Seven goals in one game, Manchester City's home game against Real Madrid in the early morning of April 27, the Champions League semi-finals, provided a feast for fans who stayed up late. In the end, City laughed to the end with the blitzkriegs of De Bruyne and Jesus and the goals of Foden and Bernardo Silva in the second half. And Real Madrid, despite having the old and strong Benzema and the energetic Vinicius, can only lose 3-4.
In this match, City's two major wingers were missed, right-back Kyle Walker was injured and hung a free card, and left-back Cancelo was suspended for receiving a yellow card in the second leg against Atletico. Guardiola could only get Zinchenko to start, and Stones returned as right-back. But the game lasted only 32 minutes, the England Iron Guard could not insist on being replaced, Guardiola glanced at the bench, helplessly waved the flag, 36-year-old veteran Fernandinho put on the team. 3 years ago, he was used by Guardiola's centre-back, this time, the right back leaf also had to be replaced by him, it is simply a brick of Manchester City, where it needs to be moved.
However, Fernandinho really did a good job, and in the 52nd minute of the second half, when Guardiola was still upset about Mahrez's one-handed shot, he broke through Mendy's defense and sent a cross, Andrden unceremoniously headed the ball into the goal, and Manchester City led 3-1. Although Fei Bird was played by the young Vinicius after 2 minutes, he played a missed ball and passed through the crotch, and could only watch his Brazilian compatriot, who was 15 years younger, run a long distance to break the goal, but an assist and a mistake were also canceled out. In the 54 minutes, Fernandinho assisted 1 key pass, and there was also 1 steal and 2 interceptions on the defensive end, the pass success rate reached 84%, and the 6.2 point rating was honestly a bit indebted to him.
Fei Bird was surprised and frightened, and Zinchenko, who played as a left-back, performed more steadily, in 90 minutes of the game, he had 2 steals, 3 interceptions and 2 key passes, and even 1 shot, more noteworthy, in the 74th minute of the game, he broke through with the ball and fell to the ground, but the ball made the god fall to the foot of the B seat, who completed the goal with a kick and also helped Zinchenko to add an assist. With Manchester City's lowest salary, but repeatedly stepping up at key moments, Zinchenko deserves applause.
One was a substitute defender and the other was a pure cameo, but Zinchenko and Fernandinho both provided assists to contribute to City's eventual victory over Real Madrid. And this narrow victory, in fact, laid a solid foundation for Manchester City to reach the Champions League final for the second consecutive season.
Don't you think it's a little early to say this? After all, Manchester City only won by 1 goal, and real Madrid on the other side has carved a reversal into their own genes this season. In addition, in guardiola's six seasons at the helm of Manchester City, there have also been experiences of winning at home in the Champions League knockout rounds but eventually being reversed. In the 2016/17 Champions League knockout round against Monaco, Manchester City, who won 5-3 at home in the first leg, was eliminated 1-3 away from home.
But today is different from the past, first of all, the second leg to the Bernabeu, Manchester City will usher in the comeback of The two wings of Canselo and Kyle Walker, Canselo's assist ability needless to say, Kyle Walker's pursuit makes Mbappe helpless, and the young Vinicius must not be able to get anything out of him. In this case, both Ruben Dias and Laporte can focus their main energy on Benzema, one 27 and one 25, 3-year-old Benzema against the two major young men, whether they can continue to turn the tide is really difficult to say.
Even more deadly is a new deal introduced by UEFA this season. The reason why Manchester City was eliminated by Monaco that year was that they were given 3 away goals by their opponents. Real Madrid have also scored three goals at the Etihad, and according to the previous policy, they can qualify with a small 1-0 home win, while Manchester City must be careful to save the goal. However, now that UEFA has cancelled the away goal, this means that Manchester City can continue to attack with Real Madrid at the Bernabeu without any scruples, the strength of the two sides is almost the same, but the Manchester City backline will be greatly enhanced in the second leg, and Real Madrid can only continue to rely on the god and magic Mendy, the elderly Carvajal and the Militang who turned around with Maguire charm, and Alaba's injury this morning made Real Madrid even worse. So this time, Real Madrid's magical reversal journey may come to an abrupt end.