Ten facts and curiosity from the first leg of the Champions League semi-final between Manchester City and Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium.
Madrid have never won at the Etihad Stadium
Like Stamford Bridge until victory in the first leg of the quarterfinals, another stadium will appear on Madrid’s way to the dream final in Paris where it did not win. At the Etihad Stadium, they drew twice and lost on their last visit which led to their final elimination in the round of 16. At that meeting alone it was zero. Real Madrid have scored in two of their three visits to the City.
Only Benzema scored in Manchester
Two goals in three visits made to the Champions League from Real Madrid to City were signed by Karim Benzema. The benchmark madridista goalcorer has scored 12 goals in 9 games in this edition and if he can score he will be the top scorer in the hunt for Robert Lewandowski. The French striker has scored 7 goals in his last three games. He matched Cristiano Ronaldo as the only player to achieve two consecutive hat-tricks in knockout matches, against PSG and Chelsea. His season summed up 39 goals in 40 games between all competitions. This is the great white hope.
There was no goal against City in the knockout rounds
The strength of Pep Guardiola’s team can be seen in their defensive work. Since accepting his final goal on the final day of the group stage of this Champions League edition, against Leipzig, he has received nothing in four knockout games. Sporting de Portugal in the round of 16 or Atlético de Madrid in the quarterfinals have not scored against a team that is unbeaten for 379 minutes in European competition.
Ancelotti, winner
Despite the fact that Pep Guardiola was the head-to-head winner of the coaches, with four wins against Carlo Ancelotti when the Italian managed Everton in previous seasons, the only precedent that exists in the semifinals of the Champions League left the coach of Real Madrid. The show of power left the total 5-0 in the tie, with 0-4 against Bayern Munich in the second leg at the Allianz Arena a boost towards the white team’s tenth European Cup.
Courtois, the one who is most for
With 43 saves in 10 games played (4.3 key saves per game) and 9 goals received (0.9), Thibaut Courtois is shining in the Champions League. He has kept a clean sheet on four occasions and plays a decisive role in Real Madrid’s path. His rival, Ederson, made just 10 saves in 9 games (1.12 on average per game).
The Etihad, a fortress in Europe
Since Lyon attacked the Etihad Stadium on September 19, 2018 (1-2), Manchester City have not lost a Champions League match in front of their fans. 3 years, 7 months and 7 days before the visit to Real Madrid. Unbeaten in their last 19 games in Europe, with a devastating record of 17 wins and 2 draws. They have won 11 of their last 12 games and they have even lost, the round of 16 of this edition against Sporting de Portugal, who have already been sentenced to victory in the first leg.
Ancelotti’s pending account
Manchester City are a team that has never been good to coach the Italian, but the Champions League is his competition. He aspires to be the most successful coach in what will be his fourth conquest. From the Etihad he has consistently lost four visits, two under Chelsea control and two more directing at Everton. And throughout the duel, he lost six of seven confrontations. On only one occasion he defeated the ‘citizens’, 2-0 to the Premier as the ‘blue’ coach.
Guardiola, king of the ‘semis’
This is the ninth time Pep Guardiola has reached the semifinals of the Champions League, more than his rivals on Tuesday, Carlo Ancelotti, and José Mourinho. Of the eight he completed, he was eliminated in five. He won two ‘Champions’ finals. Real Madrid is the second team, after Arsenal, that he has faced the most in his coaching career. There are a total of 19 games with a balance of 11 wins, 4 draws and 4 losses. In the most prestigious competition at club level, he won the last two precedents.
experience is a degree
If there’s one team that is used to playing in the semi-finals of the Champions League, it’s Real Madrid. It is the club that has played the most in European Cup history, winning 16 out of 30 and winning 13 finals. For Manchester City it will be the third, all compiled into seven editions. Of the two played, they missed one, against PSG last season, before falling out in the final.
Highest equality in history
This is the seventh time Real Madrid and Manchester City have crossed paths in the Champions League, in a confrontation that began in 2012 and has been repeated over the past ten years. Two wins, two draws and two losses show the highest equality. The Spanish outfit eliminated their rival from the 2016 semi-finals, but City won from the 2020 quarter-finals in both matches.
Source: La Verdad
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
