the two teams back to back after the Champions League semi-final first leg

The semi-final between the two title favorites started with a draw on Tuesday at the Santiago Bernabeu (1-1).

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Real Madrid captain Karim Benzema surrounded by Manchester City defenders John Stones and Kyle Walker during the Champions League semi-final first leg on May 9, 2023 at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.  (JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)

It’s not a win, but it’s a good deal. Manchester City took the psychological advantage against Real Madrid by hanging the defending champion at home in the semi-final first leg of the Champions League on Tuesday May 9 (1-1). Rather dominating, but trailing for more than thirty minutes, Pep Guardiola’s players managed to respond to this team, which was nevertheless reputed to be unsinkable.

While the usual scenario was taking shape, the one that sees Real always have the last word, Kevin de Bruyne found the fault from outside the area, with a dry and distant strike (67th). Enough to reward the performance of his team, who had conceded the opener against the course of the game, on the very first strike from Real Madrid, also triggered from outside the area and signed Vinicius Junior (36th).

One everywhere, ball in the center

The number one offensive weapon of the Merengues this season, the Brazilian winger was decisive for the twelfth time in this Champions League campaign. Found in the race by Eduardo Camavinga, he had the intelligence to orient himself so as not to have to control the ball and only touch the ball once before crossing his shot, out of Ederson’s reach.

From this fairly balanced meeting, no team managed to take the lead. Each of the two opponents managed to find the net when they were the most dominated. Above all, there was not the slightest room to create, on both sides, a very big chance in the opposing box during the course of the game. 14 of the 23 shots attempted on Tuesday were triggered from outside the box. (including 7 of Manchester City’s 10).

Everything is possible before the return match next Wednesday at the Etihad Stadium, where the Cityzens will enjoy the support of their supporters. But for the French Eduardo Camavinga, everything remains to be done. “1-1 is not such a bad result”, he supported the microphone of Canal +. It must be said that his Real Madrid got out of a much worse situation last season, and that the most successful club in the history of the Champions League faces an ambitious opponent, but who is still chasing after his first coronation.


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