Pep Guardiola speaks
Jamie Jackson’s match report has landed, so I’ll leave you with that. Thanks for your company - goodnight.
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Here’s Raheem Sterling
“[We showed] energy, passion. It’s a competition we want to do well in, and we said that if we play our football and run our socks off the result will follow. I thought [our work-rate] was brilliant tonight, and with our pressing we got two goals.”
City will play... Lyon in the quarter-final next Saturday. They have surprisingly beaten Juventus on away goals in Turin, despite the best efforts of Cristiano Ronaldo. And although Lyon took four points off City in the group stages last season, Pep Guardiola’s team will be huge favourites.
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Full time: Manchester City 2-1 Real Madrid (agg: 4-2)
Manchester City are into the quarter-finals of the Champions League after an occasionally tense but ultimately comfortable win over Real Madrid. Raphael Varane was at fault for both goals, scored by Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus, and Karim Benzema’s equaliser on the night ultimately counted for nowt. City can pack their bags for Portugal knowing they are only three games from winning the Champions League.
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90 min Four minutes of added time.
89 min Nicolas Otamendi replaces Rodri, who has cramp.
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88 min City are doing a bit of tiki-taka timewasting. Madrid know it’s over.
86 min David Silva clips the free-kick just over the bar. It was a fine effort, which brushed the roof of the net on its way through.
85 min De Bruyne is fouled just outside the area by Kroos. City have controlled the game really well since going 2-1 ahead.
83 min A triple change for Real Madrid: Lucas Vazquez, Fede Valverde and Luka Jovic replace Modric, Carvajal and Hazard.
81 min David Silva comes on for his last appearance at the Etihad, replacing the ever threatening Raheem Sterling.
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80 min Modric is booked for fouling De Bruyne, and is out of the quarter-final as a result.
79 min City are passing the clock down. Madrid need a goal quicksmart, and then another quicksmart after that.
76 min “It seems churlish that Foden should have to come off because Pep the genius’s genius plan wasn’t working,” says Ian Copestake. “Pep should bring himself off, so to say.”
75 min It’s been nervy at times, but City deserve to go through over the two legs. Barring a late twist, they will play either Cristiano Ronaldo or Lyon in the quarter-final a week tomorrow.
72 min City appeal unsuccessfully for a penalty after a very clumsy tackle from Carvajal on Sterling. That looked like a decent shout, and Carvajal also gave away a penalty with a foul on Sterling in the first leg. A few seconds later, Walker’s low long-range drive is pushed away by the diving Courtois.
71 min City have a four-on-three attack after another slight mistake from Varane. Bernardo Silva goes alone, with De Bruyne better placed, and eventually his shot is blocked.
70 min Madrid need to score twice now. A penalty-box scramble ends with Modric’s shot from a tight angle being saved by the legs of Ederson.
It’s another howler from Varane. His attempted backheader to Courtois was short, and Jesus, who had to take the shot first time from a very tight angle, stretched out his left foot to spin a superb finish past Courtois.
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GOAL! Manchester City 2-1 Real Madrid (agg: 4-2; Jesus 69)
Raphael Varane has put Manchester City in the quarter-finals! (Probably.)
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68 min “To Tony Patterson’s point, Pep loves playing midfielders in all positions, always has,” says Phil Podolsky. “Fernandinho is pretty spry for a wise 47-year-old who can read the game.”
Thing is, I know you didn’t write these words, but whenever I look at your second sentence all I see is ‘YAYA TOURE, ROME, 2009, APPLES’.
67 min A change for City: Phil Foden is replaced by Bernardo Silva.
66 min: Excellent save from Courtois! This is terrific stuff now. De Bruyne and Gundogan combined to find Jesus, who dragged the ball away from Militao in one smooth movement and lifted a shot from 12 yards that was pushed over by Courtois.
64 min A long ball over the top is helped across by Asensio to Benzema. He moves the ball onto his right foot, just inside the area, and slaps a shot that is straight at Ederson. That was a chance, and this is getting very squeaky for City.
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64 min: CRISTIANO BLOODY RONALDO.
64 min If you don’t want to know the Juventus score, don’t read the next entry.
63 min Benzema forces his way past Fernandino and Laporte on the edge of the area before spanking a shot that hits Laporte and goes behind for a corner.
