Real Madrid바카라s Vinícius Júnior and Manchester City바카라s Erling Haaland were relaxed and laughing as they embraced after the final whistle at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. (More Football News)
They both seemed satisfied following an even first leg that ended in a 1-1 draw and left the Champions League semifinal wide open going into next week바카라s return match in Manchester.
Real Madrid바카라s Vinícius Júnior and Manchester City바카라s Erling Haaland were relaxed and laughing as they embraced after the final whistle at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. (More Football News)
They both seemed satisfied following an even first leg that ended in a 1-1 draw and left the Champions League semifinal wide open going into next week바카라s return match in Manchester.
Vinícius and Kevin de Bruyne scored with long-range strikes in a match in which Madrid바카라s defense successfully kept Haaland 바카라 the Champions League바카라s leading scorer 바카라 from being decisive.
바카라I think both teams have the feeling that it was a good result,바카라 said Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, who took charge of his 190th Champions League match as coach. 바카라Maybe we played a bit better to deserve a victory, but it바카라s a series that will be even until the last minute.바카라
Madrid beat City in last year바카라s semifinals and went on to win a record-extending 14th Champions League title while the English club again fell short of European success.
바카라It was an even match,바카라 City coach Pep Guardiola said. 바카라They scored when we were better and we equalized when they were better. It will all be decided in Manchester.바카라
The first leg of the other semifinal between Italian rivals Inter Milan and AC Milan is on Wednesday.
바카라Both teams played well. It바카라s a good draw,바카라 Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said. 바카라There바카라s everything to play for next week.바카라
City controlled possession but couldn바카라t translate it into significant scoring opportunities. Haaland wasted a few chances early but wasn바카라t much of a threat throughout the game at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
The Norwegian came into the match having scored 12 of City바카라s 26 goals in the Champions League this season and was five short of Cristiano Ronaldo바카라s single-season record of 17 for Madrid in 2013-14.
Vinícius created problems for the City defense and opened the scoring in with a shot into the top corner in the 36th minute for his seventh Champions League goal this season. The Brazil forward picked up a pass by Eduardo Camavinga and used one touch to set up his right-footed shot from outside the area.
City struggled to come close to Madrid바카라s goal but De Bruyne found the net in the 67th with a powerful one-timer from outside the area after Madrid lost possession because of a poor pass across the field by Camavinga.
Madrid complained that it was not awarded a corner in the buildup of City바카라s goal.
바카라It was a shame that we conceded that goal,바카라 Madrid midfielder Luka Modric said. 바카라I think we deserved more. They had more possession but didn바카라t create a lot of chances. It바카라s still 50-50 and we will go into the second match with confidence.바카라
Haaland had not yet joined City when it lost 6-5 on aggregate to Madrid in last year바카라s semifinals. Vinícius, Rodrygo and Karim Benzema combined for all of Madrid바카라s goals that time.
Madrid is making its 11th semifinal appearance in 13 seasons and is trying to win its sixth title in 10 years. City played in its first Champions League final two seasons ago, losing to Chelsea.
Madrid, which won the Copa del Rey title this past weekend, is virtually out of contention in the Spanish league and can fully focus on the semifinal against City. The English side remains in the middle of a tight title race in the Premier League.
바카라Manchester will be like a final in front of our own fans,바카라 Guardiola said.