Both camps have described the upcoming Champions League semi-final between Manchester City and Real Madrid as a “final” following a closely-contested first leg at the Bernabeu.
City came away from Madrid with a creditable 1-1 draw following a high-quality contest in the Spanish capital. Vinicius Junior produced a stunning long-range strike to open the scoring against the run of play in the first half before City repeated the trick.
Real appeared to be on top in the second half, but Kevin De Bruyne rifled an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner from range to beat Thibaut Courtois. Ederson needed to be alert to keep out Karim Benzema’s header and Aurelien Tchouameni’s powerful strike as City held on to draw.
The result sets up a tantalising prospect in the second leg, which takes place at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester next Wednesday. City boss Pep Guardiola was happy with his players' efforts and feels they will have a good chance of winning the next encounter before facing the winner of AC Milan and Inter in the final.
"When we were better they score. When they were better we score. Tight, tight game," he told BT Sport. "The Bernabeu in the semi-final, sometimes we had good moments and sometimes it was difficult with the quality they have on the ball. Final next Wednesday at home with our people."
His sentiments were echoed by City midfielder Rodri, who said: "We knew no matter what happened here this is not the end, we still have the second game. At home, we will need the people to support us."
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City had six shots on target to Real’s four, giving Courtois plenty to do in goal for the home side. But he felt his team-mates did a good job at limiting the chances for City’s attackers: De Bruyne, Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish, Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva.
“It was a good game from both sides,” he said. “We defended a bit more. If you want to defend, you need to not give Haaland the space to run in to find those passes that Kevin, Bernardo and Gundogan can play easily.
“We played well. As a consequence, they will shoot more from distance. Rodri, Kevin shoot well with the ball. It was a good draw and everything to play for.
“It will be like a final. I hope we can put that in our minds although it’s away, but I think we’re quite good at winning finals so I hope we can mentalise it like this, even though it’s in City.”
AC Milan face rivals Inter in the first leg of the other semi-final on Wednesday night. The final will take place in Istanbul at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium on June 10.