61 min A change for Madrid: Marco Asensio replaces Rodrygo.
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61 min City have been better in the last few minutes. Foden cuts infield and forces a pass to De Bruyne on the right side of the box. He hammers a low cross that deflects off Militao and whistles across the face of goal.
60 min “Ramos a bartender?” says Peter Oh. “What’s his signature drink? Dirty Martini?”
I heard it was Old Fashioned.
59 min “It drives me absolutely mad that he plays for City, but what an absolutely brilliant pass from De Bruyne that was to set up Sterling,” says Matt Richman. “It is incredible how he can make one of the finest teams in Europe look like a set of training cones in the blink of an eye.”
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58 min Gundogan clips a good first-time pass into the pass of De Bruyne, who storms forward from midfield. He reached the edge of the area before chopping back inside Militao and side-footing a low shot that deflected off the sliding Carvajal for a corner.
56 min “Looking at the shirts on display, this appears to be a major derby between two fancy airlines: Etihad v Emirates,” says Peter Oh. “Fair play to them but I miss the Brother and Teka days. Typewriters and printers versus washing machines and microwave ovens. So much more relatable to the common football fan than luxury first class cabin service.”
55 min Benzema welts one into orbit from distance.
54 min: Good save from Courtois! Yet again it came from a Real mistake, this time a poor pass from Casemiro that went straight to Foden. He played it to Gundogan, who helped it on to the unmarked Sterling in the area. Gundogan’s pass was overhit, though, and that meant Courtois was able to narrow the angle and block Sterling’s shot.
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54 min Real are starting to dominate possession. City will kick themselves forever and a day if they cock this up.
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53 min “I remember you writing years ago that Fergie overthought European games (playing the ghost of 1960 Hampden versus Madrid in 2000 at the Bernabeu for instance),” says Digvijay Yadav. “For Fergie then read Pep now.”
Yeah, I think there’s something in that. Didn’t he leave De Bruyne out at Spurs last season? He tinkered at Liverpool in the league as well. I understand playing Gundogan for extra protection in midfield, especially as you don’t lose that much going forward, but I don’t really get some of Pep’s decisions in attack.
52 min Rodrygo is fouled just outside the area by Joao Cancelo, but the referee waves play on. Real need to get Rodrygo on the ball more because he has the beating of Cancelo.
49 min “Is there any truth to the story that Sergio Ramos travelled to the game on a fixie bike?” asks Matt Dony. “Has he bought any rare 180g vinyl records while in Manchester? Will he be enjoying some smashed avocado at half time? Is he going to try and sell me some ridiculously expensive gin infused with a hideous combination of flavours?”
48 min De Bruyne again tries to score from a corner, the brazen genius, and this time Courtois has to dive back towards the near post to push the ball away.
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48 min “I’m rooting for the underdog,” says Ian Copestake, “but in the absence of any am gunning for Ipswich Town.”
47 min: Sterling misses a great chance! De Bruyne slid a delicious straight pass in between Varane and Carvajal to put Sterling through on goal, but he slashed his shot and Courtois spread himself to push it behind. I think it was going wide of the near post anyway.
46 min Peep peep! City begin the second half, and Pep has switched his front three to their usual positions: Sterling left, Jesus centre, Foden right.
Half-time reading. Read it.
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Half time: Manchester City 1-1 Real Madrid
Interesting, very interesting. City looked to be cruising into the quarter-finals when Raphael Varane farted around in his own area and gave Raheem Sterling an early goal, but Real slowly came to life Karim Benzema - who is giving a clinic in modern centre-forward play - equalised with an accomplished header. The next goal is a very, very, very, very, very, very big goal.
45+1 min One minute of added time. De Bruyne almost scores from a corner, whipping an inswinger that is punched away from under the crossbar by the scrambling Courtois. I’m pretty sure that was a deliberate shot by De Bruyne.
45 min “This might be controversial but I don’t think Fernandinho is great at centre back,” says Tony Patterson. “For me, he was at fault for the goal. Granted there aren’t many options for Pep but surely Stones with Laporte is better. Plus you’d get the benefit of being able to play Fernandinho in midfield.”
44 min Benzema volleys straight at Ederson from 10 yards. He was well offside and it wouldn’t have counted.
