The ferocity and the finesse of Manchester City threatened to overwhelm Champions League aristocrats Real Madrid in a breathless semi-final first leg at the Etihad Stadium. But, like the monstrous villain in the horror movies, the Spanish aristocrats are not dead, even when they look like being buried under an avalanche of goals.
It was pulsating and played out in a cauldron of noise at the Etihad Stadium, with the visiting supporters confined to the top tier, allowing the most vocal Blues supporters in the two corners of the South Stand to link up and create a wall of noise.
And City held a two-goal advantage on no fewer than three occasions as goals from Kevin De Bruyne, Gabriel Jesus, Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva gave them a first leg edge. But the brilliance of Karim Benzema and flying winger Vinicius Junior dragged Real Madrid back into it.
