One foot in the semi-finals. Manchester City and Inter Milan took a good option for the last four of the Champions League by beating Bayern Munich and Benfica respectively on Tuesday evening in the first matches of the quarter-finals first leg.
In pouring rain throughout the match at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City’s players put on a show against the Bavarians, thanks to a well-placed defense in the first half and breaking Bayern in the second half of the game. match.
Up front, Pep Guardiola’s men were devilishly effective, including a magnificent curling shot from Rodri, right-handed, but who whipped the ball with his left foot, depositing it in the opposite corner (27th).
Inside as soon as they returned from the locker room and in great difficulty, Bayern’s French international defender Dayot Upamecano was behind City’s second goal.
Coming to put pressure on the defender, Jack Grealish recovered the ball, relied on Haaland, who delivered a left-footed cross to Bernardo Silva, taking a header (70th). Decisive passer, Haaland became a scorer a few minutes later, with a cross volley with the right foot (77th). Final score: 3-0 for City!
In addition to several strikes from Leroy Sané and a good start to the second half, the Munich players have had few chances and will have a lot to do next Wednesday to hope for qualification.
In the other meeting on Tuesday evening, Inter also set foot in the semi-finals, winning with great skill at Benfica.
The Italians, who have not reached the semi-finals since 2010, brought victory to Portugal thanks to a goal from Nicolo Barella at the start of the second period (1-0, 51st) then a penalty converted by Romelu Lukaku (2-0, 82nd).
Author of a good first period, where the defense was well in place, Benfica cracked in the second, lacking lucidity.
More solid and less hasty, the Italians could find AC Milan in the last four, before AC Milan-Naples on Wednesday.
