Champions League: Rodrygo’s brace help Real Madrid beat Manchester City 3-1 to enter the final
Real Madrid does it again; they have reached the final of the UEFA Champions League after defeating Manchester City.
Madrid turned it around just when everyone counted them out and gave up on them. The courtesy of this turnaround goes to Rodrygo, he was a supersub who came into the game in the 68th minute. But ended up being the difference between the two sides.
Rodrygo scored two impressive late goals to put his side back into the game. His presence in the box made all the difference for Madrid, and a goal in the 89th and 90+5 minutes sent the game into extra time.
The build-up to the tie
It was a closely contested match, with Manchester City dominating it for the most part. They had taken an early lead in the first leg played between the two teams and came into the second leg with an aggregate scoreline of 4-3 in their favor.
However, the tie’s second leg was played in the Santiago Bernabeu. And winning a game against the Madrid side on their home turf is not easy. Manchester City found that out the hard way.
They came into the game as the leaders and were supposed to play as they had a week ago. This time it was a more evenly contested tie, though. Madrid, who didn’t look in good nick in the last match, gave Manchester City no space to breathe.
Manchester City’s lead
The first half of the game saw both sets of players have a go at goal. But none of them managed to find the back of the net. It was only in the second half that Manchester City managed to breach Madrid’s castle of a defense.
A magnificent strike by Riyad Mahrez gave his side a lead in the game and a 2-goal cushion on the aggregate. The game looked done and dusted then and there. Madrid had played well, but they haven’t played half as well to make a comeback from being two goals down.
Although they managed to do the unexpected and took the game into extra time.
For a large part of the extra time, it felt as if the game would be decided on penalties. Both the teams were trying their best, yet none of them had a goal to show for it.
Benzema sends Madrid through
However, it changed when Madrid was awarded a penalty in the 95th minute. Karim Benzema had nerves of steel to place it low into the side nettings, which no goalkeeper in the world could ever reach. He palpably scored the winner by striking the 6th goal of the tie. Madrid won the tie of two games 6-5 on aggregate.
The French striker has now scored 43 goals in as many appearances for Real Madrid This season.
Manchester City’s attempt to make a comeback went in vain as the final whistle of the Referee sealed the two team’s fate.
Real Madrid will be facing Liverpool in the final to win their first Champions League trophy of the decade. They have played a total of 16 finals and won 13 out of them, so the onus will be on them.
