All to play for in Manchester
Following the 1-1 draw at the Bernabéu, the Champions League semi-final is delicately poised.
Who will be the happier of the two coaches after 90 fascinating minutes in Madrid? Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola can both claim to be satisfied with their teams. On the night he equalled Sir Alex Ferguson as the coach with the most Champions League games in charge (190), Ancelotti’s team selection was interesting, in so much as it was a move away from last season’s knockout formula. He opted to start both in-form Brazilians alongside Karim Benzema, with Rodrygo given the opportunity to start once again. He had only started two Champions League knockout matches before this current season, with Fede Valverde used as a versatile right-sided attacker in that memorable run last season.
Despite the additional firepower, Real Madrid were penned into their own defensive third in the opening exchanges. City started brightly and quickly settled into their passing rhythm. Thibaut Courtois was forced to make two smart saves to keep the score at 0-0.
However, this was a film we had all seen before. Madrid were seemingly content to cede possession and territory, unperturbed by the shrill whistling of their fans. They maintained composure and knew they would have their moment. Sure enough, Eduardo Camavinga (who produced another superlative performance which belied his age) exchanged passes with Luka Modrić in a tight space before breaking down the left. He then fed Vini Jr who allowed the ball to run across his body. The next action was as quick as a flash. He struck the ball back across his running angle and straight into the net. Lift off for Madrid, and an aching feeling of familiarity for Guardiola.
At the time of the goal, Cty had enjoyed 70% of the ball and completed over 250 passes. Madrid had not surpassed 100. Sometimes, there is little point in over-analysing or trying to understand. Just sit back and appreciate the perfecting of an art.
If the first half saw one team score against the run of play, the second mirrored that. Madrid came out strong, reinforced by their goal, and looked close to a second, but it was City who struck back. Kevin De Bruyne did his best to replicate the power and position of Vini’s golazo and succeeded. Two sensational strikes. Two teams who know how they want to play.
Post game, Ancelotti reiterated his contentment at the performance as well as the result. “We were not worried that they had the ball, we were well positioned”.
Modrić went further, claiming that City did little with the possession they enjoyed. Antonio Rüdiger did well to shackle Erling Haaland, and his involvement was limited.
However, if Madridistas are relatively happy, there should be a note of caution. In all of last season’s knockout rounds, the second – and therefore decisive – leg was in Madrid. They do not have that luxury this time around, and must get at least a draw to force extra time and potential penalties. Yet Manchester City have a formidable recent record at the Etihad in the competition: they are unbeaten in 25 at home and have only lost three times there under Guardiola. City did well to manage the occasion and the emotion. How well they can do so again in front of their expectant home crowd next week could be the decisive factor.
For Madrid, they embrace the apparent inevitability of their success in this competition, but they still need to go out on the pitch and deliver. Karim Benzema was quiet, and he will probably need to be at his best in the return leg.
Looking for precedents? City have progressed in all eight of their European ties in which they drew the first leg away from home. Real Madrid have only progressed from two of the ten European Cup ties in which they drew at home first. However, those two successes were both achieved in Manchester. Still all to play for.