By
Real Madrid has made it a trivial matter to write the story of a comeback by falling behind. Sometimes they win. Sometimes it ends in a tie. And when the game at home, the Santiago Bernabeu, is just a comeback, it becomes a thrilling tour of tradition and glory. Where every nail-biting moment is filled with football love. Every second is splashed with colors of love and madness.
Real Madrid gave us such a night in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals. The match drew 3-3 against Manchester City, the reigning champions of the competition. Not once, but twice, Real, the most successful 14-time champions of the competition, left the field with a draw in this match.
The hosts scored in the second minute of the opening. Then equalized in 12 minutes. 1 minute and 52 seconds ahead. In the exciting first 14 minutes of the game, it was clear that Spain and the two top clubs of the English league will not let anyone down. Real went into the break leading 2-1 in the first half. After coming back, they scored two goals in a span of 4 minutes. Even if they fall behind again, Real did not take time to prepare the field and return to equality. 3-3 tie in the 79th minute of the match. This scoreline eventually led to a draw.
Manchester City went ahead by surprising the hosts in 2 minutes of the match. Man City get a free kick from far outside the D box. Bernardo Silva left footed shot into the net. His long-range shot into the bottom left corner found Real's net.
Desperate to equalize, Real counter-attacked. Kamavinga did the job for the team in the 12th minute. Kamavinga gets Rodrigo's extended ball 20 yards out. Take the ball forward and take a left foot shot. There the ball touches the body of an opponent player and goes into the net.
After that, Real tasted the second goal in one minute and 52 seconds. Rodrigo didn't take any time to send the ball into the opponent's net with a cool head. From the counter attack, Vinicius Jr. advanced towards City's D box with a high ball. There two defenders tried to stop him. The goalkeeper also came forward. But the Brazilian forward took control of the ball and scored with a tap.
After going forward, Real continued to attack. Also creates multiple opportunities. But two Brazilian forwards Vinicius Junior and Rodrigo could not score. The rest did not finish well. It did not increase the lead. Real Madrid went into the break leading 2-1.
Manchester City equalized in the 67th minute of the match. Foden scored with a left-footed Konakuni shot into the top corner. Dazzling goals. He shook the Real camp several times before the goal. The opportunities did not work. However, Foden finished the opportunity in the blink of an eye in the 67th minute.
The visitors went ahead again four minutes later. This time Josko Guardiol scored from just outside the D box. That same kind of angled shot. The Croatian star scored his first goal for Manchester City on the big stage.
The hosts did not have to endure the pain of falling behind for long. City can only hold the lead for 8 minutes. Fede Valverde scored a great volley from Vinicius' cross in the 79th minute of the match.
In the last fifteen minutes or so, including extra time, the match progressed with attack and counter attack. In the end, no one was spared. Both teams accepted the draw.
Man City lead in this match with 3 goals in the opponent's field (as away goals). Real should not be unhappy even with a draw. They will play in the next leg at Etihad Stadium. Where he played six times and never won. Lost four times. Two draws. Carlo Ancelotti's disciples have to write history if they want to play in the semi-finals.
