Fans of football will need to watch this next leg closely. Unless you’re an Arsenal supporter.JOSKO GVARDIOL, a center-half who covers left defense, has made 32 appearances for Manchester City but has not scored or even attempted a shot.Thus, it seemed only natural that the Croatian would strike a spectacular goal to put Manchester City in the lead heading into Wednesday’s second leg of this match between European footballing aristocracy.
Foden’s goal was arguably the pick of the bunchCredit: Reuters
Gvardiol gave him a run for his money though Credit: Getty
But Real gave as good as they got throughout Credit: GettyGvardiol’s first touch was terrible when Jack Grealish cut back from the left, almost giving Toni Kroos possession, but his second touch was a goal as he ripped from beyond the box to put City ahead.
Federico Valverde scored a spectacular equalizer, but City will be relieved to return to Manchester on equal footing after withstanding some excellent Real showboating and trailing for the entirety of the match.
After Bernardo Silva scored an incredible free kick in the second minute, Eduardo Camavinga and Rodrygo gave the 14-time European champions the advantage.
Gvardiol scored the second City rocket in five minutes after Phil Foden’s spectacular equalizer, his 22nd goal of an incredible season.
This match between the current European champions and the team that has controlled the continent the most times was an incredible belter of a match.
For some reason, City ends up here for a knockout tie every time. After winning two of the previous three, Pep Guardiola’s team was victorious for the fourth time in five seasons.
The world’s best squad plays the most prestigious club in the world, led by the two most successful managers of the Champions League era, Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti, and it always feels like some kind of final.
Perhaps this will be the last one in a while, or perhaps the City project will be derailed by the numerous financial accusations they must deal with on an expensive legal timeline.
Bernardo Silva put City ahead with a smart free kickCredit: Reuters
7He opened the scoring after just a minute and a halfCredit: Getty
In a 1-1 draw from the previous season, Kevin De Bruyne scored here. This time, the Belgian was benched, but the reason wasn’t a Guardiola brainwave; rather, it was a stomach ailment.
Last season, Real was destroyed 4-0 at the Etihad in the second leg, but it was before Jude Bellingham joined the team.
The Madrid metro system is crawling with Latin males these days, their counterfeit shirts bearing the name of some lanky 20-year-old Brummie lad.
However, during the first minute of this firecracker, it was ignited by another Brummie.
A wrecking-ball challenge from Aurelien Tchouameni, who was booked and will miss the Etihad return next week, stopped Jack Grealish as he rushed towards the Real box.
Bernardo unleashed a lunging shot towards the near post, where a scrambling Andriy Lunin was waiting to receive Real’s crossing free-kick.
In a wild scramble, Real Madrid’s Ukrainian keeper knocked away a shot by Haaland that would have made it two.
Madrid always posed problems for City in transitionCredit: PA
In a 1-1 draw from the previous season, Kevin De Bruyne scored here. This time, the Belgian was benched, but the reason wasn’t a Guardiola brainwave; rather, it was a stomach ailment.
Last season, Real was destroyed 4-0 at the Etihad in the second leg, but it was before Jude Bellingham joined the team.
The Madrid metro system is crawling with Latin males these days, their counterfeit shirts bearing the name of some lanky 20-year-old Brummie lad.
However, during the first minute of this firecracker, it was ignited by another Brummie.
A wrecking-ball challenge from Aurelien Tchouameni, who was booked and will miss the Etihad return next week, stopped Jack Grealish as he rushed towards the Real box.
Bernardo unleashed a lunging shot towards the near post, where a scrambling Andriy Lunin was waiting to receive Real’s crossing free-kick.
In a wild scramble, Real Madrid’s Ukrainian keeper knocked away a shot by Haaland that would have made it two.
7Valverde had one last dagger for CityCredit: Getty
The second was a pearl. Vinicius released Rodrygo down the left and the Brazilian turned full Road Runner, out-pacing Manuel Akanji, giving Ortega the eyes.
Then he rolled a cute finish casually inside the far post, with just enough pace to find the back of the net, like a snooker player resting the cue ball against the baulk cushion.
Teams very rarely do this sort of thing to City and they didn’t take it well.
Akanji was booked for a foul on Vinicius, then the locals demanded a red when he piled into Rodrygo.
City were missing Kyle Walker. They were missing proper full-backs in general. Why has Pep taken against them as a breed?
Bellingham was performing so many back-heels, you wondered if he had his boots on back to front. He was getting carried away and risked a yellow which could have earned a suspension.
Early in the second half, Bellingham feinted, sending two City defenders to the nacho stand, but shot narrowly wide. Then Vinicius fired over after a Hollywood pass from Toni Kroos.
Rodri’s radar was on the blink, Camavinga was bossing midfield and at one point Haaland was charging back to win a tackle in the right-back position.
Credit: The Sun
But then City began to get a grip, pinning Real back and Foden seized his moment.
Bernardo darted down the right and fed Stones who rolled a pass for his fellow England man to lash home a left-footed shot.
Foden raced to the bench where he and Guardiola shared a manic celebration.
Then came Gvardiol’s moment of unlikely genius and City thought they were heading back to the Etihad with a lead.
Naturally, Vinicius soon wheeled away down the left and delivered a lofted square pass which Valverde walloped home on the volley.
What a game. What a treat. If you had any plans to go out next Wednesday night, cancel them.
Unless you’re an Arsenal fan, the second leg is unmissable.
