
On May 4th, Manchester City traveled to Madrid, Spain to face off against Real Madrid in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League Semifinal. It was do or die for Los Blancos as they needed to score 2 goals to advance while Manchester City just needed to hold on to their one goal lead.
Carlo Ancelotti, Madrid’s manager, made two changes to his lineup, bringing back on the injured Casemiro who they missed dearly in the 1st leg and starting Nacho instead of Alaba.
Madrid played a 4-3-3 once again, confident their deadly front 3 could score goal upon goal.
1st leg Starting XI: Courtois, Carvajal, Mendy, Militão, Alaba, Valverde, Kroos, Modric, Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior, Benzema
2nd leg Starting XI: Courtois, Carvajal, Mendy, Militão, Nacho, Casemiro, Kroos, Modric, Valverde, Vinicius Junior, Benzema
Pep Guardiola for Manchester City made only two changes to the lineup. Pep started his normal outside backs, both of whom served their yellow card suspensions in the 1st leg. Manchester City’s goal was to maintain their rock-solid defense while using their potent attack to its fullest potential. They played a 4-3-3 as well.
1st leg Starting XI: Ederson, Stones, Zinchenko, Dias, Laporte, Rodri, Silva, De Bruyne, Mahrez, Foden, Jesus
2nd leg Starting XI: Rodrigo, Walker, Cancelo, Dias, Laporte, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, De Bruyne, Mahrez, Foden, Jesus
Manchester City started the game with the ball, and Benzema rushed to press Dias and Laporte, hungry for a goal. Madrid was not asleep this time as they continued to press, earning their first shot in the 4th minute. Vinicius switched the ball to Carvajal who settled it and served in a lofted cross to Benzema’s head. His header was sent over the bar for a goal kick.
The tension was at an all time high as both teams got into a scuffle in the 8th minute. Both Modric and Laporte slapped each other across the face, awarding them yellow cards. Manchester City’s free kick from the scuffle was taken by Mahrez. Mahrez floated it into the box, but it was met by Courtois.
Manchester City continued to probe the ball, unable to break Madrid’s lines. De Bruyne’s long-range effort in the 15th minute went straight to Courtois’ hands.
It wasn’t long before Real Madrid were back on the attack as Kroos played the ball from midfield to Valverde who set it for Benzema. Laporte was able to tap it away, but Vinicius found the ball. His wasted volley went over
A careless giveaway by Militão just outside his box gave Foden the ball. Nacho cleared the cross, but Rodri recovered it and distributed it to De Bruyne. De Bruyne masterfully played a through ball to Bernardo Silva, and his powerful volley was blocked by Courtois for a corner.
Both sides continued to take shots on goal with both Kroos and Jesus barely missing the upper corners. It was a back and forth battle against the two great teams. Foden also had a volley from outside the box, but it was saved by Courtois. Carvajal shoved Jesus, but the referee would have none of it.
Vinicius’s speed was not making as much of an impact in the first half as the English international Kyle Walker was able to compete with him.
At half, the game was level. Both teams were evenly matched and City was pleased, but Madrid still had gas left in the tank.
Madrid kicked off back to Casemiro who passed to Modric who set it for Toni Kroos. Kroos played a magnificent over the top through ball to Carvajal. Carvajal played in a low cross to the back post which was met by Vinicius but his shot went wide.
In the 52nd minute, Vinicius was able to get one-on-one with Dias in the box. Vinicius got the space needed down the sideline to cross the ball back to Modric at the top of the box. Unfortunately, Modric’s first touch was poor and the ball bounced before he could take a solid shot.
Carvajal saw a booking in the 65th minute after a late tackle on De Bruyne. Madrid then made their first substitution of the night, replacing Kroos with Rodrygo in the 68th minute.
Pep decided it was time for some changes as well, making two substitutions in the 72nd minute. Oleksander Zinchenko replaced the injured Kyle Walker and Gündogan replaced De Bruyne.
Gundogan made his first touch of the night count, threading the ball through space into Bernardo Silva’s feet. Silva had acres of space and dribbled forward towards goal. He dished the ball out wide to the right, looking for Jesus but Mahrez found the ball. Mahrez hit it first time and his shot curled into the top right corner. 1-0 Manchester City (5-3 agg.)

