To the left of the ring, Manchester City, the last winner of the Champions League. On the right, Real Madrid, record holder of titles in the competition (14). Tuesday April 9, the meeting between the two teams was promising, in the quarter-final first leg of the Champions League. And the two teams did not disappoint the crowd of supporters gathered in the stands of the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
At the end of an indecisive match, during which each team led, the two teams parted ways in a draw, certainly, but spectacular (3-3). The outcome of the standoff will therefore be decided in Manchester, Wednesday April 17, during the return match.
Before thinking about this meeting at the Etihad Stadium, both Merengue and Cityzens will have to recover from a game whose intensity has rarely weakened. And who has not experienced any round of observation. The match had barely started two minutes ago, when the Portuguese Bernardo Silva suddenly cooled the atmosphere in Madrid by scoring with a long-range free kick. Enough to make the Spaniards fear the worst, who were swept away (0-4) by these same Skyblues in the semi-final second leg of the Champions League last year, notably following a double from Silva.
This time the Merengue have not given up. And they were able to count on their Frenchman Eduardo Camavinga to lead the revolt. Very leggy and offensive, the midfielder was quickly rewarded with a goal after a heavy strike (12th). If the achievement will not be attributed to him – the ball having been blocked by defender Ruben Dias -, his teammate Rodrygo saw his name displayed on the scoreboard of the match. Two minutes later, the Brazilian went to beat goalkeeper Stefan Ortega after a solitary raid on his left wing.
Arsenal and Bayern Munich also part with a draw
For a long time, the score remained there. But it seemed impossible that this match would not turn into a madness again. The Cityzens Phil Foden and Josko Gvardiol took care of it, each taking their shot at the entrance to the area, the first with the left foot (66th), the second with the right (71st). Fortunately for Casa Blanca, the last word was for their midfielder Federico Valverde, who concluded the match with a superb volley from the right for the final equalizer (79th).
“There were times when we made small mistakes, but we played a great match, showing personality,” considered Eduardo Camavinga at the Canal microphone at the end of the match. We had fun, we were caught behind, but now the important thing is to rest well to prepare for the return match. »
In the other meeting of the evening, the spectacle was also there, as was the suspense. Opposed to London, Arsenal and Bayern Munich also failed to decide between themselves, drawing a draw (2-2). A good deal for the Germans – far from the score in the Bundesliga while the Gunners are at the top of the English championship – even if they may regret having conceded the equalizing goal at the end of the match, by the Belgian Leandro Trossard. Before that, the Munich residents had – like Real Madrid -, led for a long time (2-1) following goals from Serge Gnabry and Harry Kane in the first act.
