Man City vs. Real Madrid score: Hosts win semi-final first leg in seven-goal thriller

Will Savage

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Man City vs. Real Madrid score: Hosts win semi-final first leg in seven-goal thriller image

Manchester City edged out Real Madrid in one of the most entertaining Champions League games in recent memory, to take a one-goal lead into the second leg of their semi-final.

Pep Guardiola's side exploded out of the blocks. They took the lead early on after working the ball out to Riyad Mahrez, who had time to lift the ball into Kevin De Bruyne's path from deep. The Belgian headed home, and it was a dream start for the hosts.

Their lead was doubled less than 10 minutes later, when De Bruyne had time on the left to find Gabriel Jesus in the area. The forward lost David Alaba and found space in the area to fire past Thibaut Courtois.

City looked like they were going to blow their visitors away in the opening stages of the game, and the high positioning of Phil Foden and Mahrez on the flanks was a real problem for Real Madrid.

Their backline was stretched, and they had to choose between getting out and defending the wide areas, but leaving spaces centrally for the likes of De Bruyne to attack, or staying narrow, but allowing Mahrez and Foden time on the ball, like they did with the first goal.

They pulled one back just after half an hour. Ferland Mendy swung in a cross from relatively deep, and Karim Benzema did superbly to hold off Oleksandr Zinchenko while guiding the ball just inside the post from the penalty area. Real Madrid finished the half in stronger fashion than they started it. They looked far more comfortable in City's third than they did elsewhere on the pitch.

City started the second half in the same manner they started the first. They were knocking on the door, and they quickly got their reward. Fernandinho, on for John Stones at right-back, lifted an excellent cross into the area for Foden to finish with a great header.

The match continued to swing too and fro, and Real Madrid again pulled the deficit back to one goal just moments later. Vinicius Jr. dummied Fernandinho and span in behind him. He was still in his own half, but Vinicius' pace made him unstoppable as he attacked he space. He bore down on Ederson's goal with purpose, and finished well from a tight angle.

MORE: Has Pep Guardiola won the Champions League? How many trophies has he won?

City tried to control possession, set against Real Madrid's more chaotic approach, which often had an end-to-end feel. City once again took the lead, this time after quick thinking from Bernardo. Everyone else stopped after Zinchenko was tripped, but the referee let play continue, and Bernardo caught Real Madrid out by pouncing on the loose ball and firing a laser-guided strike past Courtois.

That wasn't the end of the action, as Real Madrid won a penalty, the ball hitting Aymeric Laporte's arm. Benzema was the coolest man in Manchester, as he produced a Panenka from the spot. Both teams had chances for more throughout the game, but it finished 4-3, and Man City take al lead to Madrid.

Manchester City vs. Real Madrid final score

  1H 2H Final
Man City 2 4 4
Real Madrid 1 3 3

Goals:

REAL MADRID — Benzema — 82nd min.

MAN CITY — Bernardo (Zinchenko) — 74th min.

REAL MADRID — Vinicius Jr.(Mendy) —  55th min.

MAN CITY — Foden (Fernandinho) — 53rd min.

REAL MADRID — Benzema (Mendy) — 33rd min.

MAN CITY — Jesus (De Bruyne) — 11th min.

MAN CITY — De Bruyne (Mahrez) — 2nd min.

Man City vs. Real Madrid as-it-happened: updates and highlights

Full-time: Well, what a game. We can all breathe now.

91st min: Three minutes added on here. City have seen most of the ball in the last few minutes.

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89th min: Asensio is on now, for Vinicius. What a remarkable game it's been. Is there time for one more goal?

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86th min: City are applying the pressure again. A ball in from the right takes a little flick from Sterling, who came on for Jesus, and Dias stretches for it at the far post. It's out for a corner and it end up with Mahrez, on the right. He lifts it towards the far post and once again Dias is sliding to meet it, but it's just out of reach. Asensio is waiting to come on for the away side.

