📰 Table Of Contents
Pre-Match Social Media Commentary
Pep Guardiola has made six changes to his Manchester City side that beat Leeds to face Real Madrid in the Champions League this evening 📝 pic.twitter.com/zImzVzuCZl
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) May 9, 2023
P18 W7 D4 L7
43% of Pep Guardiola’s semi-final defeats have come against Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid. 👀#UCL https://t.co/QbSCA8QDuu
— Squawka (@Squawka) May 9, 2023
🌍 | STARTING LINEUPS
UEFA Champions League semifinals are here — Real Madrid host Manchester City! 🤩
This should be a spectacle, as there are no major surprises in either XI, with only notable absences being Éder Militão (suspension) and Nathan Aké (injury).#RMAMCI #UCL pic.twitter.com/AsPNdfSLHR
— Sofascore (@SofascoreINT) May 9, 2023
Erling Haaland arrives for his first ever match in the Santiago Bernabéu 🤩 pic.twitter.com/kmra60a7X2
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) May 9, 2023
Since the 2013-14 season, Real Madrid have played 25 #UCL knock-out ties and gone through 21 times.@dermotmcorrigan found out what it’s like to play at the Bernabeu on a European night — and what it takes to beat the Champions League’s most decorated team…
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) May 9, 2023
Karim Benzema is set to make his 151st #UCL appearance.
He’s scored 90 goals and provided 30 assists in the #UCL — will he add to those tallies against #MCFC? #RMCF | #RMAMCI pic.twitter.com/Muvn2Osrnb
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) May 9, 2023
Toni Kroos isn’t worried about comments that #ManCity will thrash Real Madrid. pic.twitter.com/1XiQliwgIx
— Football España (@footballespana_) May 9, 2023
A coming together of footballing powerhouses produced ninety minutes of football in the Spanish capital that hardly disappointed as Real Madrid and Manchester City battled to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their semi-final clash in Europe’s top club competition.
In the headline clash of the two semi-final fixtures, Pep Guardiola’s determination to win the one trophy with City he has failed to do since his arrival in England looms large over the legendary Spanish manager as he locked horns with one of the greatest managers in history in Carlo Ancelotti.
City hardly lacked motivation on the night away from home after being knocked out by Madrid at this same stage last season, but over the course of the night, the English hegemon were reminded just how difficult it is to stand up in the Champions League and come away winners.
Vinícius Júnior and Kevin De Bruyne with two stunning strikes 🤩
It’s all square heading into the second-leg 🤝 pic.twitter.com/z8D4mN2ek1
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 9, 2023
Despite being in front of home support in the Spanish capital, Real Madrid was happy to sit back and defend in depth given Manchester City’s efficiency and effectiveness in a high-octane pressing system, with Carlo Ancelotti possibly worried about trying to match City for legs across ninety minutes.
Madrid, who are so often lethal on the counter via the flanks, nearly found the opening in the opening exchanges when Vinícius Júnior broke into space after good one-touch combination play with Karim Benzema, with the Brazilian star nearly finding the Frenchman in space on the edge of the area but his ball was just behind the frontline man.
City was dominant in possession and happy to be so, controlling 70% of the possession and already crafting five shots in the opening fifteen minutes while allowing Madrid space enough to complete just forty-four passes across a clash that currently was following the tactical script many would have probably expected.
Both sides came out swinging in the second stanza while coming close to adding another notch on the scoresheet on either side of the scoreline, but it would be Pep Guardiola’s troops that would pull level in the 67th minute after a low long-range drive from Kevin De Bruyne.
The Belgian star ripped a grass-cutting effort past his compatriot Thibaut Courtois after Rodri did exceptionally well to press and regain possession before finding Jack Grealish, who cut inside to spot Ilkay Gündogan only for the German to take a touch before laying off De Bruyna to find an equalizer they arguably deserved.
Ederson came up big in the 78th minute when Benzema popped up at the far post to head low from a tight angle back across goal in the wake of a Madrid free-kick only for the Brazilian to smartly turn the star striker’s effort away from danger. He did much of the same again when second-half substitute Aurélien Tchouaméni rifled an effort from outside the box that was destined for the top corner before the Brazilian parried away.
Try as both sides did, neither could give themselves an advantage heading into the second leg at the Etihad in what ended as an entertaining draw in Madrid, with many remaining of the opinion that the winner of the two-legged affair should be capable of going on to win the competition.
City certainly dominated play but tired legs could play a part moving forward after Guardiola failed to make a single change in the second half, while Ancelotti once again got his tactics spot on as evidenced by Madrid boasting a higher xG, more shots, and a higher amount of big chances created on the night.
In the end, expect a very similar affair to play out a week from now in the northwest of England.
Key Stats & Performers
✨ Most Dribbles completed:
Vinicius Jr. – 5💥 Most Tackles won:
Kyle Walker – 6Battle. ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/5V8ZLk4wX7
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) May 9, 2023
🔎 | FOCUS
Toni Kroos was our highest-rated Real Madrid player tonight:
👌 67 touches
🎁 1 big chance created
🔑 2 key passes
👟 53/56 accurate passes (0.13 xA)
🧲 4 interceptions (most)
🦵 2 tackles
🚷 0 times dribbled past
📈 7.5 Sofascore rating👏👏#RMAMCI #UCL pic.twitter.com/qlQZrbkbNi
— Sofascore (@SofascoreINT) May 9, 2023
Eduardo Camavinga’s game by numbers vs. Man City:
88% pass accuracy
78 touches
9 ground duels won
5 tackles won
3 key passes
2/2 long balls completed
1 interception
1 assistHe was everywhere. 👏 pic.twitter.com/ndEpYbLLYK
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) May 9, 2023
Vinícius Júnior in the #UCL knockout rounds this season:
⚽⚽🅰️ vs. Liverpool
🅰️ vs. Liverpool
🅰️ vs. Chelsea
🅰️ vs. Chelsea
⚽ vs. Man CityHe always delivers. 💌#RMAMCI pic.twitter.com/XnatE0ZaKF
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) May 9, 2023
17 wins
4 draws
0 lossesMan City extend their unbeaten run to 21 games 💪 pic.twitter.com/ROS9TDerua
— B/R Football (@brfootball) May 9, 2023
Kyle Walker’s game by numbers vs. Real Madrid:
83% pass accuracy
76 touches
6 ground duels won
6 tackles won
5 long balls completed
5 clearances
2/3 aerial duels won
1 blockExcellent battle with Vinicius Jr. ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/7mO6p7pqg7
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) May 9, 2023
