Enlarge image
Kevin de Bruyne (left) scored a quick goal against Real
Photo: Mike Egerton / dpa
Manchester City have come a little closer to the Champions League final, but missed the big step.
In a fast-paced semi-final first leg, coach Pep Guardiola's team beat Real Madrid 4-3 (2-1), but a clearer result would have been possible.
Kevin De Bruyne put the Premier League leaders ahead after two minutes, Gabriel Jesus raised for the English (11th minute).
Phil Foden (53') scored the City goal to make it 3-1, after the outstanding Karim Benzema had brought Real Madrid back into the game (33').
In addition, Vinícius Júnior was successful for the guests (55th).
Bernardo Silva made it 4-2 with a dream goal in the left corner of the goal (74'), Benzema scored the final score with a penalty (82').
The second leg will take place in Madrid next Wednesday (9 p.m.).
City are hoping for their second premier final in a row.
The club financed from Abu Dhabi has never won the title.
The game got off to a dream start for City.
From the right, Riyad Mahrez was able to put the ball almost unchallenged into the penalty area, where de Bruyne, who had escaped behind Daniel Carvajal, scored the lead (2').
The defensive behavior of the guests did not improve.
Nine minutes later it was Jesus who used the big holes in Madrid's defense to make it 2-0.
After a pass from de Bruyne, Jesus prevailed against David Alaba, after a turn he pushed the ball into the right corner from close range.
The game remained entertaining, as Madrid also had smaller chances in the meantime.
But the big danger continued to come from City: In the 26th minute, Mahrez missed the 3-0 with a hard shot over the goal from the right, then Phil Foden missed the next City goal after a counterattack.
The encounter could have been decided long ago.
But then the leaders of the Spanish league managed to catch up.
In midfield, Luka Modrić grabbed the ball with a tackle and then Benzema sank a cross from Ferland Mendy to make it 1:2 (33rd minute). He was lucky, the ball bounced off the right inner post and into the goal.
Mahrez opened the second half with a shot at the post, once again the fast City attackers attacked Real's back team, which lacked any organization (47th).
Foden scored the almost overdue 3-1 with a header from close range (53'), decisive in the development was a ball loss in Madrid's play structure, which Fernandinho was able to force.
Always Benzema
Fernandinho was back in the spotlight shortly after, but this time for letting Vinícius Júnior march down the halfway line rather than pull the tactical foul.
After a long tempo run, the Real attacker managed to make it 2:3 (55th).
Real coach Carlo Ancelotti could have lived with this result, but then Bernardo Silva scored with a dream shot.
That still wasn't the end of it.
Benzema scored again, this time from a hand penalty, which he cheekily lobbed into the center of the goal.
Benzema was also the outstanding player in Real's progress in the round of 16 (against Paris Saint-Germain) and quarter-finals (against Chelsea).
Overall this season, the French forward has netted nine goals in the knockout stages and 14 in the competition as a whole.
In the second semi-final of the Champions League, Liverpool FC and Bayern conqueror FC Villarreal face each other.
The first leg is on Wednesday (9 p.m.).
Jan
