A TALE OF TWO ROCKETS (AND MORE)
While it may not have matched the nerve-shredding whiteknuckle ride of last season’s thriller at the Bernabéu in terms of excitement, Tuesday night’s Big Cup semi-final first leg between Real Madrid and Manchester City was not short on drama or controversy and leaves the tie finely poised before what one hopes will be a nerve-shredding whiteknuckle ride at the Etihad Stadium next week. Completely dominated by their visitors for the opening 36 minutes, Real Madrid bided their time before going ahead through a Vinícius Júnior surface-to-air screamer from distance that threatened to rip the goal-net from its moorings, only for City to restore parity courtesy of a low-trajectory Kevin De Bruyne howitzer against the run of play, after the hosts had abandoned their meek approach and begun to dominate proceedings.
