MADRID — Vinicius Junior and Kevin De Bruyne each scored superb goals from outside of the box as Real Madrid drew 1-1 with Manchester City in Tuesday’s Champions League semifinal first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois was the busier goalkeeper in the first half, saving shots from De Bruyne and Rodri. Madrid threatened when Vinicius Junior almost found Karim Benzema inside the six-yard box, before Vinicius put them ahead in the 36th minute, firing past goalkeeper Ederson from distance.
After halftime, Courtois saved well from De Bruyne — only for the offside flag to go up — before De Bruyne put City level with a clinical finish. Ederson saved Benzema’s header as Madrid pushed for a second, but it ended 1-1, with the tie to be decided in the second leg on May 17 in England.
Rapid reaction
1. First leg lacked fireworks of last year’s match-up, but both sides can feel OK with draw
Last year’s Champions League semifinal clash between Real Madrid and Manchester City set the bar sky high. It started with a thrilling first leg at the Etihad where Man City emerged victorious, but only just, in a 4-3 win that didn’t reflect their superiority. It was then followed by an all-timer of a second leg at the Bernabeu, with Madrid somehow scoring three goals in added time to go through.
How could this season’s semifinal possibly live up to that? This first leg didn’t. But it was still a fascinating contest.
City were on top throughout the first half — registering 68% possession, almost twice as many touches, and six shots — but Madrid were quite happy to sit back, defend deep and wait for their chance to come. For Real Madrid in the Champions League, those chances do always come.
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Here, Vinicius put them ahead with a fierce shot out of nowhere, set up by the all-action Eduardo Camavinga. Madrid grew into the game and were edging it by the time a moment of similar, outstanding quality, this time from De Bruyne, levelled the game midway through the second half.
Neither team will be too unhappy with the end result, and both will back themselves to finish the job next week at the Etihad.
2. Haaland disappoints in Bernabeu debut
Real Madrid, meet Erling Haaland. This was the first time Haaland had faced Madrid in a competitive game, and the Bernabeu crowd could have been forgiven for thinking: is this what all the fuss is about?
Haaland had just 22 touches, the fewest of any starter. He had three shots, but none of real danger.
