MANCHESTER City came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium tonight in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final tie.
Kevin De Bruyne levelled the scores after Vinicius Junior had given the hosts the lead.
Both goals were spectacular, with Vinicius hitting a rising shot that flew past Ederson into the top corner, and De Bruyne unleashing a grounder from the edge of the box that gave Thibaut Courtois no chance.
City dominated the first half, hogging the ball as Real Madrid sat back and played on the counter-attack.
Despite not having the ball for long, Real Madrid looked dangerous whenever they got forward, and they struck first in the 36th minute after a brilliant run by Edouard Camavinga set up Vinicius for the sensational strike.
The hosts had more of the ball and more control in the second half, and it was during their spell that City drew level.
The ball was worked to Ilkay Gundogan, who touched it to De Bruyne for the vicious shot into the bottom corner in the 67th minute.
Real Madrid protested that the ball had gone out of play in the run-up to City’s goal, but their appeals were ignored and manager Carlo Ancelotti was issued with a yellow card.
City need to win by any margin at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday next week to advance to their second-ever Champions League final, two years after they lost their first to Chelsea.
Pep Guardiola’s side are now unbeaten in 21 games in all competitions, a run which includes 17 wins, but Real Madrid are Champions League specialists.
