Harvest Of Records From Manchester City, Real Madrid Champions League Semi-Final Tie

Manchester City overcame Real Madrid in a scintillating contest which saw the hosts preserve their fine UEFA Champions League record at the Etihad Stadium, having not lost at home in Europe since 2018. The Cityzens now have a narrow advantage in the tie, but head to the Santiago Bernabeu with just a goal advantage as they look to secure back-to-back Champions League final appearances.

City wasted no time at all to get on the front foot, as it took just 93 seconds for talisman Kevin De Bruyne to head home beautifully past compatriot Thibaut Courtois after Riyad Mahrez floated in a wonderful cross. It was the quickest goal ever scored in a Champions League semi-final.

11 minutes later, City got a second, when Gabriel Jesus expertly turned David Alaba to slot home a precise finish. It was a perfect follow up to the impressive four goals scored by the Brazillian over the weekend against Watford.

Karim Benzema reignited the contest with a half-volley, providing his team with a lifeline just before half-time.

In a thrilling second half, it was a feast of goals as Phil Foden struck for City with a header from Fernandinho’s cross but Real Madrid replied instantly through Vinicius Junior who exploited City’s weakness at right back as they were missing Kyle Walker and Joao Cancelo both to suspension. Vinicius breezed past Fernandinho with pace and scored emphatically to make it 3-2. Bernardo Silva then looked to put the tie beyond Los Blancos reach as he made it 4-2 with a smashing effort into the top corner, but Karim Benzema stepped up once again to score so calmly from the spot with a panenka to complete a Champions League classic 4-3.

Here are key facts from the Manchester City and Real Madrid cracker;

• Karim Benzema is the first player to score 40+ goals for Real Madrid in a single season since Cristiano Ronaldo left them in 2018, with Ronaldo the last to do so for the club in 2017-18 (44).

• No English player has scored more goals in the Champions League while aged 21 or younger than Manchester City’s Phil Foden (9, level with Wayne Rooney).

• After his hat-trick at Chelsea and brace against Man City, Karim Benzema is the first player in Champions League history to score as many as five goals away from home in the knockout stages against clubs from a single nation in a season.

• Man City 4-3 Real Madrid is the joint-highest scoring ever Champions League Semi-final, along with Ajax 5-2 Bayern (April 1995) and Liverpool 5-2 Roma (April 2018).

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