UCL: Thunderbolts from Vinicius and De Bruyne keep the uncertainty between Real and City

This was a long waited rematch from the last season’s semi-final in the Champions League: Real Madrid against Manchester City. Two clubs came into this match in different mood: Real with bad displays in La Liga, but with a fantastic record in this competition (they have made the semi-finals in eight of the last 10 seasons), while City are currently unbeaten in 20 matches – 17 of which they have won, and could win the Premier League and the FA Cup too. But the final decision who will play in the final will come after the game in England, since both teams scored goal apiece: Real Madrid – Manchester City 1-1.

Maybe the expectations were too high ahead of this match, since the display was not up to it, but still it was an interesting game, with spells of dominance from both sides, and the final results is fair. At least we saw two fantastic goals, and it’s debatable which one was more impressive: the leading one from Vinicius or the equalizer from De Bruyne. In a game like this, it was somehow expected that individual qualities will come forward at one point and these two players made it with their personal qualities. This was not the game for Benzema or Valverde, and this was not the game for Haaland or Bernardo Silva. Come to think of it, even Kevin De Bruyne was bad, but his long distance thunderbolt was enough for Pep Guardiola to be happy.

Manchester City started the match as they were at Etihad. Little by little, they took away the ball from Madrid, and prior to Real’s goal, they had 70% of possession and four shots on target. Rodri had the first chance of the match, but his wonderful and precise 25 meters shot was saved by Courtois. Haaland than had two shots, one with his foot (weak) and other a header, but both times straight at Real’s keeper. And then, in typical Real fashion, the home team scored from the first (and only) shot, when Camavinga passed the ball to Vinicius Jr, who smashed it from 20 meters into the net: 1-0 Real.

Manchester City continued with dominance at the start of the first half, and De Bruyne finally showed up, but his shot (later categorized as offside) was saved by Courtois with fingertips. Forgotten Haaland had a good ball, but Alaba made a last second tackle. Then it was Real’s time to put the pressure up, and just like in the first half, when City was dominant but Real scored, a reverse situation happened. After one harmless Manchester attack, the ball came to De Bruyne, who was invisible until then, but released a rocket from 22 meters into the right bottom corner and gave the visitors an equalizer. The tempo started to slow down after that and there was only one real chance until the end, when Aurelien Tchouameni tried from distance, but Ederson was concentrated. Ancelotti made the first of his three substitutions in the 80th minute, while Guardiola didn’t change a single player. The second leg will decide the first finalist of this year’s Champions League.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Semi-final, first leg

Tuesday

Real Madrid - Man.City 1-1 (1-0)

/Vinicius 36 - De Bruyne 68/

Wednesday

22.00: (3.05) Milan (3.20) Inter (2.60)

***odds are subject to change