Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final between Manchester City and Real Madrid could not be settled in regular time or with two extra times.
So the past two Champions League champions settled matters in a penalty shootout after playing to a 1-1 draw. There, Arsenal scored a 4-3 shootout win to stun the reigning Champions League champions and avenge last year’s 4-0 semi-final defeat. Madrid advance to the semi-finals to face Bayern Munich, who defeated Arsenal in the other quarter-final on Wednesday.
Man City and Real Madrid went into the second leg of the quarter-finals on Wednesday with a draw after a 3-3 draw in the first leg in Madrid last week. It took less than twelve minutes on Wednesday before Real Madrid stunned the home crowd in Manchester.
At 11:40, VinÃcius Júnior took a pass along the right side of Valverde’s penalty area and then passed a cross to Rodrygo in front of the goal. Man City goalkeeper Ederson denied Rodrygo’s first attempt. But Rodrygo was there for the rebound and sent his second shot into the back of the net.
Just a few minutes later, Man City came agonizingly close to an equalizer. Bernardo Silva headed a rebound from the right side of the penalty area across the goal. Erling Haaland was waiting there and headed a header towards the top of the goal.
The ball shot back to the field via the crossbar, right in front of Silva. But the ball bounced off Silva’s knees and went wide of the goal.
The disappointment was clearly visible on the faces of Man City’s players and coaches. The match went into halftime with Real Madrid ahead, 1-0.
But Man City’s relentless pressure eventually broke through. Almost the entire second half took place in front of Real Madrid’s goal, with Man City dominating the time of possession. After 75 minutes that pressure paid off.
Antonio Rüdiger from Madrid disallowed a cross in front of the goal. But the ball bounced right in front of Man City’s Kevin De Bruyne, who took advantage. He sent the ball over the hands of goalkeeper Andriy Lunin and into the top of the net to put Man City on the board and tie the match at 1–1.
Neither team would score again in regulation. Two 15-minute extra periods also passed without a goal, leaving the fate of the Champions League quarter-finals hinging on penalties.
Bayern Munich beats Arsenal in another quarter-final
In the other quarter-final on Wednesday, Bayern Munich edged past Arsenal with a 1-0 victory. The two teams went into Wednesday’s game tied after a 2-2 draw in the first leg in London last week.
Munich needed just one goal on Tuesday to secure victory and send the home crowd into a frenzy.
The defense dominated early as the game went into halftime in a scoreless draw with only one shot on target from either side. After 63 minutes, Bayern Munich finally broke through.
Raphaël Guerreiro sent a cross from just outside the left side of the penalty area along the baseline. Joshua Kimmich was waiting in front of the goal and headed a laser past the outstretched hands of goalkeeper David Raya and into the back of the net.
Arsenal would have three shots on target that day, but none found the net. When the final whistle blew, the party started in the stands of the Allianz Arena.
Real Madrid and Bayern Munich now face off, with a place in the Champions League final at stake. The winner will face the victor between Paris Saint-Germain and Dortmund in the other semi-final.
