The first leg of the 2023/2024 Champions League quarterfinals ended in a draw with both teams scoring three goals apiece leaving the decider for the Etihad Stadium in the second leg
The game ended with six goals which is the second-highest number of goals scored in a fixture between the two in the Champions League since 2013.
The white wall of the Madrid fans went silent in the 2nd minute when the Portuguese mystro, Bernardo Silva broke the deadlock with a goal from the free kick spot far from the wall.
The noise in the Bernabeu surged when Eduardo Camavinga’s cross deflected Ruben Dias which swayed Ortegan who could not get his hands on the ball going into the far right net in the 12th minute.
With Madrid dominating possession with 62%, Rodrygo de Goes sealed a half-time victory for Los Blancos when he gave a perfect finish from a counterattack in the 14th minute.
Phil Foden brought the game to par with a stunner in the 66th minute, making his fifth goal in 7 Champions League matches.
The Cityzens elevated the game with another stunner from Gvardiol in the 71st minute with Lunin’s stretch not nearing the ball.
8 minutes later, the game was leveled with a volley from Valverdi which threw the Bernabeu in loud cheers.
Both sides could not add to haul of goal after 4minutes of added time, making the second leg at the Etihad Stadium the decider to who sails to the semi-finals.
The Champions League fixtures between the two European titans have always been the most anticipated game in recent campaigns.
A head-to-head analysis puts Madrid ahead of City as they have won 4 out of ten clashes whereas Manchester City has won 3 with both sides drawing on three occasions.Â
In the ten clashes, 31 goals have been netted with Madrid quelling the cityzens with 17 goals and the former scoring 14.
Defending Champions Manchester City thrashed Madrid 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium in the second leg of the 2022/2023 Semi finals after the first leg at the bernabeu ended in a 1-1 draw with Toni Kroos scoring the only goal for Madrid in the 5-1 aggregate.
The rivals clashed again in the semifinals of the 2021-2022 season where an eleventh-hour brace from Brazilian forward, Rodrygo Goes brought the Champions League dreams of City in tatters after they only managed to score Madrid 4-3 at the Etihad in the first leg
The 2019/2020 Manchester City Advanced to the quarter-finals after winning a 4-2 aggregate after beating Madrid 2-1 both at the Etihad and Bernabeu.
Madrid sailed to the final of the 2015/2016 season after they had a slim 1-0 victory on the second leg after the first leg ended in a goalless draw
Story by Richmond Ampofo
