WWhat a football spectacle, what a celebration – or as the Spanish sports newspaper “Marca” wrote immediately after the final whistle: “Real Madrid never dies”. At least not in the high-class 3-3 draw against Manchester City in the quarter-final first leg of the Champions League, which was probably robbed of its dream final with this duel. City led twice on Tuesday evening, Real only once, and in the end it was a draw.
“I can imagine the spectators had a good time if there was a six-goal game,” City coach Pep Guardiola joked afterwards. “We know that the game is never over against Madrid in this stadium.”
Manchester took the lead in the second minute through Bernardo Silva. But it only lasted ten minutes. After a double blow in the 12th and 14th minutes with an own goal from Rúben Dias and a goal from Rodrygo, the Whites were now ahead. Then again Phil Foden (66th) turned the game in City's favor with a shot into the corner and former RB Leipzig professional Joskos Gvardiol (71st). Fede Valverde (79th) finally made the final score.
“I’m happy,” said Real coach Carlo Ancelotti afterwards. “We fought, and if we do the same in the second leg, we can progress.” But it’s not just the experienced coach who has been warned. Last season both teams met in the semi-finals. Almost a year ago, Real also fought for a draw (1-1) in the first leg – but then lost 4-0 in Manchester.
Kroos: “Then we have a chance in the second leg”
For this reason, Real's German international also made it clear after the final whistle: “We have to do much better than last year,” warned Toni Kroos on DAZN. “We went there with a draw and then had relatively no chance.” After the wild, breathless 3:3 in the first duel of the quarter-finals, next Wednesday we will also have to show our home face away from home.
“We know that City are a level stronger at home,” said Kroos: “We have to appear there with the same personality as in our own stadium, then we have a chance.”
The national player was at least a little sad about a better result. “They score two goals that even City don't manage to score every day,” he said, referring to the goals by Phil Foden and Josko Gvardiol, which each flew beautifully into the corner of the goal: “Of course that hurts. I feel like I’m not that happy.”
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