Real Madrid 1
Manchester City 2
Kevin De Bruyne orchestrated a dramatic Manchester City comeback on Wednesday as they stunned Real Madrid 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu to put one foot in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Madrid looked on course to edge a cagey contest after Isco’s smart finish early in the second half, but De Bruyne teed up Gabriel Jesus in the 78th minute and then tucked away a penalty in the 83rd.
A pulsating finish also saw Sergio Ramos sent off for preventing Jesus from going clear and Madrid’s captain will now be banned for the second leg at the Etihad Stadium on March 17, when City’s two away goals will make them heavy favourites to go through.
Pep Guardiola sprung another Champions League surprise by picking a line-up nobody predicted, with De Bruyne up front and Raheem Sterling, Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho all on the bench.
But his gamble paid off handsomely, even if Nicolas Otamendi made the mistake that led to Isco’s opener while an injury to Aymeric Laporte meant Fernandinho had to be introduced midway through the first half.
Laporte was seen walking around the pitch but must now be doubtful to play in Sunday’s League Cup final against Aston Villa.
Guardiola insisted on Tuesday that Uefa’s two-year ban, pending City’s appeal, would not act as a spur for his players but it was very much on the minds of their travelling fans, who were singing against European football’s governing body from almost the first minute.
Either way, City now have a golden opportunity to make a statement by knocking out Real Madrid, the competition’s most successful club in its history.
Zinedine Zidane’s team was more predictable, even if Toni Kroos, one of his most consistent performers, was left on the bench.
These are the sort of nights when Gareth Bale can find his best but Vinicius Junior took the spot on the left.
The opening half was tentative, summed up by Ederson at one point playing for time by stalling on the ball and being allowed to by Madrid, who also refused to press him.
If both team’s priority was to stifle, they were largely successful as City seemed content to let Madrid have the ball, as long as Jesus and Riyad Mahrez were ready to race away on the break.
Jesus cut inside Raphael Varane and had a clear sight of goal only to shoot straight at Thibaut Courtois. On the stroke of half-time, the Brazilian struck again, this time after a weak Thibaut Courtois punch, but Ramos blocked and Fede Valverde hacked away from the line.
In between, Real went close too. Karim Benzema’s header was palmed out by Ederson and Vinicius looked certain to tap in the rebound yet slipped at the crucial moment, five yards out and with the goal at his mercy.
Laporte had gone off but City enjoyed their best spell after the break.
Casemiro carelessly conceded possession and De Bruyne tore away, feeding Mahrez, who cut in and curled wide. Jesus drove another shot straight at Courtois.
Zidane considered a change and Bale warmed up, only for Madrid to take the lead.
Otamendi failed to control a Rodri pass and Vinicius broke, with Kyle Walker and Fernandinho rushing to meet him.
ISCOOOOO ⚪️!
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) February 26, 2020
Madrid lead at the Bernabéu!
Calamitous defending from Man City!#RMAMCI #UCL #VMSport pic.twitter.com/n0URCD2tfn
They left Isco free behind them and Vinicius picked him out, giving the Spaniard a simple finish.
The hosts smelt an opportunity for a second as Dani Carvajal weaved through and Ramos’ volley was deflected over by Fernandino.
But Bale and Sterling both came on and shortly after, the tide turned.
In the 78th minute, De Bruyne’s clipped cross was too high for Ramos at the back post and Jesus behind him nodded down, his header enough to beat a weak right hand from Courtois.
Gabriel Jesus leaps up behind Sergio Ramos and heads Man City level!
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) February 26, 2020
What a ball from KDB!! 🎯#RMAMCI #UCL #VMSport pic.twitter.com/30ls4N5vY6
And five minutes later, City scored again, this time Carvajal at fault, sliding late on Sterling in the area. De Bruyne made no mistake with the penalty and it was City’s fans still singing, long after the final whistle.
Giroud celebrating a late equaliser to a minnow like they won the league again. Stop wasting time and take the ball out of the net and run back to the centre circle ya big eejit. Shows the arsenal state of mind and expectations these days.
@Brian: awaiting jordo to respond..
“f*ck off ur talkin Sh*t, Arsenil iz de best 2k17″ while calling you are barstooler, the Irony is lost on him.
@Jigz: anytime spurs drop points you are no where to be seen on this you gobshi*e
@Brian: he did the exact same thing last year when he equalised against Bournemouth in the 4-4. About 3 minutes left, Bournemouth rattled and he runs off to do his scorpion celebration. Rage enducing
Lacashit doing what he does best again today. Nothing.
@FPL Thommo: still better than flopkaku
@Jordo: How so?
@Dave Murray: same amount of league goals, and it’s Lacazette’s first season in the prem. Lacazette’s movement and all round play is better than lukakus in my opinion
@David Mc Nally: your talking absolute shi**
Lads no point cant argue with the resident 42,ie village idiot. More chance of getting a better debate from a wooden plank.
@Jordo: so are you !
@Jigz: stick to American football you cun*
@Jordo: bit salty pal?
@FPL Thommo: not salty at all. You’ve been proved wrong as per usual. Stick to the fantasy
@FPL Thommo: c’mon, you know by now, as long as you say nice pleasant things about Arsenal, you’ll be fine with him…
@FPL Thommo: 2 assists for flopkaku for city’s goals so far
Terrible result but st Mary’s has always been our bogey ground. How Wenger didn’t go 4-3-3 from the start with Wilshere in midfield is beyond me. Can’t believe Mertesacker started
I was reading recently that if you count accumalatively the goals/minutes ratio in Europe’s major leagues, Giroud runs away with it.
Like light years ahead of the even the Ronaldos, Lewandoskis, Suarezs, Messi, etc. Something like a goal an hour or something.
@Havid Dickey: I forgot to add it was accmalatively over the past 5 years.
There’s some big games today, why waste article space on this?
2-0 down after 10 minutes to united. 10 training sessions later and Arsenal go 1-0 down after 3 minutes. Defence terrible again. Bellerin terrible. Alexis terrible again, he’s now given the ball away SIXTY SIX times in the last 2 games and doesn’t want to be there but Wenger won’t drop him and blames time wasting for another poor performance. If city beat united today arsenal will be closer to the bottom of the table than the top. But hey careful what you wish for, there’s no manager in the world better than Wenger…
@Tom49: Alexis was poor again but no one is giving him credit for his cross to Giroud
@Jordo: with the talent Sanchez has, it’s what you expect to be honest.
@Jordo: doesn’t make up for his crap performances. Arsenal need to flog him in January and play someone who is interested. I don’t know what your stance is on the manager but I doubt we’ll even get Europe next season. I hope the changes behind the scenes are the start off the end for Wenger. Need new ideas and new blood badly
@Tom49: Wenger since last season. How Wilshere didn’t start today with 4–3-3 is beyond me
@Jordo: out*
Lookin forward to shearers view on this
Don’t know what all the talk is about vandyke thought he was very poor, especially for the goal.
@Martin McKenna: Van dijk*
@Jordo: sad
The Arsenal were robbed. Southampton with their anti football and kicking lumps out of Laca & Sanchez. Why are refs such bottle jobs against us Goons?? Frustrating.
@Whatshisname: stop going on about the refs. Wenger’s team selections is the problem
@Whatshisname: but we should’ve had a penalty