Manchester City suffered one of the most shocking remarkable Champions League defeat in their history as Real Madrid came back from behind to set up a showdown with Liverpool. The English Premier League side was two goals ahead on aggregate going into the 90th minute after Riyad Mahrez’s strike had added to their 4-3 first-leg win last week.
Real Madrid came back to the game through Brazilian star Rodrygo. The Brazilian substitute turned home Karim Benzema’s left-wing ball from close range in the final minute with Real’s very first shot on target. And 90 seconds later he leveled the tie with a header into the top corner after Marco Asensio flicked on Dani Carvajal’s cross.
Manchester City, who thought they were going through to put up an all-English Premier League Champions League final, was shell-shocked. Both sides had chances to win the tie before the full-time whistle. Ederson denied Rodrygo a quick-fire hat-trick and then an unmarked Phil Foden fired over inside the box. And so to extra time the game went – and it was Real Madrid who got the decisive goal in yet another classic Champions League tie.
Karim Benzema beat Ruben Dias to a loose ball in the box and was brought down by the City defender. He stepped up to take the penalty himself and scored his 43rd goal of the season. There is no doubt it is the most important. Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois, who was by far the busier keeper, tipped away Foden’s header with Fernandinho inches away from scoring the rebound – but Manchester City could not find a goal to send it to penalties.
That sets up a repeat of the most memorable Champions League final of recent years when Real Madrid beat Liverpool 3-1 in 2018. For City and manager Pep Guardiola now, the Premier League title is the only trophy they battling while Liverpool has ill their four trophy chase with just four games left to play in the league this season.