It looked like Manchester City were going to the Final for the second year in a row, but Madrid weren’t done just yet. Ancelotti made two substitutions immediately after the goal in the 75th minute. Marco Asensio came on for Casemiro and Camavinga replaced Luka Modric.
Pep Guardiola also brought on Jack Grealish for Gabriel Jesus in the 78th minute. Man City continued to pelt Courtois with shots, including the outside back Cancelo. His long-range shot moved back and forth in the air, but Courtois made a great save.
Valverde was getting tired as Zinchenko found the ball with space and Carvajal was forced to step. Zinchenko played Jack Grealish through, and he was in on goal. He took it all the way to the endline right next to the goal before passing it to the far post. It looked in but Mendy was in the right place to block the shot on the goal line before bouncing off Phil Foden unluckily. Real Madrid were lucky not to be 3 goals down with 4 minutes left to play.
Real Madrid’s completely substituted midfield trio were being picked apart. Man City got past them with ease, and Grealish took another shot from the left side, missing just wide right as Courtois got a foot on it in the 87th minute.
It was do or die for Madrid, and they performed. Camavinga floated in a cross from outside the box in the 90th minute. Benzema saved it on the end line and volleyed it back in. Rodrygo got a foot on it, and it went in the back of the net. 1-1 (5-4 agg. Man City)
Rodrygo was in form, and Madrid had 6 minutes of stoppage time to find an equalizer. Just a minute later, Carvajal served in a cross, and Rodrygo met it with his head. His header sailed true into the back of the net. Rodrygo had a miracle brace, and Real Madrid were back in it. 2-1 Real Madrid (5-5 agg.)
It was Madrid’s game now as they attacked relentlessly. Rodrygo almost had his hat trick in the 90+3rd minute, but Ederson blocked his point blank shot.
The 90+4th minute saw Manchester City have a free kick outside the box. Fernandinho quickly played it to Foden while Madrid were asleep. Foden’s shot went over the bar.
The referee blew the whistle and the game was headed into extra-time. Exactly like their tie against Chelsea, Rodrygo was the hero that kept them in it, but would they have the same result?
Madrid would find their chance in the 93rd minute as Rodrygo passed the ball into the box to Benzema. Dias slid in and fouled Benzema. The referee indicated towards the penalty spot. The Ballon d’Or favorite would not miss. He passed the ball into the bottom right corner and Madrid finally had the lead. 3-1 Real Madrid (6-5 agg.)

Pep brought on Raheem Sterling for Rodri in the 99th minute. Sterling used his speed to run around the midfield, but he received a yellow card for a tackle on Rodrygo.
Ancelotti made his final substitution in the 104th minute as Dani Ceballos replaced Karim Benzema.
Man City had one final chance before halftime as Cancelo played in the cross. Foden flicked it on towards the back post and Courtois was on the ground. The ball fell to Fernandinho, but he could not get it on target.
Man City continued to press, but they couldn’t break Madrid’s stout defense in the second half. Madrid was a brick wall and full of energy. The game ended with Madrid as the winners. Real Madrid advanced to the Finals in a shocking comeback that no one predicted. They will face Liverpool on Saturday, May 28th, 2022 at 1:00 P.M. MST.
Here are the stats:
9’ Yellow Card – Laporte
9’ Yellow Card – Modric
65’ Yellow Card – Carvajal
68’ Substitution – Rodrygo for Kroos
72’ Substitution – Zinchenko for Walker
72’ Substitution – Gündogan for De Bruyne
73’ Goal – Mahrez
75’ Substitution – Asensio for Casemiro
75’ Substitution – Camavinga for Modric
78’ Substitution – Grealish for Jesus
84’ Yellow Card – Militão
85’ Substitution – Fernandinho for Mahrez
90’ Goal – Rodrygo
90+1’ Goal – Rodrygo
90+6’ Yellow Card – Valverde
95’ Goal – Benzema
99’ Substitution – Sterling for Rodri
101’ Yellow Card – Sterling
104’ Substitution – Ceballos for Benzema
113’ Yellow Card – Zinchenko
115’ Substitution – Vallejo for Militão
115’ Substitution – Vázquez for Vinicius Junior
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