Tops
The Sterling-De Bruyne duo
Certainly the two best players on the citizen side. The first opened the scoring on a big mistake by Rafael Varane (we will come back to this), the second increased the openings for his attackers while remaining a constant danger for the Madrilenians. Raheem Sterling has scored his 31st goal this season, his 6th in the Champions League. To this shocking duo, we can also add Gabriel Jesus who was able to take advantage of a second error by Varane to seal the fate of this meeting until then undecided.
Benzema, despite everything
Somewhat isolated within a team amputated by its captain, Sergio Ramos, suspended, the French striker was one of the rare dangers for the English defense, also regularly borrowed. Wearing the armband this Friday at the Etihad Stadium, Benzema scored his 27th goal this season, his 5th in the Champions League.
Ederson, an effective last bastion
The Brazilian goalkeeper was once again very good, making two excellent saves almost in quick succession in the first period on attempts by Karim Benzema and Eden Hazard. Shot on the head of the same Benzema, Ederson is credited with a full match.
Flops
Rafael Varane, the castaway
Boss of the Madrid defense in the absence of Sergio Ramos, suspended, the Frenchman has completely passed through. Foul on Sterling's goal by losing a ball in his area on a pressing from Gabriel Jesus, he offered the qualification to the Citizens in the second half by missing a header to his goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois. A windfall that Gabriel Jesus did not fail to convert into a goal. Certainly one of the world's worst outings for a long time! "I want to stand up because in my eyes, this defeat is for me", he admitted at the microphone of the Spanish channel Movistar.
First failure for Zidane
Unbeaten so far in a knockout match with Real, Zinédine Zidane ended up biting the dust. A failure we can say resounding because the City of Guardiola qualified on the guilty wanderings of the Madrid defense. This is also the second time in a row that the Merengues have come out in the round of 16 of C1.
Central defenses at bay
If the central defensive axis of Real (Varane-Militao) was catastrophic, what to say about the Fernandinho-Laporte association on the Citizens side, even if the first city is clearly the weak link of this duo abused on several occasions by Benzema but also by Rodrygo (on the equalizer of Real) and by Eden Hazard, especially in the first period. It is not for nothing that Pep Guardiola intends to strengthen this sector during the offseason.
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