84th min: GOAL!

If you're keeping track of this at home, you're doing better than I am. Laporte challenges Benzema in the area, but he does it with his arm raised, and the ball strikes it. A penalty is given. It's Benzema in the Champions League, so of course there's no doubt about the end result. Benzema scores, with a Panenka.

79th min: City went close again, moments after their fourth. Mahrez showed quick feet in the area to dance through the Madrid defenders, but his shot is just wide of the post. Ceballos is on for Modric.

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75th min: GOAL!

An exceptional goal from Bernardo, and City are once again in the ascendancy. Play pauses as Zinchenko is tripped, but the referee plays advantage, and Bernardo Silva is the quickest thinker in Manchester! He latches onto the loose ball and flashes a shot past Courtois, at the 'keeper's near post. The Belgian doesn't even have time to react, he's completely caught out.

71st min: City managed to just slow things down a little over the last ten minutes. Carlo Ancelotti has brought on Camavinga for Rodrygo. Valverde has moved out to the right.

64th min: The game has a very open feel at the moment, although City are moving the ball around, and trying to restamp their authority on it.

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62nd min: Vinicius against Fernandinho always looked like a potential mismatch, and Real Madrid could find success down that side. They almost manage it when they win the ball with Fernandinho upfield. They work it down their left, and it ends with Benzema lifting a ball towards Vinicius Jr. He's ready to head towards goal, but it's intercepted before it reaches him.

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56th min: GOAL!

Moments after that great play, Fernandinho is caught out. He goes to challenge Vinicius for a low ball drilled down the line, but the Real Madrid man spins him, and Fernandinho is completely left for dead on the halfway line. Vinicius latches onto the loose ball and drives towards goal. There's no catching him, as he finishes past Ederson from a tight angle.

54th min: GOAL!

City restore their two goal lead! It's excellent full back play from Fernandinho, who intercepts a pass, knocking it to Mahrez before making an overlapping run. It's a 1-2, as Mahrez plays him through on the outside. He floats a ball into the area, and picks out Foden, on the edge of the six yard box. It's an excellent header from the young forward, who plants it low, and back across goal.

52nd min: It's been a quick start to the second half, much like the first. City have got forward on a few occasions, and Real are trying to cause them problems when they have the ball near their own area.

48th min: So close! Mahrez goes through, knocking a loose ball past Militao, and he curls the ball towards the far post from the right. It bounces back off the woodwork, and finds Phil Foden following up. It comes to him quickly, and he manages to divert the ball towards the centre of goal, but Carvajal has got himself in the way, and City can't convert.

It looks like Nacho is coming on for Alaba who, like Stones, was always a doubt for this game.

Halftime: There was barely enough time to blink between chances in that half, here's hoping for more of the same after the break.

46th min: De Bruyne fires a free kick from the left against the wall, and there's one minute added on. Fernandinho intercepts a pass in midfield and plays Mahrez through on the right. He passes the ball across goal for a teammate to get a touch, but Carvajal is in position to clear.

43rd min: City are seeing more of the ball, and the game is being played in Real Madrid's third of the pitch in the closing stages of the first half. Valverde has done a good job filling in gaps in the defensive line.

40th min: Fernandinho is playing on the right side of defence for Man City. The game feels a little more even now. Mahrez lifts a free kick from the right towards the far post, and Courtois palms it away.

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36th min: Fernandinho is on for John Stones. The defender didn't look injured, although he was a doubt coming into the game. Real Madrid look dangerous in City's half, but nervous in their own half.

35th min: GOAL!

They've pulled one back! Madrid have the ball in City's half, and it's worked out to Mendy on the left. He's fairly deep, but he swings the ball into the area. It doesn't look the most dangerous situation, but Benzema meets it on the penalty spot. He uses his right arm to hold off Zinchenko and, from 12 yards out, guides the ball home at the near post.

