Manchester City led by two goals three times but Karim Benzema’s double ensured the Spanish side remain in touching distance.
Manchester City will take a 4-3 lead to Real Madrid for their UEFA Champions League semi-final return after one of the competition’s great matches.
Key moments
2′ De Bruyne heads in earliest Champions League semi-final goal
11′ Jesus fires second goal from the Belgian’s cross
33′ Benzema volleys Madrid back into the game
53′ Pinpoint Fernandinho cross headed in by Foden
55′ Vinícius Júnior streaks clear and finishes calmly
74′ Stunning Bernardo Silva strike makes it 4-2
82′ Benzema’s Panenka penalty completes scoring
Match in brief: City on top after pulsating first leg.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side would have been aware what awaited them in Manchester but they could not contain the vibrant hosts early on.
Inside two minutes, Riyad Mahrez weaved inside from the right touchline and crossed for De Bruyne to head in. The Belgian schemer was at his unplayable best and quickly turned provider, crossing for Gabriel Jesus, who turned David Alaba before sweeping in the second goal.
Mahrez should have made it three and Phil Foden fired wide as Madrid appeared punch-drunk. However, as against Chelsea in their last European game, that was when they were at their most dangerous. Again it was Karim Benzema who stepped up, guiding Ferland Mendy’s cross in off the far post for his 40th goal of the campaign in all competitions.
The chances flowed freely again after the break as the sides continued to slug it out. Mahrez raced clear to smack the post before Foden made it 3-1 from Fernandinho’s sublime cross but City’s joy was short-lived as Vinícius Júnior escaped Fernandinho within two minutes on the way to a wonderful solo effort.
Still neither side relented.
Bernardo Silva was next in on the act, thumping a drive past Thibaut Courtois from 20 metres, but Pep Guardiola’s charges could not keep hold of the two-goal advantage again as Aymeric Laporte’s handball gave Benzema the chance to become the outright top scorer in the competition this season. The French striker’s Panenka penalty summed up a sensational contest, with the second instalment to come at the Santiago Bernabéu next Wednesday.
Reactions
Phil Foden, Man. City midfielder: “For the fans watching, it was obviously a great game of football. We know that if we give the ball away in those areas, they’re going to punish us. It’s something we need to work on. It was end to end at times. We had chances to kill them off and, in these games, you have to take those chances.”
Bernardo Silva, Man. City midfielder: “For the first 20 minutes we were so good – the way we pressed and controlled the game. Unfortunately, we were not able to take advantage of the two-goal leads we had. We’ve still won the first game. We could have taken more of our chances but it was a very, very good game from us.”
Karim Benzema, Real Madrid striker: “A defeat is never good because we are really excited about the Champions League. We lacked a bit of everything in this game – ambition, pressure, confidence. The most important thing is we never lay down our arms, we are all in this until the end. Now we have to go to the Bernabéu and we are going to do something magical.”
Vinícius Júnior, Madrid striker: “We were up against a great team with a great coach – it is very difficult playing here. You have to keep at it. For the second leg we have to keep calm, work and see what we have to improve to get through – a bit of everything, especially at the start. We’re not happy with the defeat but at the Bernabéu, the fans come and make the difference and the next game will be no different.”
