At the restaurant, at the movies, at work or in front of another channel?
We're almost sorry for you, because you probably missed the most beautiful football evening of the year.
At the end of an incredible match, Manchester City won 4-3 against Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final first leg, leaving perfect suspense before the return match next Wednesday at the Bernabeu.
We summarize for you, in perfect good faith, why this match was the most beautiful of the season.
Because we had crazy goals
A legendary match is above all goals that remain etched in the mind.
And in this register, this Manchester City-Real Madrid has some arguments to present.
The most sumptuous achievement of the evening is to be credited to Bernardo Silva.
The former Monegasque took advantage of a moment of hesitation on an advantage left by the referee to clear the skylight of Thibaut Courtois (4-2, 74th).
In a completely different register, a little earlier in the second period, the Brazilian from Real Madrid and his mad rush after an incredible body feint (3-2, 55th) hurt the Citizens who had just made the break again through Phil Foden (3-1, 53rd).
Because there was a crazy rhythm
Dead time, what dead time?
This semi-final first leg of the Champions League almost never lifted the foot of the accelerator.
And this from the kick-off, since Manchester City's first goal came just before the 3rd minute of play. Come on, there are only two slightly more relaxing moments: the end of the first period, and the middle of the game. second.
But visually, the meeting was crazy intense.
Manchester City players covered 122.8 km, where the Spaniards swallowed 114.6.
By way of comparison, PSG and Bayern ended their 2020 final with 103.9 and 99.5 km on the clock in a season disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Because Real never lets go
We thought they were already dead against PSG after 1 three-quarter match showing almost nothing.
We thought they were buried when Chelsea led 3-0 on the lawn of the Bernabeu a few minutes from the end of the second leg.
We thought they were definitely overwhelmed by City … But it is therefore impossible to get rid of the people of Madrid.
Real does not let go, where as Karim Benzema explained after the meeting at the microphone of Canal +, “we did not let go.
Matches like that, technically, we are all at the same level.
Afterwards, it's the mind, in fact.
»
At 2-0, 3-1 then 4-2, Real Madrid seemed to be in trouble, but each time they managed to come back.
Like against PSG, like against Chelsea.
Often by a stroke of brilliance, talent, whether tonight Karim Benzema and Vinicius, or against Chelsea the outside of Modric's foot.
Sometimes with a bit of luck, like when the Citizens hit the post in the second half or conceded that silly penalty allowing Real to come back to 4-3.
But by force, we will end up believing that luck is not just luck.
A fortnight ago, after qualifying against Chelsea, the French midfielder of Real Eduardo Camavinga was almost prophetic: “It's not a miracle because against Paris too, people thought we were dead.
But we were able to climb the slope.
Against Chelsea, the same thing, we conceded two goals, three goals, we were able to come back.
"Hasta el final (note: until the end)" as we say here.
Word for word, the same story.
Because Karim Benzema is heading for the Ballon d'Or
Here he is at the top of the hierarchy of scorers in this Champions League.
Author of a double Tuesday evening, Karim Benzema is now at 14 goals this season in Europe, ahead of the 12 achievements of his Bayern counterpart Robert Lewandowski.
A first fox goal to get his team afloat after a complicated start (2-1, 33rd), before a sumptuous panenka at the end of the match (4-3, 82nd).
A bold move, insofar as the French remained on two failures on penalty, and in the same match moreover, Thursday against Osasuna.
"The goalkeepers watch me, watch how I take penalties, so you have to change at times", justified the person concerned to Canal + the person concerned, whose Champions League XXL brings him closer and closer to the Ballon d'Or .
"Frankly, I'm mainly thinking about winning La Liga and trying to win the Champions League.
What comes next, we'll see, he slipped.
But I'm really focused on the collective goals, for now.
If I have to choose between La Liga and the Champions League or the Ballon d'Or?
Liga and Champions League, direct.
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'Cause even the referee was level
When it is good, it must be said too.
If the football fan's favorite exercise is to criticize the refereeing, that of the Romanian man in black Istvan Kovacs was at the level of a legendary match.
Airy game, very few disputes, a tiny number of faults (16) and yellow cards (2) in a match of such intensity and such commitment, the referee was perfect.
Kroos' big foul where the referee chose to leave the advantage - Photo by Icon sport PA Images / Icon Sport
And above all, it is responsible for a great classic action.
On an obvious and rather spectacular foul in favor of City approaching the Madrid surface, the referee felt the game well and decided somewhat to everyone's surprise to let the advantage play.
Seconds later, Bernardo Silva sends a mine into the top corner to score City's fourth goal.
A masterpiece that 99% of referees would have aborted with a too hasty whistle.
“The referee did not whistle, I continue to laugh after the meeting Bernardo Silva at the microphone of Canal +.
I was lucky to have put it like that.
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Because even Guardiola has gone crazy
He is generally not the most placid of coaches on a football bench, especially compared to his evening opponent, the very phlegmatic Carlo Ancelotti.
But tonight, Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola was at least as much in the game as the 22 players.
Nervous breakdowns, disappointments, races along the sidelines, Guardiola gave everything and symbolized this extraordinary meeting and even collected a yellow card for having shaken the assistant referee a little.
Here are some videos of the intense match of what many consider to be the best coach in the world.
Or at least the most passionate.
Pep Guardiola's anger after Riyad Mahrez's missed opportunity 😳#UCL |
#MCIRMA
▶️ https://t.co/IH2nOcYw4F pic.twitter.com/dLeDdnenAE
— Canal Football Club (@CanalFootClub) April 26, 2022
Pep's reaction to Benzema's penalty 😅 pic.twitter.com/yrEp6RPrst
— GOAL (@goal) April 26, 2022
Guardiola's reaction to Vinicius' amazing goal 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/T3WdzR934t
— bilax92🇲🇦 (@bilax92) April 26, 2022
Because the football world loved it
You have loved ?
The environment too.
From the Canal + consultant Habib Beye who congratulated the players live at the end of the match, to the French international Aurélien Tchouaméni.
“Frankly, what a pleasure to watch a match of this level,” tweeted the Monegasque.
Frankly what a pleasure to watch a match of this level 👀🥰 #UCL
— Tchouameni Aurélien (@atchouameni) April 26, 2022
Abroad, the former Real Guti playmaker spoke of a “luxurious” half.
"How beautiful football is when both teams come to win," the Spaniard posted on Twitter.
In a more ironic style, the ex-English international Gary Lineker launched, still on this social network, a “hope that the return match will be more entertaining”.
"It was fantastic for everyone," summed up Pep Guardiola.
Because he promises us a crazy comeback
It's almost the best part of this match: there will be a volume 2. Despite their fairly clear domination, especially on a technical level, Manchester City have never managed to win Real Madrid and the suspense is intact before the match. return, scheduled for next Wednesday at 9 p.m.
Will we live the same evening?
“No”, answered Carlo Ancelotti rather curtly, not really happy with the performance of his team.
"I hope there will be 0-0 on the return, so we pass" laughs Bernardo Silva.
It would be a bit disappointing, though.