42 min: So close from Foden! Real almost give City another goal. Courtois’s awful drilled pass went straight to De Bruyne 25 yards from goal. He pushed the ball into Foden, who turned on the edge of the D and drove a low shot just wide of the far post.
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42 min City are showing the first signs of frustration, mainly with the referee. This is all becoming a bit tense.
40 min “Hey Rob,” says Matt Collins. “I see Ramos more as Judah Mannowdog, Princess Caroline’s hipster assistant from Bojack Horseman.”
39 min I’m not sure Pep’s funky tactics have worked. Sterling has been dangerous, but Foden (false nine) and Jesus (left wing) have been peripheral.
37 min Joao Cancelo sweeps a low shot from the edge of the area that is pushed away unconvincingly by Courtois. Thankfully for him the rebound goes to Militao, who lumps it clear. It could easily have gone straight to Gundogan, who would have had a tap-in.
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35 min No signs yet of any excess City nervousness, though I’d imagine that will change if Real get the next goal. It’s unthinkable that City could go out after being in complete control of the tie.
33 min Kyle Walker shoots from 25 yards, and immediately regrets it.
32 min “Hi Rob!” says Aadik Shekar. “That shot of Sergio Ramos celebrating the Benzema goal - looks like he should be bartending at some hipster cocktail bar w/ a password you’ve never heard of, no?”
Ha ha, that’s the perfect description.
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31 min City were unusually passive during the spell leading up to Benzema’s equaliser. Now they are on the attack again. Despite the best efforts of Raphael Varane, this is turning into a cracking game.
The talismanic Karim Benzema has brought Real back in the tie. He started the move with a short pass to Rodrygo just outside the area on the right. He poked the ball past Joao Cancelo and stood up a fine cross towards the six-yard line, where Benzema arrived late to plant an excellent downward header past Ederson.
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GOAL! Man City 1-1 Real Madrid (agg: 3-2; Benzema 28)
Now then!
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27 min This is a decent spell for Real, who have woken up after an execrable start to the game.
22 min This is better from Madrid. A short corner on the right is worked to Hazard, 25 yards from goal. He drills an excellent left-footed shot that zips up off the pitch and is well held at the near post by the sprawling Ederson.
21 min: Good save from Ederson! Out of nothing, Madrid create their first chance. Hazard screwed a nice left-footed pass through to Benzema, who slipped Laporte in the D and smacked a shot that was palmed away by Ederson as he fell to his left.
20 min “If it gets a bit dull,” says Alan in Toronto, “you can always point out that this was a unique occasion where the UEFA Champions League anthem wasn’t booed at the Etihad!”
I bet Pep was hissing under his breath though.
19 min Sterling zig-zags gloriously past two defenders in the area and is about to shoot when Casemiro slides in to challenge. The referee gave Real Madrid a free-kick, though I’m not sure why. When I heard the whistle I thought he might have given a penalty for Casemiro’s challenge.
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16 min If they go through, City will play the winners of Juventus v Lyon. There’s been a goal in that game as well.
15 min Sterling has an age to turn 20 yards from goal, look up and flick an insouciant curler that skims the roof of the net.
15 min Real are all over the place the back, making the most basic mistakes. Sergio Ramos is having a great game.
14 min Modric finds Row V from 20 yards.
12 min Varane blocks a shot from Gundogan. If City get another, Real Madrid will need three, and that will be that.
10 min Brian Kilcline wouldn’t have conceded a goal like that. It’s an immutable truth of association football that you cannot score from Row Z.
That was a shocking mistake from the usually immaculate Raphael Varane. He was faffing around in his own area, passing the ball back and forth with Courtois in the sophisticated style, when he had his front pocket picked by Jesus. He squared the ball to Sterling, who slid it into the net from eight yards.
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GOAL! Manchester City 1-0 Real Madrid (agg: 3-1; Sterling 9)
It’s comedy season.
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8 min “Wow, that’s a kit,” says Matt Dony. “Are Madrid sponsored by Stabilo?”
7 min De Bruyne spanks a 25-yard shot that hits Militao and deflects behind for a corner.
5 min City have started with Sterling on the right, Jesus on the left and Foden as a false nine. I didn’t see that coming.
3 min Nothing to report yet. I’m still trying to work out what happened at the kick-off. Sterling certainly took a knee, I’m not sure whether he was the only one, but when the whistle was blown Benzema kicked off. The players took a knee in the Europa League, so it seems odd that they wouldn’t do so in the Champions League. Anyway.
