Manchester City are in charge of their Champions League destiny after emerging from a thrilling first leg semi-final tie in Madrid with a 1-1 draw.
Vinicius Junior gave Real Madrid a spectacular first half lead, against the run of play, before Kevin De Bruyne matched him mid way through the second period. City have an advantage now as they head back to their home ground, but it will be a big test against Champions League experts, and the winners will meet either AC or Inter Milan; who met at the San Siro on Wednesday and it was Inter who emerged with a 2-0 advantage.
Real Madrid against Manchester City is a blockbuster of mega proportions and it certainly delivered on Tuesday night as the two European heavyweights traded two ferocious blows to emerge from the Santiago Bernabeu with a draw and the tie still in the balance. The Sky Blues will be confident of finishing the job at the Etihad Stadium but they had to dig deep after Vinicius gave Los Blancos the lead with a brilliant strike.
City had dominated the early exchanges and Thibaut Courtois was forced into making four saves within a quarter of an hour while the Madrid fans became restless with their team’s lack of possession. But there was nothing the Sky Blues’ keeper Ederson could do about Los Blancos opener. Eduardo Camavinga made a brilliant driving run into the Manchester half and fed Vinicius who hit a 25 yard pile driver beyond the Brazilian and into the corner of the net. Take a look at the Champions League 2023 highlights when you get the chance…you won’t regret it.
It was Real Madrid’s only real opportunity of the first half but what a goal!
That wonder strike seemed to change the game as Los Blancos searched for a second goal after the break, but then they were stopped by City’s screamer and, this time it was De Bruyne leaving Courtois standing as his 25 yard thunderbolt flew into the net. It was just what City deserved as they went unbeaten in 21 games, a run which includes 17 victories, and their dreams of a treble are alive and kicking. With 55 per cent possession and six shots on target to Los Blancos’ four the Sky Blues edged it. But Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti was angry during and after the game because he thought Bernardo Silva had taken the ball out of play in the run up to De Bruyne’s pile-driver.
The Madrid boss was booked for his remonstrations but continued to fume at the final whistle.
Real Madrid do have a psychological advantage, having won the last five bouts against English sides, including a semi-final win over Manchester City last season. Pep Guardiola’s Sky Blues are aiming for revenge for that 6-5 aggregate loss and now they have a steely look about them, almost unbeatable, and they will be favourites when the two sides meet in Manchester.
The Champions League 2023 betting odds are right behind the Sky Blues and the SBOTOP team will be on the ball with all the odds, stats and updates before, during and after what promises to be a must-watch second leg.
Inter out of the blocks at lightning speed
The Champions League Milan derby kicked off in explosive fashion as Inter became only the fourth team in Champions League history to take a 2-0 lead within 11 minutes of the start of a semi-final. The first, on eight minutes, was a vintage strike from the 37 year old Edin Dzeko who met a corner with a brilliantly taken volley high into the net. The second, three minutes later, was a beautifully sculptured goal; Federico Dimarco cut the ball back and Lautaro Martinez left if for Henrikh Mkhitaryan to slot home, first time from around 12 yards.
It could have been much worse for Milan in the first half as Hakan Calhanoglu cannoned a fierce drive off the post and VAR intervened to overturn a penalty awarded when Martinez appeared to have been pulled back by Simon Kjaer; the Argentine striker had gone down a little easily.
Without the injured Rafael Leao, I Rossoneri struggled to make an impression up front but in a second half where they tried to work their way back into the game their fans stood by them, making a deafening noise inside the San Siro. Sandro Tonali almost halved the deficit but his low shot hit the post and that was as close as Milan came. So Milan is Blue and Black tonight and while I suspect AC Milan may feel a little bruised… this tie is not over yet.
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