Manchester City Seal Dramatic Victory in Champions League ThrillerManchester City Seal Dramatic Victory in Champions League Thriller In a pulsating clash that will live long in the memory of football fans, Manchester City emerged victorious from a dramatic Champions League semi-final second leg against Real Madrid at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. Trailing 4-3 from the first leg, City knew they had a mountain to climb. Pep Guardiola’s men started brightly and took the lead in the 73rd minute through Riyad Mahrez. Real Madrid responded through a Rodrygo goal just two minutes later, sending the match into extra time. The extra 30 minutes were filled with tension and drama. In the fifth minute of added time, Karim Benzema scored to give Real Madrid a 6-5 aggregate lead on the night. However, City refused to surrender. With just seconds remaining, Jack Grealish forced an error from Eder Militão and Ilkay Gündoğan pounced on the loose ball to equalize on aggregate. The Etihad Stadium erupted in celebration as the match went to penalties. In the shootout, Zack Steffen saved two Real Madrid spot-kicks, while all of City’s players converted their attempts. Mahrez scored the winning penalty to send City into the final with a 6-5 aggregate victory. The game was an advertisement for attacking football, with both teams showcasing their incredible quality. City’s relentless pressing and attacking prowess ultimately proved too much for Real Madrid, who fell short of reaching their 17th Champions League final. For City, this victory represents a major milestone in their quest to win their first-ever Champions League title. They will now face Liverpool in the final on May 28th in Paris.
