Manchester City Defeat Real Madrid in Champions League Semis

Manchester City will take a slender lead into their Champions League semi-final second leg against Real Madrid after a sensational game at the Etihad Stadium. Pep Guardiola’s side were 4-3 winners but, somehow, were left to rue a number of other big chances. They were punished by the ruthless visitors who, thanks to Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior, were able to stay within touching distance of their opponents. Kevin De Bruyne opened the scoring inside two minutes with the fastest goal in Champions League semi-final history before Gabriel Jesus doubled the lead nine minutes later. An excellent Benzema volley which came out of nothing - halved the deficit to make it 2-1 at half-time.

 

There was much more of the same in the second period and it took Phil Foden just seven minutes to restore his side’s two-goal lead. Although, that lasted all of two minutes as Vinicius finished off a brilliant run with an extremely cool finish. City came again as Bernardo Silva sent a rocket beyond Thibaut Courtois and into the top corner to make it 4-2 but Benzema ensured their lead would be cut to just the single goal for the second leg. After Aymeric Laporte was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the penalty area, the Real Madrid striker held his nerve to chip his spot kick past the diving Ederson. The two teams will do battle next Wednesday at the Bernabeu to determine which side will play in the Champions League is just over a month’s time. Two of Manchester City goalscorers this evening have been thrust in front of the media straight after the game and they have echoed much of what the viewers will have been saying, I'm sure. Firstly, Phil Foden. "For the fans watching, it was obviously a great game of football, a lot of goals," he said. "We're coming up against a team that has won the Champions League many times and we know that if we give the ball away in dangerous areas, they're going to punish us. It's something we need to work on in the second leg and the game's still on." Secondly. Bernardo Silva. "I honestly think that the first 20 minutes we were so, so good," he added. "The way we pressed, the way we controlled the game, the way we created chances and over the 90 minutes, it felt like we could've won with a better score. Unfortunately we were not able to take advantage of our two-goal advantages but that's the Champions League. We played against one of the best teams in the world and it's still a good score for us." Tonight has shown exactly why the Champions League is the absolute pinnacle of world football. The referee brings an end to the game of the season at the Etihad where both teams more than played their part. Manchester City will be scratching their heads as to how they are only a goal in front heading to the Bernabeu but it is a lead, all the same. Guardiola and Ancelotti share a smile after the final whistle and they certainly won't be the only ones smiling after that truly brilliant game of football.

Portugal advances, Ronaldo scores 2 to reach 109 goals

Cristiano Ronaldo scored two penalties to tie the overall men’s scoring record with 109 goals and Portugal advanced to the round of 16 at the European Championship after a 2-2 draw with France on Wednesday. Ronaldo's tournament-leading fourth and fifth goals moved him level with former Iran striker Ali Daei at 109, while also extending his overall tournament record to 14. Karim Benzema scored both of France's goals, his first ever at the tournament after failing to find the target at Euro 2008 and 2012. Defending champion Portugal finished in third place in the group, one spot behind Germany. France, which had already qualified, was first.

Ronaldo scored the opening goal in the 31st minute and then equalized from the spot in the 60th after Benzema put World Cup champion France ahead 2-1 shortly after halftime from Paul Pogba’s pass. Benzema also scored a penalty in first-half injury time after Kylian Mbappe was fouled. It was Benzema’s first international goal in nearly six years after losing his place in the team following a fallout with coach Didier Deschamps. Pogba almost scored a winner for France midway through the second half, but Portugal goalkeeper Rui Patricio made a superb one-handed save to tip his curling shot off the crossbar and then saved Antoine Griezmann’s follow up shot. France will face Switzerland in the next round and Portugal will take on Belgium. The 36-year-old Ronaldo’s historic run began 17 years ago when he scored his first goal for Portugal in a 2-1 loss to Greece during the group stage at Euro 2004. Before Wednesday, he had never previously scored against France. He put that right, but only after teammate Danilo had received treatment on the field after France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris misread a free kick and punched Danilo’s face. Lloris was shown a yellow card by Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz, who then immediately signaled for medical assistance and awarded a penalty. Danilo’s legs were writhing for a few seconds as he received treatment from medics. France was given a penalty just before halftime after Nelson Semedo cut across Mbappe as he was running to meet another pass from Pogba. The decision stood following a quick video review. Benzema had missed his previous penalty for Les Bleus on his international comeback in a friendly against against Wales earlier this month. He didn't mis this time. Ronaldo went to shake Benzema's hand and even put his arm around him as they walked off smiling at halftime. They then swapped jerseys as they walked down the tunnel.