Karim Benzema netted an extra-time penalty as Real Madrid stunned Manchester City 3-1 on Wednesday, setting up a final clash with Liverpool. When Riyad Mahrez put City 1-0 up and 5-3 up on aggregate, it looked like they would make it through. Rodrygo, who came on as a substitute, scored two goals in the last two minutes to send the match into extra time, which City won.
At this point, Manchester City was still reeling. Real Madrid’s Benzema scored and then scored again to give them a 6-5 aggregate victory, adding to the club’s long list of magical European nights.
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At this point in the season, Madrid had already pulled off the most unlikely of saves to beat PSG and Chelsea, but this one against Manchester City must have been the most thrilling.
Like PSG and Chelsea before them, Manchester City will wonder how they lost a dominated match. Pep Guardiola, who has had a lot of success but hasn’t led City to European glory for another year, will also be the subject of new attention.
Against anyone but Real Madrid, Manchester City’s defeat would have been almost impossible to understand. They will play in the final for the 17th time. This is their 14th European Cup. They need a victory against Liverpool to win it for the first time.
Before the game started, a banner read, “Another magic night from the kings of Europe.” This match didn’t live up to the seven-goal thriller at the Etihad Stadium last week, but it was still a lot of fun.
Real Madrid took the lead early on, and Benzema was given a couple of chances that only he could have taken advantage of. Instead, he went over and shot very high.
Luka Modric and Rodri got into a fight over a Casemiro challenge in the middle. Then Manchester City came forward and made Real Madrid make mistakes. Kevin De Bruyne hit Thibaut Courtois from a distance, and the goalkeeper had to make a smart save from Bernardo Silva.
Real Madrid could get through the first half and then get better before the break. Modric caused a roar of delight when he outran De Bruyne to stop a counterattack.
Perhaps their best chance came right after the restart when Dani Carvajal found space down the right. Vinicius Junior shot wide at the back post.
A bad touch by Modric made it hard for him to score, so City was on the back foot. Casemiro was set free by a bad pass from Kyle Walker, but Vinicius couldn’t find a way through.
– Mahrez scores a goal –
It took a while for Real Madrid to get back in the game after Walker was hurt. Ilkay Gundogan’s pass-through of Madrid’s midfield and into the box found Silva, who danced through to the edge of the box and scored.
Silva tried to shoot, but instead, he wedged the ball right into Mahrez’s hands. Mahrez smashed it hard, early, and past Courtois, making it look like a goal.
Modric went off and seemed to go some of Madrid’s faith with him.
There were two chances for City to score when Jack Grealish came on. Ferland Mendy was able to keep one goal out, and then another shot from Grealish hit the post.
In the beginning, Madrid looked like it was dead and buried. Out of nowhere, they found a way to get back.
A great goal by Benzema came in the 90th minute. Rodrygo dribbled the ball across for Rodrygo to put in at the near post. The stadium announcer then said there would be six minutes of extra time.
Carvajal only crossed the ball into the box for Rodrygo to head home. The city, so compact and organized, suddenly spread out.
When the game restarted, Real Madrid came out on top. Four minutes into the game, Benzema fell over the tired, lunging leg of Ruben Dias and then rolled the spot-kick into the corner.
Fernandinho came up short at the back post when Courtois blocked him during the match. City tried to get the ball back. Late in the game, Dias flicked a ball into the box that floated into the hands of Courtois. City’s last chance to score failed.
