Real Madrid and Manchester City played to an entertaining 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Vinicius Junior and Kevin de Bruyne both netting superb goals.
UEFA Champions League
Result: Real Madrid 1-1 Manchester City
Date: 09 May 2023
Venue: Santiago Bernabeu
Pep Guardiola recalled Ruben Dias, Kyle Walker, Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish after the narrow victory Leeds United, while Ancelotti made just two changes as Antonio Rudiger and Luka Modric were back in the Real side.
Erling Haaland was the main topic of discussion heading into the clash and the Norwegian did have a couple sights at goal in the first 15 minutes, although goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was well-positioned to deal with both efforts.
Los Blancos carved out their first real opening on 25 minutes when Vinicius did well to send a low cross into the box but with the net gaping, Dias got back in time to deny Karim Benzema certain goal.
Vinicius, who starred in the Copa del Rey final, sent the home fans into a frenzy on 36 minutes when he opened the scoring with a sublime strike from distance that sailed into the top corner.
The Citizens should have levelled matters seven minutes into the second half when Silva played in De Bruyne, who saw his strike brilliantly saved by his countryman Courtois at the near post.
City got their reward in the 67th minute when some neat passing ended with Ilkay Gündogan teed up De Bruyne, who rifled the ball into the bottom corner from 20 yards out.
Madrid went close to restoring their lead with 12 minutes left on the clock when Toni Kroos' cross found Benzema at the far post, but Ederson produced a good save to deny the French striker.
Ancelotti's men pushed for a winning goal in the latter stages of the second half, with Aurelien Tchouameni going closest with a strike from distance that was palmed away by Ederson as the two sides have it all to play for in Manchester.
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