For the third time in four years, the Champions League Final will be an-all English affair.
That is the line I had penned in my head for so long of an encounter in which Manchester City were, for 90 minutes, secure and disciplined, deterring whatever the home team and their raucous fans could throw at them and on the brink of a place in the showpiece.
In fact, they ensured Real Madrid did not manage a solitary effort on target.
That is, until the clock struck 90, and the most amazing turnaround occurred.
Yes, after last week’s thrill-a-minute first leg in Manchester, much of the footballing world eagerly anticipated this second instalment.
But surely no-one expected this.
The action was certainly compelling as a City side, which welcomed back Kyle Walker (he lasted 72 minutes) from injury and Joao Cancelo from suspension, frustrated the hosts who had Casemiro back in their starting line-up but were without centre back David Alaba – deemed only fit enough for the bench.
The closest to a goal was when Bernardo Silva’s angled shot was superbly pushed away by Thibaut Courtois but then, 17 minutes from time, came what appeared to be the decisive moment.
Silva was involved, running clear and holding the ball before perfectly finding Riyad Mahrez who lashed it beyond Courtois to send the away fans into raptures.
That seemed that and we could not complain but, in this battle between the champions of England and the newly crowned kings of Spain we were, yet again, to be treated to more Champions League highlights.
The announcement for six minutes of stoppage time was about to be signalled when Karim Benzema flicked the ball into the middle and Rodrygo applied the decisive touch from close range.
Even then, even accounting for Real’s never-say-never spirit which had helped see off Paris St Germain and reigning European champions Chelsea in previous rounds, City would surely see out the contest.
The SBOTOP Champions League betting odds were still stacked in their favour.
Yet somehow, unbelievably, Real sensed City vulnerability and the same player headed home almost instantly to bring the tie level on aggregate.
City, who had won their last three Champions League matches against Real, were stunned.
Furthermore, by then arguably their best player, Kevin De Bruyne, had been substituted.
Madrid, who had been eliminated in all five previous Champions League semi-finals when they lost the first leg, had the momentum psychologically and mentally.
They also had, to state the obvious, Benzema.
So great are the Frenchman’s figures that the 14 goals with which he arrived in the second leg has only three higher total records: the 16 scored by Cristiano Ronaldo in 2015-16 and the 15 scored by Robert Lewandowski (2019-20) and the infallible Ronaldo again in 2018-19.
Was he finished? Was he eck’.
Three minutes into stoppage time, he was caught by Ruben Dias and duly dusted himself down and slotted what proved the winning goal Ederson from the penalty spot.
After Phil Foden’s glanced header was tipped away by Thibaut Courtois, substitute Fernandinho was inches away from hauling City level.
Yet Benzema, who now has 15 goals in 10 Champions League games this term (just three short of his 17 in 2013-14), had delivered the telling blow again.
Meanwhile, Rodrygo became just the fourth player to score multiple goals in the 90th minute or later of a Champions League match, after Emil Forsberg for RB Leipzig (November 2019), Gareth Bale for Spurs (October 2010) and Nilmar for Lyon (November 2004).
A stunning comeback by Real or a late collapse by City? Probably a bit of both in truth. One which Real will always remember fondly and one which City need to recover from instantly.
Real Madrid will now face Liverpool in a repeat of the 2018 final.
Liverpool made harder work of seeing off last season’s Europa League winners Villarreal than you might expect but triumph they did and the gulf in class was evident by the 5-2 aggregate scoreline – even if Unai Emery deserves much credit for a spirited Euro campaign.
The Yellow Submarine reached only the second ever Champions League semi final after knocking out Juventus and Bayern Munch to reach the last four.
Emery’s side turned in a spirited performance despite a two goal deficit from their first leg and threatened an upset as they earned a 2-0 first half lead in Castellon.
However, a ruthless second half showing ended their chances of a fairytale final slot in Paris.
So it is off to the French capital on May 28. Whatever happens, though, it will take some doing to beat the drama of this tie. This was one for the ages.
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