Manchester City 1, Real Madrid 1 (Real Madrid win 4-3 on penalties)
Manchester City’s defence of their Champions League title is over after Real Madrid held on for penalties and beat their hosts 4-3 after Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic missed their spot kicks.
Kevin De Bruyne had cancelled out Rodrygo’s opening goal after City eventually overcame the deep lying Madrid defence.
But while the Blues dominated possession and had 32 shots on goal over the two hours of the epic marathon they ran against a Madrid side who weren’t keen on attacking at all it all came down to penalties.
Rodrygo’s opening goal after 12 minutes owed a lot to a sublime first touch by Jude Bellingham in the build-up and City wobbled a bit after that despite hitting the woodwork through Erling Haaland’s header.
Nacho cleared off his own line while Phil Foden could only fire direct at Andriy Lunin in the Real goal.
Foden played more centrally and looked a lot more dangerous going into the final quarter of the game with shots blocked and saved.
It was attack against defence as City laid siege to the deep lying Madrid who were defending their lead – and De Bruyne’s shot was spilled by Lunin but Foden was too far out to capitalise.
City were in full control by this time – Madrid failed to make a shot on goal until the end of normal time after the 50th minute – but were unable to make the break through.
City made their first change after 72 minutes, bringing on Jerry Doku for Jack Grealish, and he soon created the equaliser when his cross from the left was blocked by Antonio Rudiger but the loose ball fell to Kevin De Bruyne who took one touch before rifling it into the roof of the net from 5 yards out.
De Bruyne missed two great chances to put City into the lead – the second from Manuel Akanji’s pull back as Madrid held out for extra time.
Julian Alvarez replaced Erling Haaland for extra time – the big Norwegian appeared stiff as he walked to the bench before the restart.
There were half chances for City in the first period of extra time but the biggest cheer was for another defensive tracking run by Walker to block out a Vinicius Junior run just as he thought he was Scott free.
Rudiger volleyed over after Akanji missed a clearance at the end of first half extra time as City were handed due warning of the dangers of overcommitting to find the winner.
Pep Guardiola brought on John Stones and Mateo Kovacic for Manuel Akanji and Kevin De Bruyne with 8 minutes of the game to go.
And after a disappointing penalty shoot out City will be looking to bounce back at Wembley at the weekend but may have to do so without Haaland, De Bruyne, or Akanji after they asked to come off during the game with knocks.
Embed from Getty ImagesPLAYER RATINGS – Manchester City 1, Real Madrid 1 (Real Madrid win 4-3 on penalties)
Ederson: 6. Early save from Eduardo Camavinga and Rodrygo but little he could do with Rodrygo’s first half goal. Got to a cross before Vinicius Junior could in the second half on a rare counter attack.
Kyle Walker: 7. Been wrapped in cotton wool and understandably didn’t venture forward too much, broke up play well but missed the Rodrygo goal. Tracked Vinicius Junior back in added time just before the young winger was withdrawn.
Ruben Dias: 7. Entrusted to look after Vinicius Junior when he came inside. Called for calm after the equaliser to make sure that City were not vulnerable.
Manuel Akanji: 7. Inverted into midfield when he could but although he’s not as good as John Stones he did decently in advanced positions – set up a great late chance for Kevin De Bruyne.
Josko Gvardiol: 7. Linked well with Jack Grealish. Had less to do in the second half.
Rodri: 7. Rested but not quite match ready at the start, eventually got himself into the game and passed the ball around like we know he can. He had some tame shots on goal which he could have done better with.
Kevin De Bruyne: 8. Dangerous set pieces and went close with a couple of shots – one saved well by Andriy Lunin – but eventually got his goal even though he missed a clutch of great chances before and afterwards.
Bernardo Silva: 6. Central role at the start before going wide right. Good close control and balls into the box, put a follow-up wide after Erling Haaland hit the crossbar. Poor penalty straight at Andriy Lunin.
Phil Foden: 6. Stationed on the right wing but buzzed around looking for space going forward. Couple of off target efforts and a shot that was straight at Andriy Lunin to his dismay. Came inside more in the second half and had a shot blocked by Antonio Rudiger.
Jack Grealish: 6. Offered good protection to Josko Gvardiol and pressed well on the left flank. Had a shot deflected into the side netting and got Dani Carvajal booked. Long range effort saved in second half.
Erling Haaland: 6. Had several headers, one of which came off the crossbar, and he was thwarted by Andriy Lunin. Unselfishly passed a ball out to Jack Grealish to release him.
Jeremy Doku (on for Jack Grealish, 72): 7. On to try and unlock the deep defence of Real Madrid. Forced an error from Antonio Rudiger for the equaliser and ran at the tiring visitors. Rudiger blocked a shot from him extra time.
Julian Alvarez (on for Erling Haaland, 91): 6. Replaced Erling Haaland up front for extra time but City missed a physical presence up front. His late shot was straight at Andriy Lunin.
Mateo Kovacic (on for Kevin De Bruyne, 112): No time to mark, missed key penalty in the shootout.
John Stones (on for Manuel Akanji, 112): No time to mark
GOALS – Manchester City 1, Real Madrid 1 (Real Madrid win 4-3 on penalties)
Man City 0, Real Madrid 1: 12. Rodrygo tucked in the rebound from his own shot after it was saved by Ederson following a low cross from the right by Vinicius Junior.
Man City 1, Real Madrid 1: 76. Jeremy Doku’s cross from wide was blocked by Antonio Rudiger but the loose ball was quickly won by Kevin De Bruyne who took one touch and rifled the ball into the roof of the net from 5 yards out.
PENALTIES – Manchester City 1, Real Madrid 1 (Real Madrid win 4-3 on penalties)
Julian Alvarez scored with a shot into the right corner.
Luka Modric saved by Ederson with a shot too close and to the left.
Bernardo Silva saved – straight down the middle and Lunin didn’t have to move.
Jude Bellingham into the bottom left corner with Ederson going the other way
Mateo Kovacic saved – too close and to the left of Lunin.
Lucas Vazquez scored low to the left.
Phil Foden scored confident shot into the left.
Nacho scored with a low shot to the right; Ederson went the wrong way
Ederson scored low into the bottom left corner.
Antonio Rudiger scored the winning penalty to the left.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City 1, Real Madrid 1 (Real Madrid win 4-3 on penalties)
Man City: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Akanji (Stones 112), Gvardiol, Rodri, De Bruyne (Kovacic 112), Bernardo Silva, Foden, Grealish (Doku, 72), Haaland (Alvarez 91)
Man City Subs not used: Ortega, Carson, Ake, Gomez, Nunes, Bobb, Lewis
Booked: Grealish 59 (foul on Dani Carvajal); Gvardiol 61 (foul on Jude Bellingham); Rodri 90 (foul on Brahim Diaz)
Goal: De Bruyne 76
Real Madrid: Lunin, Carvajal (Militao 110), Nacho, Rudiger, Mendy, Valverde, Camavinga, Kroos (Modric 79), Bellingham, Rodrygo (Diaz 84), Vinicius Junior (Vazquez 103)
Real Madrid Subs not used: Arrizabalaga, Gonzalez, Joselu, Ceballos, Garcia, Guler
Booked: Carvajal 38 (foul on Jack Grealish); Mendy 90+4 (foul on Kyle Walker)
Goal: Rodrygo 12
Referee: Daniele Orsato