32nd min: Real Madrid have gone close from a corner, before City went close at the other end, with a Zinchenko shot from outside the area travelling just wide of the post.

30th min: It's happened again! Real Madrid cause trouble in the City area, as the hosts play their way out of the back, and it feels like they're causing a little more trouble, but they can't do anything when they run over the ball. City quickly counter, and it's a 3 on 2. Mahrez receives on the right, and touches inside for De Bruyne, who fizzes an exceptional pass into the path of Foden on the left. His first touch is a little loose, and it forces him wider than he would have liked. He fires across goal, just past the far post.

28th min: A remarkable minute of play. City try to play out under pressure, but Benzema anticipates Dias' touch and plays the ball into Vinicius Junior's path. The attacker passed the ball into the area and it bounces off the recovering Dias, and towards goal. It trickles slowly towards the empty net, with Ederson having left his line to close down Vinicius Jr. on the angle, and for a moment it looks like Real Madrid will get one back, before the ball bounces off the foot of the post, and back in front of the goal. It's cleared by Laporte. Seconds later, City get the ball forward, and catch Madrid unaware. They have a 3 on 1, with Mahrez carrying into the area on the right. Foden is in space on the left for a tap in, but Mahrez goes himself. He hits the side netting.

24th min: Phil Foden has been very good so far. He and Mahrez have stayed high and wide, and they're posing the Madrid fullbacks a real problem. If they stay wide, they leave spaces inside for the likes of De Bruyne and Bernardo to attack. If they stay narrow, Foden and Mahrez get time to control the ball and create danger, as Mahrez did for the first goal, when he had time to receive the ball, make space for himself, and cross the ball from a dangerous area.

19th min: Real Madrid win the ball high up, Bernardo Silva outmuscled for a header, and it breaks to Vinicius Jr. who can attack space. He drives into the area from the left, and opts to shoot rather than pass to Benzema. It's blocked, and goes out for a corner. The first real danger the away size have created.

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12th min: GOAL!

Real Madrid are floundering here. Their off the ball structure is a mess. They're leaving spaces when they press, and they're not winning the ball back. That's leaving spaces, and they're paying the price. City work it out to the left, near the corner flag. It's passed back slightly to De Bruyne, who is in an acre of space in Real's defensive third. He fires a low cross in to Gabriel Jesus, who is level with the near post, outside the six yard box. He's a little fortunate as he tussles with Alaba with the ball, it breaks goalside of the pair of them, and Jesus is quicker to react than the defender. He spins his man and fires the loose ball past a helpless Courtois.

10th min: Real Madrid have struggled to retain the ball in the opening stages of the game. When City have it, the visitors are trying to press, but their press just doesn't seem coordinated.

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5th min: Real Madrid has managed to get their foot on the ball now. If their best tactic was to frustrate City and hit them on the counter, that looks less likely to work now. However, the visitors won't panic, as the quarter final showed us. They almost capitalise as Rodrygo intercepts an Ederson pass on the edge of the City area, but they can't capitalise. City get the ball up the other end, and De Bruyne's pass to set Foden through bounces off the City man's heels.

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2nd min: GOAL!

Less than two minutes, and City have the lead! The home team have seen basically all of the ball in the opening couple of minutes, moving it around the edge of Real Madrid's third. It's worked out to Mahrez on the right and he dribbles towards goal. He's got it on his left, and lifts a delicious cross towards the far post from the corner of the penalty area. De Bruyne made a run from deep and arrived to head home.

Kickoff!

1 min from kickoff: There's a rousing chorus of 'Hey Jude' around the stadium, before the teams head out onto the pitch for the Champions League anthem.

10 mins from kickoff: Just ten minutes to go here. The Etihad pitch is looking pristine under the April evening sunshine, and the teams will be out soon.

20 mins from kickoff: With his history in this competition, you'd think that Karim Benzema will have a large part to play in this tie. Real Madrid are most likely to threaten the home side on the counter, and the relationship between Benzema and Vinicius Junior could be key to that.

