What a match, and what a second period in the semi-final first leg of the Champions League between Manchester City and Real Madrid!
In the lead at the break (2-1), the Mancunian formation will have twice taken a two-step lead in the second half, without ever managing to maintain it against Merengues who are exceptional in their resilience and fighting spirit.
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First to stand out in this second act, Phil Foden took advantage of a perfect cross from Fernandinho, who entered during the game in place of Stones, to place a point-blank header into the net of an Ederson abandoned by his defense. (3-1, 53rd).
A very short break since barely two minutes after Foden's achievement, Vinicius launched into a mad cavalcade of 50 meters to deceive Thibaut Courtois with a small unstoppable cross shot (3-2, 54th).
Great art.
And it wasn't over...
In the 73rd minute, near the Madrid surface, Zinchenko was taken down.
Right next to it, Bernardo Silva recovered the ball, took advantage of a moment of hesitation on the Spanish side who was waiting for the referee's whistle - but he intelligently left the advantage -, and the Portuguese sent a sublime missile in the skylight of a totally helpless Ederson (4-2).
End of the story ?
Absolutely not.
Ten minutes from the final whistle, Aymeric Laporte made an unfortunate hand on a cross, which did not go unnoticed.
Without hesitation, the referee designated the penalty spot and Karim Benzema took charge of the sanction, with a delicious Panenka (4-3, 82nd).
Maximum risk-taking to score his 14th goal of the season in the Champions League.
