As they did against PSG, as they did against Chelsea, Real Madrid changed the tide in an amazing way on their home turf against Manchester City, with two goals from Rodrygo at the end of the regular 90 minutes. and a penalty kick by Karim Benzema in extra time to win 3-1 (6-5 on aggregate) in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.
The madness that engulfed the first leg on the English lawn did not seem to invite itself to the Santiago-Bernabéu stadium. Manchester City showed the most professional performance, and Riyad Mahrez looked to have saved City in the 73rd minute with a left-footed shot from the corner of the penalty area after a superb knockdown by Bernardo Silva. A goal that delivered City, one might believe, in its second consecutive European final, after losing last year against Chelsea.
But the essence of climb up has again won over Real Madrid, who will have the chance to win their 14th European crown, on May 28, in Paris, against Liverpool.
If the first 10 minutes were like a replica after the earthquake of the first leg-Vinicius playing crowd leaders after a fault was suffered in the first minute, pointless collision between Aymeric Laporte and Luka Modric-, the 22 actors offered of more measurable performance – until the inevitable chaos returns eventually.
Set to score after a 4-3 defeat to Manchester, the Spanish champions quickly created a half-chance for Karim Benzema, who sent a difficult header to the stand before clearing a cross from Fede Valverde.
After these opportunities came from the right, the hosts went to exploit the other side, that of Vinicius. Moving as usual, the Brazilian allowed only one shot, when he jumped to a failed clearance from Ruben Dias in the 18th minute, without too much injury. It was also from this side that Benzema served his other warning of the season, when he appeared alone in front of Ederson and shot at the target – the Frenchman was however offside at the start of the action.
The visitors were not spectators, however, as Thibaut Courtois dived to stop a Phil Foden strike seconds before Benzema’s breakthrough at the other end of the stadium. City will have four strikes in the first 45 minutes, against none for Real Madrid, which however created the clearest chance.
And the hosts could hardly miss a sharper one than arrived seconds after returning from the break. Three Madridists were overlooked behind the defense, and a cross from Dani Carvajal jumped on Benzema to land at the feet of Vinicius, who was unable to redirect the object to a cage just asking for a welcome.
Public faith in Madrid crumbled to Mahrez’s goal, when it almost evaporated. But Courtois ’impressive intervention in a spinning strike from Joao Cancelo, then from Ferland Mendy, who cleared the ball to the line after an irresistible ride from Jack Grealish, kept him alive. There are only three minutes left.
Juanito, Real Madrid’s emblematic player, once said 90 minutes, at the Bernabéu, it was a long time. Logically, the Bernabéu woke up in the 90th minute.
Benzema, again, straightened a long ball sent behind the defense, and Rodrygo pushed it into the net. Some 80 seconds later, a Carvajal cross found the header of Rodrygo, already a double scorer. Los Blancos are behind 2-0 against PSG in the round of 16, 4-3 against Chelsea in the quarters and 5-3 in this semi-final. Now they force the extension.
After his delicious panenka in the first leg, Benzema had a chance to add to it in the first minutes of extra time, when he suffered a foul from Ruben Dias in the box. Less flamboyant, his penalty shot in the lower left corner of Ederson gave Real Madrid the lead for the first time in the series, 183 minutes later.
The guests tried everything so that, in the remaining extra time, their hosts felt the full weight of the seconds too slow for their taste. But eventually they passed, no doubt at lightning speed for the City.
Source: Radio-Canada
