority.
Real Madrid playing like 3rd division Cup opponent facing City. On their heels eating pressure. 😜 #ChampionsLeague
— Maximiliano Bretos (@MaxBretosSports) May 9, 2023
Others were wiser to Madrid‘s unerring excellence in European competition.
City dominant. Real barely had a sniff. Benzema anonymous. Modric quiet. Vinicius Jnr done nothing. Real are 100% winning this.
— Nick Miller (@NickMiller79) May 9, 2023
Never cease to be surprised at how surprised people are by Real Madrid
— James Horncastle (@JamesHorncastle) May 9, 2023
Vinicius lit the fuse of the crowd and the tie with a ripsnorting drive to break the deadlock. Eduardo Camavinga had floated through City’s revered press before setting the Brazilian on his way, becoming the youngest player to provide a Champions League assist in the last 20 years.
When fretting over Vinicius ahead of the contest, Pep Guardiola warned that it “seems he does something every time he touches the ball”. On 36 minutes, that something was some strike.
Vinícius Jr that is special 🤩
Real Madrid lead Man City at the Bernabéu!#UCL pic.twitter.com/IGZsfONGu1
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 9, 2023
Vinicius is the player people thought Neymar could be
— Liam Twomey (@liam_twomey) May 9, 2023
Carlo Ancelotti described this iteration of Manchester City as “a more complete team compared to last year” but his Madrid side demonstrated exactly how to chisel out an advantage in the first half.
Real Madrid in that first half: 32% possession. 1 shot. 1 goal. 0.03 xG. And they’ll be absolutely fine with that.
— The Spanish Football Podcast (@tsf_podcast) May 9, 2023
If Madrid had bided their time in the opening exchanges, hanging on the ropes to assess City’s approach before spotting a chink in their defence, the reigning European champions came out swinging with a swagger in the second half.
This isn’t Real Madrid CL voodoo (this time) it’s a group of extremely good players playing a very good game
— Sam Lee (@SamLee) May 9, 2023
Yet, in a reversal of roles, City struck back just as Madrid were in the ascendancy. De Bruyne let rip with a venomous swerving crack of the right boot halfway through the second half.
Stepping up when needed, Kevin De Bruyne 🎯
Man City are level in Madrid!#UCL pic.twitter.com/Hghto1D1oE
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 9, 2023
Can watch the replay of that strike from behind a thousand times. What a strike! 🚀 #debruyne
— Kevin Kilbane (@kdkilbane77) May 9, 2023
Man City figured out the black magic cheat code?
— Grace Robertson 🏳️⚧️ (@GraceOnFootball) May 9, 2023
Unsurprisingly, it was De Bruyne that stepped up for City just as they needed it most. The long-serving Belgian found the net at this stage at this grand venue in the last 16 of the 2020 Champions League, carving out a spot for himself in the history books of the competition.
He’s one of one 🤩 https://t.co/01JAHP9KDJ pic.twitter.com/2FujWyaoOD
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) May 9, 2023
The stakes were so high that even the unflappable Ancelotti raised his voice as well as an eyebrow.
A rare sight: Carlo Ancelotti losing his cool…#RMAMCI | #RMCF pic.twitter.com/RmKPVhNldK
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) May 9, 2023
More nerves are set to be shredded with the tie delicately poised at 1-1 heading into the second leg at the Etihad next Wednesday.
