Sports
How Jesus Saved Man City In Madrid
By Ekene Dike
Gabriel Jesus and Kevin De Bruyne stole the show at Santiago Bernabeu as Manchester City came from behind to defeat Real Madrid 2-1. Kevin De Bruyne’s creativity was at its peak and it was very delightful.
The champions of England completed a stunning comeback at the Santiago Bernabeu as De Bruyne’s penalty secured a 2-1 victory over Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League game.
Despite being the better side for much of a frenetic encounter in Madrid, City – who lost Aymeric Laporte to injury in the first half – looked set to be heading for a defeat when Isco put Madrid ahead on the hour.
But De Bruyne, a peripheral figure in the first half, led the fight back, supplying the cross from which Gabriel Jesus headed home an equaliser before coolly slotting in from 12 yards after Dani Carvajal had brought down substitute Raheem Sterling.
And Madrid’s frustrations were compounded with four minutes remaining, captain Sergio Ramos saw red for a last-man challenge on Jesus as City secured a lead to take back to Manchester.
City could have hit the front in the 21st minute but, having been played in by De Bruyne, Jesus failed to beat Thibaut Courtois.
Karim Benzema’s header looked set to put Madrid ahead in the 30th minute, only for Ederson to pull off a stunning save, with Vinicius Junior unable to tuck in the rebound.
City had to rally from losing Laporte to injury soon after, though they responded well and only a goal-line block from Ramos denied Jesus an opener on the stroke of half-time.
Courtois had to make a save at full stretch to deny Riyad Mahrez yet for all City’s pressure, Madrid had the lead when Nicolas Otamendi lost the ball and Vinicius outmuscled Kyle Walker to square for Isco to slot home.
With Madrid hunting a second, Pep Guardiola turned to Sterling and his introduction sparked the revival – De Bruyne moving into a central role and swiftly finding Jesus, whose header stood after a VAR check for a potential push on Ramos.
The turnaround was complete five minutes later when Sterling drew a clumsy challenge from Carvajal and De Bruyne sending Courtois the wrong way from the spot.
Madrid’s calamitous collapse got even worse when Ramos received his marching orders in the closing stages.
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