
Pep Guardiola’s squad triumphed 4-3 at the Etihad Stadium, although they wasted a handful of opportunities to finish the contest well before the semi-final return fixture. City commanded for big chunks of what was an intriguing encounter.
Toni Kroos and Luka Modric were rendered to show up as old men in the presence of the creativity and pace of Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva in the core of midfield. Wingers Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez were simply too fast and precise for Dani Carvajal and Ferland Mendy, who’d been battling.
Phil Foden displayed why he is one of Pep Guardiola’s most reliable players in the first half, snatching the ball off of the Manchester night sky in Zinedine Zidane-like manner. Foden had only one goal and could have gotten two additional. Real players seemed to pursue shadows after some incredibly lovely touches. The England international had some amazing touches in the first half, the best of which occurred shortly after City established an early 2-0 lead.
Phil Foden is a once-in-a-generation talent. The Manchester City prodigy has developed in significance in recent times and has become one of Pep Guardiola’s most valuable performers. Foden plays every crucial match these days, and he undoubtedly vindicated his selection against Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals on Tuesday evening.
City spectators had to hide their faces on occasions, but the adrenaline and amusement were great. Nevertheless, after a breathless, spectacular 90 minutes, the Premier League champions may resent throwing up the chance to deem a sequel unnecessary. Both PSG and Chelsea left the gate wide open for the Spanish titans to earn their route back into matches they seemed to be losing in earlier rounds, and Pep Guardiola should pray his team hasn’t done the very same.
Benzema, who wasted two penalties versus Osasuna the previous week, was the nicest man in the thick of the chaos, slotting a Panenka over Ederson to freeze the stadium yet again. City went up 4-2 in the 74th minute courtesy of Bernardo Silva’s surprise strike, but Real Madrid recovered for the third occasion in the last ten minutes. The concluding scene of a Champions League masterpiece was Benzema’s ice-cold Panenka penalty, and the return match at the Bernabeu will be dramatic.