Real Madrid's Rodrygo (3rd R) and Eduardo Camavinga (2nd R) celebrate a goal during the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal 1st Leg match between Real Madrid and Manchester City in Madrid, April 9, 2024. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)
MADRID, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Real Madrid and Manchester City drew a fascinating and thrilling game of football 3-3 on Tuesday in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal clash.
Both sides led - Manchester City twice - but despite surrendering their advantage, maybe Pep Guardiola's side will be the happier of the two teams after surviving a caldron atmosphere in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium without three key players.
There was a big surprise in the Manchester City starting 11, with Kevin de Bruyne on the substitutes' bench, while Stefan Ortega was given the nod ahead of fit-again Ederson in goal.
Guardiola revealed before kick-off that De Bruyne has been sick and vomiting and the Belgian joined injured defenders Kyle Walker and Nathan Ake on the sidelines.
Despite the absences, the reigning Champions got off to a flying start when Bernardo Silva fired home a second minute free kick, with Real Madrid's defensive wall all over the place.
Madrid hit back and two goals in two minutes turned the score around, with a big stroke of fortune in both goals as Eduardo Camavinga's effort took a huge deflection off Ruben Dias in the 12th minute and two minutes later, a shot from Rodrygo got enough of a touch off Manuel Akanji to slip through Ortega's legs.
Although City could curse their luck, they had also been caught out after losing possession and the half continued as a game of cat and mouse, with the English side controlling the ball, but always looking vulnerable to a Madrid counterattack.
The second half saw City pinning Madrid deeper and deeper in their own half and they finally got their reward after 66 minutes, when Phil Foden smashed a wonderful left foot shot into the far corner of the net, with Andriy Lunin helpless.
Four minutes later and they were back in front after Josko Gvardiol picked the perfect moment to score his first goal for the club. The Croatian collected the ball after good work from Foden and Jack Grealish and planted his effort in the opposite corner of the net.
But the best goal was still to come when Fede Valverde made it 3-3 in the 79th minute with a stunning volley at the far post to leave the tie wide open, but with Walker and De Bruyne available next week, City will be confident of progressing, although Real Madrid can never be written off. ■
Real Madrid's Antonio Rudiger (R) vies with Manchester City's Erling Haaland during the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal 1st Leg match between Real Madrid and Manchester City in Madrid, April 9, 2024. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)
Real Madrid's Brahim Diaz (R) vies with Manchester City's Phil Foden during the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal 1st Leg match between Real Madrid and Manchester City in Madrid, April 9, 2024. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)
Real Madrid's Rodrygo (L) vies with Manchester City's Phil Foden (C) during the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal 1st Leg match between Real Madrid and Manchester City in Madrid, April 9, 2024. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)
Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham (L) vies with Manchester City's Manuel Akanji during the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal 1st Leg match between Real Madrid and Manchester City in Madrid, April 9, 2024. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)
Starting players of Real Madrid line up for a group photo before the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal 1st Leg match between Real Madrid and Manchester City in Madrid, April 9, 2024. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)
Manchester City's Bernardo Silva (2nd R) celebrates scoring with teammates during the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal 1st Leg match between Real Madrid and Manchester City in Madrid, April 9, 2024. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)
Real Madrid's Ferland Mendy (R) vies with Manchester City's Manuel Akanji during the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal 1st Leg match between Real Madrid and Manchester City in Madrid, April 9, 2024. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)
