Manchester Metropolis edged Actual Madrid 4-3 in a seven-goal Champions League thriller staged on the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday evening.
The win signifies that Metropolis has preserved their advantageous Champions League file on the Etihad Stadium, having not misplaced at dwelling in Europe since 2018.
As was anticipated from the attacking lineup, the hosts took the lead simply after 90 seconds when Riyad Mahrez breezed previous a sea of Madrid defenders earlier than selecting out Kevin De Bruyne, who headed dwelling for the quickest purpose ever scored in a UCL semi-final.
Even earlier than Madrid might settle, they discovered themselves two objectives down when Gabriel Jesus, who scored 4 on the weekend towards Watford, expertly turned David Alaba within the penalty space to web his aspect’s second with 11 minutes gone.
However Metropolis have been made to pay for his or her poor ending once they have been pegged again by Karim Benzema, the Frenchman’s fortieth purpose of the season, to reignite the competition earlier than HT.
The Pep Guardiola aspect continued to assault and was unfortunate to not keep their two-goal cushion when Mahrez smashed the publish earlier than Dani Carvajal valiantly denied Phil Foden’s rebound effort simply minutes after the restart.
Guardiola’s aspect had appeared to determine their trademark midfield stranglehold within the second half and it was not lengthy earlier than Foden nodded in a floated Fernandinho cross however Madrid as soon as once more struck again by way of Vinícius Júnior’s magnificent run and composed end to punish a wasteful Metropolis.
Whereas Bernardo Silva smashed a shocking effort previous Thibaut Courtois to revive the two-goal benefit there can be a last twist as Benzema stepped from the spot, after Laporte had been judged to have dealt with the ball in his field, to web an ice-cold Panenka penalty for a 4-3 last rating.
