Twitter explodes as Manchester City secure entertaining 4-3 win over Real Madrid in Champions League semi-final first leg clash
Manchester City ran out 4-3 winners against Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday. The Premier League giants got off to a rollicking start in front of their fans and took the lead as early as the second minute.
Riyad Mahrez drifted inside from the right flank before curling a cross into the penalty area, where Kevin De Bruyne met it after an excellent run. The Belgian planted his header beyond the reach of Thibaut Courtois in goal for Real Madrid to give Manchester City the lead.
Buoyed by the early opening goal, Pep Guardiola's men doubled their advantage just nine minutes later. De Bruyne turned provider this time around and found Gabriel Jesus inside the penalty box with his pass. The Brazilian fired home from close range to punish Real Madrid.
What. A. Half! 😱
🤔 Best moment?
#UCL https://t.co/wNBiG66c3A
Although the La Liga giants were firmly on the back foot inside the opening exchanges at the Etihad, they still managed to pull a goal back. Karim Benzema escaped Oleksandr Zinchenko and found the back of the net with an excellent left-footed strike in the 33rd minute. As such, Carlo Ancelotti's side ensured they trailed by just a solitary goal at the half-time interval.
Both teams were forced to make changes either side of half-time as John Stones and David Alaba were replaced by Fernandinho and Nacho respectively due to their injuries.
Manchester City and Real Madrid picked up from where they left off in the second half
The second-half produced two quickfire goals at the start. Phil Foden first found the back of the net with his head after an excellent cross from Fernandinho. The veteran Manchester City midfielder pressed high from right-back and won the ball before a neat exchange that allowed him with space to cross.
Soon, Fernandinho would fall victim to the same approach. Vinicius Jr made an absolute mockery of him with a clever turn at the halfway line before racing in on goal and tucking the ball away in the 55th minute, just two minutes after Manchester City scored.
The hosts added another goal in the 74th minute through Bernardo Silva, but there was a hint of controversy about it. Real Madrid had almost stopped playing anticipating the referee's whistle for a foul on Zinchenko, but the advantage was played and Silva smashed his effort into the top corner.
Karim Benzema has now scored 9 goals in his last 4 matches in the Champions League 🤯
#UCL https://t.co/8UvDJEqoXe
Real Madrid were then handed a penalty after Aymeric Laporte was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the box. Extraordinarily, Benzema produced an outrageous Panenka penalty to ensure his team were still alive in the contest.
In the wake of one of the most entertaining Champions League semi-final clashes, reactions poured in via Twitter. Here are some of the best tweets from Manchester City's win over Real Madrid:
Courtois should of never stole De Bruyne’s girl , De Bruyne always makes sure that he gets his revenge
Gabriel Jesus after Arsenal links https://t.co/kny3MeGBnt
KDB is still one of the very best in the world, and I don’t know why people have been pretending otherwise these past few months.
Best delivery in the game, and always steps up in the big occasions.
I remember the KDB Bruno comparisons https://t.co/K2nVmLVGdg
7 goals scored tonight got me like... #MCIRMA #UCL https://t.co/YFrkCEhSJ0
Karim Benzema leads in Champions League 2012/22 Goal tally. INCREDIBLE! #UCL https://t.co/MuRkJweIQ2
Foden doing the messi celebration after scoring a banger 😭🐐 https://t.co/4ptEN6ysQJ
This is hella intense #MCIRMA
Imagine not liking football #MCIRMA #BSHLOUT
Foden is a continental baller.
Kevin De Bruyne literally every time he gets the ball #MCIRMA https://t.co/zAnqBZH8CZ
Fernandinho turned into Cafu for 30 seconds what da hell
Eder Militao tonight: https://t.co/mJ283J5Nz6
Benzema had Ederson doing Harlem shake during the penalty. 🤣
#ucl
➔ Minuto 02. City 1-0 Real Madrid.
➔ Minuto 11. City 2-0 Real Madrid.
➔ Minuto 33. City 2-1 Real Madrid.
➔ Minuto 53. City 3-1 Real Madrid.
➔ Minuto 55. City 3-2 Real Madrid.
➔ Minuto 74. City 4-2 Real Madrid.
➔ Minuto 82. City 4-3 Real Madrid.
BENDITA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE.
Real Madrid's character is unbelievable. Most teams facing this Man City onslaught would've buckled but Real just never know when they're beaten. Champions mentality.
Ronaldo scored in totalKarim Benzema now has as many CL goals this season as 🇧🇷Ronaldo scored in total
Imagining missing three of your last four penalties and then doing a Panenka at 4-2 down away at City in the Champions League semi final first leg! You are from another planet @Benzema!
Marco Asensio is the very definition of "highlights player" and if there was ever a game for that
Benzema's current situation after carrying Real Madrid on his back throughout this whole UCL campain. https://t.co/Pe4Dj4SXhY
This is Benzema's world, we're all just living in it...
#MCIRMA #UCL https://t.co/Q7dQkMtPSE
Karim Benzema has done enough this season to win all the individual awards at the end of the year.
This game is going down in history as one of the best semi's
#ManCityRealMadrid
This is how the world is watching man city versus real madrid #MCIRMA #UCL https://t.co/jiuIVWZbrm
This UCL campaign by Benzema is clear of any Ronaldo’s UCL seasons by far