30 mins from kickoff: The hosts are likely to supply most of the attacking impetus in this game. Pep Guardiola will want to head to Madrid with a healthy lead in the tie. The visiting defence, and goalkeeper, will likely be expecting a busy night.

40 mins from kickoff: Real Madrid have been here before, and many of these players are more than experienced with the sharp end of a European campaign. For City, that's not the case. They haven't reached this stage of the Champions League as frequently as they'd like, and today is an opportunity to improve their European record and clinch that first trophy.

60 mins from kickoff: For all the talk of overthinking, it looks a relatively normal selection from Guardiola. Stones features at full back with Walker and Cancelo unavailable but, on paper, the midfield and attack look standard.

70 mins from kickoff: John Stones is back for City, and will likely play at right back with Kyle Walker not able to return to the squad in time. Jesus, Foden, and Mahrez are the front three.

75 mins from kickoff: Rodrygo will be playing off the left, with Valverde taking Casemiro's place in midfield. The trio that have seen Madrid to European success in the past has been broken up by the change, but it remains to be seen whether Pep Guardiola can find a way to take advantage. Valverde is certainly no poor replacement.

80 mins from kickoff: As they do, Real Madrid have released their team early. Alaba has made the starting lineup, but it looks like Casemiro could only make the bench.

90 mins from kickoff: The Sporting News is here with live coverage of Man City vs. Real Madrid. We're not brave enough to make a prediction, but we're confident this will be a cracker.

Manchester City vs. Real Madrid lineups

Guardiola will be forced to shuffle his side ahead of this game. He will be without Joao Cancelo, who is suspended. Kyle Walker hasn't returned to fitness soon enough to make the squad, but John Stones has, and will start at right back. Zinchenko is preferred to Ake at left back. Gabriel Jesus gets a chance to continue his run of goals, as he starts alongside Foden and Mahrez in attack.

Manchester City starting lineup (4-3-3): Ederson (GK) — Stones, Dias, Laporte, Zinchenko — De Bruyne, Rodri, Bernardo — Mahrez, Foden, Jesus

Manchester City subs (12): Steffen, Carson, Ake, Sterling, Gundogan, Grealish, Fernandinho, Egan-Riley, Mbete, Palmer, McAtee, Lavia

Like their hosts, Real Madrid only have one confirmed absence ahead of this game, with Eden Hazard not expected to make the squad. David Alaba made the squad, despite doubts about his inclusion. Casemiro was in the same position, but is only judged fit enough to make the bench. Valverde deputises in his place, while Rodrygo is chosen to start on the right.

Real Madrid starting lineup (4-3-3): Courtois (GK) — Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Mendy  — Modric, Valverse, Kroos — Rodrygo, Benzema, Vinicius Junior

Real Madrid subs (12): Lunin, Fuidias, Vallejo, Nacho, Asensio, Marcelo, Casemiro, Lucas Vasquez, Bale, Dani Ceballos, Isco, Camavinga

MORE: Are Modric, Kroos and Casemiro still Real Madrid's best midfield?

How to watch Manchester City vs. Real Madrid

  UK USA Canada Australia
Date Tues, April 26 Tues, April 26 Tues, April 26 Wed, April 27
Time 20:00 GMT 15:00 ET 15:00 ET 05:00 AET
TV channel BT Sport 2 CBS, Univision, TUDN — —
Streaming BT Sport fuboTV, Paramount+ DAZN Stan Sport

UK: BT Sport 2 will broadcast the match in the UK, with the stream available on the network's platforms.

USA: The match will air on CBS (English), Univision and TUDN (Spanish) in the USA with all three channels streamed on fuboTV, available to new users on a free trial. Paramount+ will stream the match in English.

Canada: Every Champions League game in Canada streams live on DAZN. 

Australia: Stan Sport has the streaming rights for every UEFA Champions League match in Australia.

Will Savage