1 min Peep peep! Real Madrid, in their new pink away strip, kick off from right to left. City are sporting their new home strip. The kick-off was a bit strange: when the referee blew the whistle, Raheem Sterling took a knee and then realised the game had started. I’m not sure what happened there.
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The players emerge on a warm night in Manchester. A largely dry evening for many with some late sunshine in the south, although cloudier with the chance of a shower across Cumbria. Dry overnight with cloud spreading to southern areas with a mist or fog patch possible. Warm. Minimum temperature 10 °C.
Pep Guardiola’s pre-match thoughts
“We need to be ourselves - try to play the game with a lot of rhythm, create chances and defend well when we need to defend.”
“Hey Rob,” says Louie B. “Any reason David Silva is not listed in the City squad - your main pic is him warming up.”
That’ll be a good old-fashioned Guardian cock-up. Nobody does it better!
“Why are the two games this evening and tomorrow,being played at the same time?” asks Martin Peters. “It would have been nice to see all the games. Why not a couple of them on Saturday and Sunday afternoon, for example?”
Uefa have fallen back in love with tradition. Next season’s Champions League will be an unseeded knockout, only the league champions qualify.
This isn’t the only Champions League match tonight. Juventus are hoping to overcome a 1-0 deficit against Lyon, a match that will be watched and described by Tumaini Carayol.
None of the City squad are on a yellow card tonight. Luka Modric and Federico Valverde are the only Madrid players who will miss the quarter-final if they are booked.
City’s (and Real’s) route to glory
Quarter-final Lyon or Juventus
Semi-final Napoli, Barcelona or Bayern Munich
Final RB Leipzig, Atletico Madrid, Atalanta or Paris Saint-Germain
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Pre-match reading
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Team news
The big news is that Phil Foden starts. It looks like a 4-2-3-1 for City, with extra protection against the counter-attack, but don’t rule out something funky from Pep Guardiola. In the first leg he played Gabriel Jesus on the wing and used Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne as false nines.
Manchester City (possible 4-2-3-1) Ederson; Walker, Fernandinho, Laporte, Cancelo; Rodrigo, Gundogan; Foden, De Bruyne, Sterling; Jesus.
Substitutes: Bravo, Stones, Zinchenko, Bernardo, Silva, Mahrez, Otamendi, Garcia, Doyle, Harwood-Bells, Palmer, Bernabe.
Real Madrid (4-1-2-3) Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Varane, Mendy; Casemiro; Modric, Kroos; Rodrygo, Benzema, Hazard.
Substitutes: Areola, Altube, Nacho, Marcelo, Valverde, Lucas Vazquez, Jovic, Asensio, Brahim Diaz, Isco, Vinicus Junior, Javi
Referee Felix Brych (Germany)
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Preamble
Hello. Now, who fancies a bit of hate-sex? Vicarious, metaphorical hate-sex, that is. If so, you should follow Manchester City’s libidinous pursuit of the Champions League, a competition run by an institution they loathe. It has become a bit of an odyssey over the last nine years, but it will all be worth it if they win the final a fortnight on Sunday.
City’s progress or otherwise is one of the more compelling subplots in the unique festival of Champions Leaguery that begins tonight. The 2019-20 competition will be decided in a whistlestop mini-tournament: 17 games, 11 days, and one very heavy trophy. City have won 11 domestic honours since the Abu Dhabi takeover in 2008 (14 if you count the Community Shields, which an increasing number of oddballs choose to do). But you don’t need to be Pep Guardiola’s subconscious mind to know that this is the one they really want.
They have underachieved badly so far, with just one-semi-final in eight attempts. But their 2-1 win at the Bernabeu in the first leg had rite of passage written all over it, and most bookies have them as joint-favourites with Bayern Munich to win the thing.
City will be glad to have a bit of a cushion, because Madrid are a more formidable proposition than they were in February. They won 10 in a row to win La liga, and their overall defensive record (25 goals conceded in 38 games) equalled their best since 1970-71.
They are without the suspended Sergio Ramos tonight, but the biggest problem might be at the other end - to have any chance of going through, Madrid need to score at least twice. If they do manage it, City will have no choice but to swap hate-sex for self-loathing.
Kick off 8pm.
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