Real Madrid just executed one of the all – time instant classics and amazing European football comeback win in order to shock Manchester City’s football club as well as their team’s fan base. Real Madrid has now booked which was thought to be a highly – unlikely places in the Champions League finals versus Liverpool.
That Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid is currently scheduled to begin on Saturday, May 28th, 2022.
The Goal Scoring Heroes from this Match
A goal from Rodrygo as well as a Karim Benzema penalty – shot goal score, all took place in this intense game from the 90th – minute on which provided, the head coach of Real Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti and his squad a 3 to 1 win after stoppage – time expired at the historic Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on Wednesday, May 4th, 2022.
This dramatic and stunning victory in the 2nd – leg of these 2022 Champions League semifinals will now send Real Madrid to Paris, France for the Champions League finals with a 6 to 5 aggregate triumphant win in a match that will not be forgotten anytime soon.
The Comeback Effort
Real Madrid trailed Man City 1 to 0 on the day as well as 5 to 3 on aggregate as they approached the 90th – minute following Riyad Mahrez‘s 73rd – minute goal score that seemed to be enough to send Manchester City to their 2nd – consecutive Champions League final.
Although Real Madrid decided to put together a comeback effort very much like they managed to do so versus Paris Saint – Germain as well as Chelsea earlier on during the 2022 Champions League competition. You can never count out Real Madrid as they play the best when their backs are against the wall and they are fighting from behind.
After coming off the bench, Rodrygo scored in the 90th and 91st – minutes in order to even out the aggregate score that sent the home crowd into a craze as well as these semifinals to extra – time. With Manchester City obviously shaken, Benzema then was awarded a penalty – shot in which he easily nailed during the first several minutes of the extra time period of this 2nd – leg match in order to provide Real Madrid a lead they would not give up in this amazing comeback performance.
Now Real Madrid is in the business of trying to win a record – extending 14th – European Cup title championship. Real Madrid will now have to face the 6 – time winners in Liverpool in the Champions League final at the Stade de France Stadium which will take place at the end of this month.
“Incredible,” Real Madrid’s Casemiro expressed to Movistar Plus following this intense and amazing match. “There’s no better feeling, no way to explain this, how difficult it was to get here. The best is yet to come, the most important [thing]
is yet to come, but we have to enjoy the moment. … We’re in the final, but the most difficult is yet to come. The great virtue of this club is never giving up, fighting to the end.”
For much of the match on Wednesday night, there was very little indication of the historic drama that was yet to come for most of the game.
In extreme contrast to last week’s very close game played in Manchester, England, the 2nd – leg of the Champions League semifinal could be summed up as a much much more cautious and defensive situation. Manchester City was supported by the defensive returns of both Kyle Walker and Joao Cancelo that were very happy to attempt to just contain a Real Madrid team that featured the return of their strong midfield enforcer in Casemiro.
Blown Opportunities for Real Madrid
Real Madrid started off both halves of the game very strong, and they had multiple potential opportunities to even the score. Benzema was the Champions League competition’s top goal scorer throughout this season, sent a header over the goal from the center of the box only 4 – minutes in to game action.
Vinicius Jr. missed an even better chance at the very beginning of the 2nd – half by getting his finish screwed up following a rehearsed kickoff routine that provided the star footballer a clear and open shot at the net from only 6 – yards out.
Mahrez fired on a near – post finish that managed to make it past Real Madrid’s goal – keeper, Thibaut Courtois, right after a solid counter – attack to all but send Manchester City to Paris for the Champions League finals against Liverpool who had punched their ticket to the big dance just 1 – day before.
Rodrygo’s 1st – goal score occurred via a nice pass from Benzema that passed in back of Ederson, was Real Madrid’s 1st– shot on goal during this match. Rodrygo’s 2nd – goal was headed in off of a Dani Carvajal cross – kick.
Then Manchester City’s Ruben Dias took down Benzema in the Manchester City penalty area during the first few minutes of extra – time in this match.
“This team, this club is capable of anything, we believed until the end,” Real Madrid’s goal – keeper, Thibaut Courtois, explained. “Mendy made a key save on the line, I did, too, we made it 1 – 1 and then 2 – 1 and they were dead. We were better in extra time. We had to defend well, and we did it. Incredible.”
Real Madrid is now looking forward to a record 17th – Champions League final and Ancelotti to an unheard – of 5th – final of his own. Manchester City’s agonizing wait to be crowned as the champions of Europe will now have to continue for at least another year.
“We were close. We were close. But in the end, we could not reach it,” the head coach of Manchester City, Pep Guardiola, divulged to B T Sport. “We didn’t play our best, but it is normal, a semifinal, the players feel the pressure. Football is unpredictable, it is a game like this. We have to accept it.“
Sources:
ESPN News Services. “Real Madrid stun Manchester City with incredible comeback to reach Champions League final”. ESPN. May 4, 2022.
Dawson, Rob. “Real Madrid stun Man City, Rodrygo the hero, Guardiola’s side melt down in Champions League semifinal”. ESPN. May 4, 2022.