REAL MADRID will face Liverpool in the Champions League final after fighting back to sensationally defeat Man City 3-1 (6-5 on aggregate).
A Karim Benzema penalty plus a Rodrygo quickfire double sent the 13-time champions into the final in stunning fashion, and deny an all-British clash for City.
Riyad Mahrez had scored first for City, before Rodrygo’s late goals sent the tie to extra-time.
The mouthwatering final is in Paris on May 28.
- Result: Real Madrid 3-1 Man City (6-5 agg)
- Real Madrid XI: Courtois, Carvajal, Militao, Nacho, Mendy, Kroos, Casemiro, Modric, Valverde, Vinicius, Benzema
- Man City XI: Ederson, Cancelo, Dias, Laporte, Walker, Rodri, De Bruyne, Silva, Mahrez, Foden, Jesus
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Your finalists
Real Madrid march on to face Liverpool in the final in what promises to be another corker on May the 28th.
Pep reacts
Pep discussed his side’s performance, who had victory snatched away from their grasp at the very last minute.
In the last ten minutes, we did not attack and attack and you suffer. It did not happen. They put a lot of players in the box. They made crosses and scored two goals. We didn’t play our best, but that is normal, players feel the pressure because they want to do it. Football is unpredictable, and sometimes you have to accept it. Now we need time to process it, come back home, and we have four games left.
Pep Guardiola, Manchester City boss
.Credit: Getty “I never thought we had lost” – Ancelotti
This evening, Carlo Ancelotti reaches his fifth Champions League final (3 with AC Milan, 2 with Real Madrid), the most of any manager in the competition’s history.
The boss shared his thoughts after the game. Naturally, he was as cool as a cucumber.
It’s the big history of the club, which helps us to keep going when things are gone. The game was close to finished, but we were able to find some energy. We played a good game against a really strong rival. Psychologically we were better in extra time. i never thought we had lost, I had no time to think about it. I am really happy to be in Paris against a really great rival. i think it will be a fantastic game of football.
Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid boss
.Credit: EPA
King Karim
Simply inevitable.
The golden boy
The substitution that changed everything.
Ancelotti sent Rodrygo on in the second half to help salvage something for his side.
He went on to score two goals in a matter of seconds, both in stoppage time, to level the scores, making him the first player to do so in Champions League knockout history. He then played the ball across for Benzema who was fouled, leading to the penalty.
Rodrygo, another name to add to Real Madrid’s incredible Champions League story.
.Credit: Getty Serial winners
So, Real Madrid have done it again.
PSG, Chelsea, and now Manchester City have all been in the driving seat against Ancelotti’s men, on the edge of victory. But Los Blancos have always found a way.
Nerves of steel.
A buzzing Bernabeu
Nobody is leaving their seats here, apart from those who left earlier, thinking their team were out of it.
The players are doing lap after lap of the pitch, soaking up every last second of the applause.
There’s not a Manchester City player in sight.
.Credit: AP City heartbroken
Guardiola and Ancelotti shake hands and embrace. Pep goes over to comfort his players, some of whom are in tears. Others are walking the pitch, wondering how they got here.
Meanwhile, Madrid are arm in arm, jumping up and down. Another truly historic night for those fans.
FULL TIME Real Madrid 3-1 Manchester City
In the most dramatic of circumstances, Real Madrid have beaten Manchester City 6-5 on aggregate to march on to the Champions League final.
Real Madrid 3-1 Manchester City
120, Courtois claims the ball and falls to the floor. The Madrid players are celebrating already.
Real Madrid 3-1 Manchester City
120, Every clearance is cheered now. Asensio boots it out and punches the air.
Whistles ring around he stadium. The fans can taste victory.
Real Madrid 3-1 Manchester City
119, Grealish wins a corner off Vazquez.
There will be three added minutes here. Guardiola is losing his mind. He thinks there should be more.
Real Madrid 3-1 Manchester City
117, Sterling accelerates down the left and gets in between Vazquez and Rodrigo. He looks bemused at the referee who points for a goal kick.
Real Madrid 3-1 Manchester City
116, Grealish lets his frustration show, cursing the air after fouling Valverde. Not long for Madrid to hold on now.
Then again, I’ve said that before…
Real Madrid 3-1 Manchester City
115, Militao finally calls it a day. Vinicius then falls to the floor with cramp. Both are replaced by Vallejo and Vazquez.
Real Madrid 3-1 Manchester City
113, Zinchenko clips Rodrygo as the as the Brazlian glides past him.
His name is currently being etched into Real Madrid’s history books. What an inspired substitution.
Real Madrid 3-1 Manchester City
112, Gundogan sends in a deep free kick.
Eventually Rodrygo puts an end to Sterling’s run.
Real Madrid 3-1 Manchester City
11, Militao does come back on, and the game can resume.
Time for City to do what Real did to them.
Real Madrid 3-1 Manchester City – Madrid change
111, Militao hobbles off after a nice lie-down and chat with the medics.
I think he wants to continue.
Real Madrid 3-1 Manchester City
108, Militao is limping around the field now with cramp. Nacho is the next t go down. The time wasting has begun.
Real Madrid 3-1 Manchester City
107, Militao jumps all over Foden, and Foden is deemed to have fouled him. A difficult one to explain. But the referee seems sure of himself.
Real Madrid 3-1 Manchester City
We are back underway for this second period of extra time.
Extra time, half time – Real Madrid 3-1 Manchester City
Just time to for a manager’s speech, a sip of water and a chance for all of us to scratch are eyes. This really is happening.
Real Madrid 3-1 Manchester City
105, Oh my word that was too close for words!
Cancelo curls a ball in, Foden flicks on to the back post where Fernandinho was stretching at the back post. but with an empty net ahead of him, he pokes it wide.
Real Madrid 3-1 Manchester City
105, Carvajal floats a ball into the area. Asensio heads it straight on to Dias’ arm, but no penalty this time, despite the Madrid players’ questions.
I am still getting my head round how Manchester city are in this position.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
