Madrid, City draw 1-1 in Champions League semi-finals
Man City controlled possession but couldn’t translate it into significant scoring opportunities;
Real Madrid’s Vinícius Junior and Manchester City’s Erling Haaland were relaxed and laughing as they embraced after the final whistle at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
They both seemed satisfied following an even first leg that ended in a 1-1 draw on Tuesday and left the Champions League semifinal wide open going into next week’s return match in Manchester.
Vinicius and Kevin de Bruyne scored with long-range strikes in a match in which Madrid’s defense successfully kept Haaland the Champions League’s leading scorer from being decisive. “I think both teams have the feeling that it was a good result,” said Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, who took charge of his 190th Champions League match as coach.
“Maybe we played a bit better to deserve a victory, but it’s a series that will be even until the last minute.”
Madrid beat City in last year’s semifinals and went on to win a record-extending 14th Champions League title while the English club again fell short of European success.
“It was an even match,” City coach Pep Guardiola said.
“They scored when we were better and we equalized when they were better. It will all be decided in Manchester.”
“Both teams played well. It’s a good draw,” Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said. “There’s everything to play for next week.”
City controlled possession but couldn’t translate it into significant scoring opportunities.
Haaland wasted a few chances early but wasn’t much of a threat throughout the game at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
The Norwegian came into the match having scored 12 of City’s 26 goals in the Champions League this season and was five short of Cristiano Ronaldo’s single-season record of 17 for Madrid in 2013-14.
Vinicius created problems for the City defense and opened the scoring in with a shot into the top corner in the
36th minute for his seventh Champions League goal this season.
The Brazil forward picked up a pass by Eduardo Camavinga and used one touch to set up his right-footed shot from outside the area.