Football

Player ratings: Man City stunned as Real Madrid set up Champions League final against Liverpool after astonishing turnaround

Real Madrid will face Liverpool in the Champions League final on May 28 after some astonishing late drama in Spain, as they scored twice in stoppage-time to take their semi-final with Manchester City to extra-time and then Karim Benzema netted a penalty to win the tie 3-1 (6-5 on aggregate).

In complete contrast to the first leg, the game at the Bernabeu was a tight, nervy affair for most of nornal time before Riyad Mahrez lashed home with a first-time effort to give City breathing space in the tie.

But just when it looked like a clash with Liverpool in the final was on the cards, Real substitute Rodrygo scored twice in stoppage-time and then Karim Benzema netted a penalty in extra-time to seal a remarkable win for Carlo Ancelotti’s men.

Benzema surprisingly squandered two strong headed chances for Real early on before City started to take a grip on possession.

Kevin de Bruyne drilled an effort straight at Thibaut Courtois before Bernardo Silva forced the Real stopper into a smart stop at his near post.

Gabriel Jesus curled an effort narrowly wide before Phil Foden’s 30-yard volley forced Courtois into action. At the other end, it was the continued foot race between Kyle Walker and Vinicius Jr that was proving a must-watch in an otherwise disappointing opening period.

Real came out at a much quicker tempo at the start of the second period, causing some panicky moments in the City defence.

However, the deadlock was finally broken on the night when a quick City counter finished with the outstanding Silva teeing up Mahrez to lash home with 17 minutes to go.

Rodrygo stuns City with late heroics

City had one foot in Paris, only for Real substitute Rodrygo to start writing his own script.

The forward cut the aggregate deficit to 5-4 by flicking in the 90th minute and then glanced home a brilliant header to take the game to extra-time.

The home side started the extra period the way they finished the game, on the front foot, and were awarded a penalty when Dias felled Benzema in the area and the Frenchman stepped up to fire home from the spot.

Fernandinho came within inches of drawing City level in the closing stages of the first period of extra-time. However, they failed to muster another clearcut chance and crashed out in heartbreaking fashion.

Manchester City (4-3-3)

Ederson: Had nothing to do until the 90th minute, when Real suddenly sparked into life. Indeed, he made a great stop to deny Rodrygo his hat-trick in the final minutes of stoppage-time. 6/10

Kyle Walker: Had his hands full with Vinicius Jr and coped really well. Didn’t look fit the longer the game went on was eventually forced off through injury. 8

Ruben Dias: Solid as a rock until the drama of the closing stages when City’s defence started to buckle. Gave away the spot-kick that gave Real the lead in the tie in extra-time. 6

Aymeric Laporte: Booked early on after going head to chest with Luka Modric in a battle for the ages in which the diminutive Croatian also saw yellow. Did not look composed when Real stepped up the pace. 5

Joao Cancelo: Provided a good outlet for City down the left before switching to the right when Walker was forced off. 6

Rodri: Hardly ventured out of his own half as City looked to play it more cautious. Tired badly as the game went on and replaced by Sterling in extra-time. 5

Classy Silva City’s star man 

Bernardo Silva: Denied by Courtois when his near-post strike almost broke the deadlock on the night. Best City player on the night, driving his forward at every opportunity, while also doing his bit defensively. 8

Kevin de Bruyne: Blazed an early effort straight at Courtois after starting brightly. Was not given the space he was afforded in the first leg and was not at his best as a result. 6

Riyad Mahrez: Fairly quiet in the game before exploding into it with a thunderbolt of a finish to give City breathing space in the tie. Subbed as City looked to hang on to what they had. 7

Phil Foden: Was welcomed to the Bernabeu with a couple of hefty challenges but kept his composure. Dipping 30-yard volley forced Courtois into action in the first half. On the fringes of the game throughout. 6

Gabriel Jesus: Curled a first-half just wide and started the second period brightly with another effort that tested Courtois. Subbed as City looked to defend their lead. 6

Substitutes:

Oleksandr Zinchenko (on for Walker, 72): Made an immediate impact to launch the City counter-attack that led to Mahrez’s opening goal. 7

Ilkay Gundogan (on for De Bruyne, 72): Struggled to make an impact on the game when he came on. 5

Jack Grealish (on for Jesus, 79): Was involved straight away and had an effort cleared off the line that would have wrapped up the tie. 6

Fernandinho (on for Mahrez, 85): Legs not quite long enough to scramble home from close range late in the first period of extra-time. 6

Raheem Sterling (on for Rodri, 99): Gave City more of a threat in behind but Real dropped too deep to make that count. 6

The post Player ratings: Man City stunned as Real Madrid set up Champions League final against Liverpool after astonishing turnaround appeared first on TEAMtalk.

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