David Alaba can continue to hope for his third final in the Football Champions League. Real Madrid were beaten 3-4 (1-2) by the Viennese in the first leg of the semifinals at Manchester City on Tuesday, but still have every chance in the second leg on May 4th. Man City dominated the thrilling game, leading three times with two goals, but Real always managed to catch up. Alaba was replaced during the break.
55,000 spectators at Manchester’s Etihad Stadium watched a game-determining City team that got off to a dream start. Kevin de Bruyne put the lead following 90 seconds with a diving header following a cross from Riyad Mahrez. In the 11th minute, goalscorer Gabriel Jesus, who scored four goals in the league at the weekend, beat Alaba following a cross in a duel and made it 2-0.
The catch-up
Until then, Real had hardly got the ball. Pep Guardiola’s team let the ball and opponents run free and created further good opportunities through Mahrez (26′) and Phil Foden (29′). After that, however, Real stabilized on the defensive and also found their way into the game offensively. The first good opportunity was missed by Alaba, whose header went just a few centimeters wide following a Benzema cross (30′). Shortly therefollowing, however, Benzema proved his outstanding closing qualities and converted a Mendy cross to make it 1: 2 (33rd).
Real coach Carlo Ancelotti had to react during the break. Alaba, who was substituted in last week’s game once morest Osasuna with an adductor problem and was doubtful for the match, stayed in the dressing room to watch the English side get off to a better start once more.
A Mahrez shot landed on the post (48′), Foden’s follow-up shot was just blocked. In the 53rd minute, Foden made it better following a Fernandinho cross and scored to make it 3-1. But the answer came immediately from Vinicius Junior, who started from his own half and finished safely (55th).
After that it went back and forth at high speed, but once more with clear advantages for the English. Defender Aymeric Laporte initially missed (68′), but Bernardo Silva scored following a fine individual effort to make it 4-2 (74′). But Real found their way back.
After a handball from Laporte, Benzema took the penalty and scored in Panenka-style to make it 3:4 (82nd) - he had missed two penalties once morest Osasuna. For the 34-year-old Frenchman it was the 14th goal in the tenth CL game, already in the round of 16 once morest PSG (3 goals) and then once morest defending champions Chelsea (4) Benzema was the personified life insurance for Real.
The “Citizens” remained undefeated in the 20th European Cup home game in a row, but last year’s finalists have to worry regarding making it into the final once more (May 28th in the Stade de France in Paris). In the second Spanish-English semi-final on Wednesday (21:00) Liverpool and Villarreal meet. (apa)