Trailing Manchester City 5-3 on aggregate with 90 minutes on the clock, Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid went on to complete a remarkable comeback in extra time and reach their 17th European Cup final ,they have won 13 of the previous 16.
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So often backed into a corner in this season’s Champions League, Real Madrid will play Liverpool in the final after escaping from their tightest spot of all to beat Manchester City 3-1 on the night and 6-5 on aggregate.
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Liverpool and Madrid also met in the final in Paris in 1981. Alan Kennedy scored the 82nd-minute winner for Liverpool.
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City were tactically smart in keeping Real Madrid at arm’s length for much of this game, denying them even a single shot on target for 89 minutes. So when Riyad Mahrez’s first-time effort beat Thibaut Courtois at his near post, it looked to be not only the seal on a devastating counterattack but the rubber-stamp on a classic away performance and the decisive goal in the tie.
Riyad Mahrez has now scored four goals in four Champions League semi-finals
Though Jack Grealish twice went agonisingly close to hammering in the final nail with just three minutes left – Ferland Mendy and Courtois to Madrid’s rescue – few could have predicted what was to follow.
First, with 90 minutes on the clock, Rodrygo beat Ederson to Karim Benzema’s cutback to give the hosts hope, but time was still against them.
Riyad Mahrez has now scored four goals in four Champions League semi-finals
Though Jack Grealish twice went agonisingly close to hammering in the final nail with just three minutes left – Ferland Mendy and Courtois to Madrid’s rescue – few could have predicted what was to follow.
First, with 90 minutes on the clock, Rodrygo beat Ederson to Karim Benzema’s cutback to give the hosts hope, but time was still against them.
Or so it seemed. Just a minute later, Rodrygo headed in Dani Carvajal’s cross to make it 5-5 on aggregate.
Rodrygo becomes the first player to score twice in the 90th minute of a Champions League knockout match.
And even then, Ederson was required to deny Rodrygo the unlikeliest of hat-tricks and force extra time.
Just five minutes into the first period, Karim Benzema dusted himself down from a Ruben Dias foul to convert from the spot and complete a remarkable turnaround.
Benzema has scored six goals in seven matches against City in the UEFA Champions League.
Karim Benzema has equalled Cristiano Ronaldo’s record (2016/17) of most Champions League knockout goals in a single season (ten).
Benzema has now scored 43 goals in 43 games in all competitions this season.
Courtois was then on hand to keep out Phil Foden’s header to ensure no further twists.
Ancelotti’s 178th UEFA Champions League match was one to remember. -Carlo Ancelotti will be the first man to coach in five European Cup finals.
Player of the Match: Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois :”He kept Real alive with big saves across the 120 minutes. He maintained concentration even when City were two up on aggregate, pulling off the save of the game to pave the way for Madrid’s comeback. Pulled off another fine save in extra time. This was a decisive performance to take Real to the final in Paris,”UEFA Technical Observer panel.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said, “The whole world thought the game was nearly over – it was a little detail, a good combination, the goal of Rodrygo, and from there we put in all the energy we had. You need a bit of luck. [City were] a very strong rival, the game was very competitive. We didn’t throw it in. It took hard work, sacrifice, energy… the changes helped a lot.
It is the history of this club that helps us to keep going when it seems that we are gone.
Something strange has happened. We played very strong teams who, at the start of the season, believed they’d win the Champions League – Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Man City. A big amount of merit goes to the players and also a fanbase who push and push and push – and not just in the stadium, but the day before. And the weight of the shirt, which the players feel when they wear it – the pride of the club.
The game was close to finished and we managed to find the last energy we had. I am happy to be in the final, in Paris against another great rival. We are used to it. It will be a fantastic game for football.
For me, a final with Liverpool is like a derby because I carry on being an Evertonian.
Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola said,”We were close, but in the end we couldn’t do it. The first half we weren’t good enough, but we didn’t suffer much. We found our tempo after the break, but we didn’t play our best. Football’s unpredictable and you have to accept it. We need time to process this.”
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Champions League Manchester City Real Madrid Football Sports Europe