Manchester City and Real Madrid played out a thrilling match, with both teams scoring three goals each in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final at the Bernabeu.
Pep Guardiola’s team opened the scoring early on with a clever free-kick from Bernardo Silva, but Madrid fought back with two deflected strikes to level the score.
Eduardo Camavinga’s shot deflected off Ruben Dias before finding the net, and Rodrygo capitalized on a defensive error to score via Manuel Akanji’s heel.
Man City dominated possession throughout the match at the Bernabeu, but struggled to find quality in the attacking third until Phil Foden’s crucial intervention. The England midfielder, who had been relatively quiet until then, created space outside the box and unleashed a top-corner strike to level the score.
Shortly after, left-back Josko Gvardiol showcased his skills with a fantastic right-footed shot to secure his first goal for City since his summer move from RB Leipzig. Despite Madrid’s equalizer courtesy of Federico Valverde’s stunning volley, the stage is set for an exciting second leg at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, 17 April.
However, there were concerns for City as Foden limped off the pitch following a late challenge on his ankle. Foden reassured fans that it was just a “bad dead leg” and expressed optimism about his availability for the upcoming Premier League clash against Luton on Saturday.