Real Madrid vs Manchester City 1-1 – as it happened
All the updates as two of the world’s best attacking teams faced off in the Champions League semifinal first leg.
This blog is now closed, thank you for joining us. These were all the updates from the Champions League semifinal first-leg clash between Real Madrid and Manchester City on Tuesday, May 9.
This blog is now closed, thank you for joining us. These were all the updates from the Champions League semifinal first-leg clash between Real Madrid and Manchester City on Tuesday, May 9.
- Kevin De Bryne scored to rescue a 1-1 draw for Manchester City at Real Madrid in the first leg of their last-four clash. The second leg will be played next week in Manchester.
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The first leg of the other semifinal between Italian rivals Inter Milan and AC Milan is on Wednesday.
- City have never lifted the trophy but Madrid have won it a record 14 times – including five in the last nine seasons.
- Madrid and City have now played each other nine times; they have three wins a piece and three draws.
- Live updates
- Match stats
- Lineups
That’s it from us
A proper Champions League knockout tie ends all square, but only whets the appetite for the second leg as well as the Milan derby we’ve got coming up tomorrow night.
Join us for coverage of that game and the rest of this year’s competition. Arrivederci.
Ancelotti happy with defensive performance
He told BT Sport: “Rudiger against Haaland did really well. We are satisfied, sometimes the result doesn’t give you the credit.”
He added: “You have to stay calm and keep the position defensively. Not go crazy pressing.”
Rodri praises ‘incredible’ effort
The Man City midfielder tells BT Sport: “It’s always very tough when you come here. First chance they have, they score an incredible goal.”
He added: “They defend in a way that is difficult to get in. The effort of the lads was incredible.”
Marksman
7/14 – Seven of Kevin De Bruyne's 14 UEFA Champions League goals have come from outside the box. Since he joined Man City in the 2015-16, it's the highest percentage anyone has scored from distance in the competition (50% – min. 10 goals). Bullet. pic.twitter.com/3NpumnjJqC
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 9, 2023
Referee in the spotlight
The Madrid fans and players seemed unhappy with the performance of Portugal’s Artur Dias this evening. There were many incidents where balls struck the arms of Man City players but none looked intentional or close to being fouls.
Still, expect to hear more about it from Carlo Ancelotti in his post-match press conference.
Full-time: Real Madrid 1-1 Man City
A pulsating second half sets this game up nicely for the second leg in Manchester as this one remains too close to call. The scoreline will obviously suit Guardiola’s side more but Madrid’s continued danger on the counter means they can score at any moment.
If they can score first at Etihad, things will be very interesting. Two great goals from Vinicius Jr and De Bruyne mean the spoils are shared this evening.
Ederson saves Tchouameni screamer
His blistering effort from distance is tipped over by the hand of the Man City keeper. There are three minutes of time added on.
Will we see a winner?
90 mins: Real Madrid 1-1 Man City
Grealish canters forward
But he cannot slip his pass through to Haaland, who’d set off at full pace behind the Madrid backline.
89 mins: Real Madrid 1-1 Man City
Silva booked
He tries to clear the ball but catches the back of Vinicius Jr’s legs and gets a booking from the referee.
Nacho comes on for Ancelotti’s side in place of Modric.
87 mins: Real Madrid 1-1 Man City
No changes from Pep
In fairness, he’s probably fairly happy with the scoreline as it stands so doesn’t want to mess with it. Still, messrs Mahrez and Foden would probably like a chance to stretch their legs.
Tchouameni comes on to replace Kroos for Madrid.
84 mins: Real Madrid 1-1 Man City
Camavinga booked
A late foul from the midfielder-cum-left-back on Rodri is rewarded with a caution from the referee.
Asensio is coming on for Madrid, with Rodrygo making way.
81 mins: Real Madrid 1-1 Man City
Mazy run from Valverde
The Uruguayan runs past Akanji with ease down Madrid’s left flank, but his eventual cross into the box is cleared by Stones.
Moments later Ederson saves well from a Benzema header.
79 mins: Real Madrid 1-1 Man City
No ‘away goals’ rule
However, this tie remains on a knife edge. A second goal for City would be a massive step towards reaching the final, with Madrid now having to be the more cautious team.
76 mins: Real Madrid 1-1 Man City
Gundogan booked
He stuck out a leg and brought down Carvajal at the edge of the Man City box. Alaba shoots from the resulting free kick but it goes high and wide.
73 mins: Real Madrid 1-1 Man City
Foul in the build-up?
It seems like the Real Madrid manager thought Kroos was fouled in the build-up to that City goal, but the replays suggest that the German took a dive.
Either way, Los Blancos are raging at the refereeing team from many angles.
71 mins: Real Madrid 1-1 Man City
GOAL!
De Bruyne scores from a distance with a shot to match Vinicius’s opener! Gundogan put it on a plate for him on the edge of the box and the Belgian said “thank you very much” and sent a powerful shot into the bottom left.
Meanwhile, Ancelotti has been booked for some remonstrating on the sideline.
68 mins: Real Madrid 1-1 Man City
Madrid piling on pressure
They’re much higher up the pitch than they were in the first half, and now it’s City who are struggling to play it out from the back. Vinicius Jr is calling for another handball against Stones, but once again it’s very close to the Man City defender.
66 mins: Real Madrid 1-0 Man City
Madrid want a penalty
Benzema’s cross reaches Valverde, who flicks the ball up towards the arm of Jack Grealish in the box. It’s so close neither has time to react, and the referee waves play on.
63 mins: Real Madrid 1-0 Man City
Valverde’s hopeful shot goes well over
A series of Madrid corners culminates in Valverde launching a shot from almost 30 yards about the same distance over Ederson’s goal. Man City can breathe again.
61 mins: Real Madrid 1-0 Man City
Vinicius causes havoc
He’s switched over to the right flank, and his shot is almost directed goalward by an awkward-looking John Stones. A second goal here would be massive for their prospects of reaching the final.
59 mins: Real Madrid 1-0 Man City
Courtois saves again
And again from that man De Bruyne – this shot was fairly tame though after a dummy on the edge of the Real Madrid box.
Moments later, Alaba slides in to block a shot by Erling Haaland as he was bearing down on goal.
56 mins: Real Madrid 1-0 Man City
Courtois denies De Bruyne
He may have been offside in the buildup, but Courtois couldn’t be sure and made a great close range save as the De Bruyne ran through on his goal.
53 mins: Real Madrid 1-0 Man City
Big Benzema chance
A rare sustained bit of possession from the team in white leads to a Benzema chance which deflects off John Stones for a corner. Nothing comes from it, but that was some nice play down Madrid’s left side.
51 mins: Real Madrid 1-0 Man City
Man City go short from corner
De Bruyne plays it to Grealish, who gives it back to the mercurial Belgian but his cross into the box is straight into Courtois’s arms.
48 mins: Real Madrid 1-0 Man City
Second half under way
Real Madrid kick us off for the second period, playing right to left in this half. Will we see a response from City?
46 mins: Real Madrid 1-0 Man City