Real Madrid advances to the final in Paris after winning 6-5 on aggregate at the Santiago Bernabeu. Manchester City yet again suffers another heartbreaking defeat on the big stage.
Manchester City lead both the game and the tie heading into extra time and appeared to be on their way to a second straight Champions League final until Carlo Ancelotti’s side pulled a classic comeback.
Pep Guardiola has not won the UEFA Champions League since 2011 and has only played one final in those 12 seasons.
Real appeared down and out for the third knockout tie in a row. Even by its own ludicrous standards, this is a squad that has gotten accustomed to impossible heroics. Wednesday’s late-night performance was enough to earn a 3-1 victory against City.
Riyad Mahrez’s second-half goal had apparently secured City’s ticket to the final in Paris, with City leading 4-3 from the first leg. owever, two goals either side of the 90-minute mark from substitute Rodrygo turned the game on its head and sent the match to extra time.
In reality, it appeared as if there would be just one winner.
Karim Benzema, who had been somewhat quiet throughout the game by his own high standards, was tripped inside the area by Ruben Dias only three minutes into extra time and made no mistake shooting the penalty. Real won the match 6-5 on aggregate thanks to the goal.
No matter how deep Real appears to be in trouble, the Bernabeu’s magic always manages to bring the club out.
