Real Madrid vs Manchester City: Champions League Semi-Final First Leg Thriller
Manchester City Claims Edge, Madrid Fights Back in Breathtaking First Leg
Manchester City 4, Real Madrid 3
In a pulsating first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-finals, Manchester City emerged victorious over Real Madrid by a narrow 4-3 margin. The Etihad Stadium witnessed a back-and-forth affair that left fans on the edge of their seats.
City started brightly and took the lead through Kevin De Bruyne in the second minute. Gabriel Jesus doubled the advantage in the 11th minute, capitalizing on a defensive error by Real Madrid.
Madrid showed their resilience, however, and pulled one back through Karim Benzema in the 33rd minute. Phil Foden restored City's two-goal advantage eight minutes after the break, but Vinícius Júnior quickly responded for Madrid, making it 3-2.
The drama continued in the second half as Bernardo Silva scored in the 74th minute to give City a 4-2 lead. Benzema grabbed his second of the night in the 82nd minute, setting up a thrilling second leg in Madrid.
Despite City's triumph, the match was marred by a controversial ending. The referee blew the final whistle six seconds earlier than the allotted time, sparking debate and frustration among both teams and fans.
The second leg of the semi-final will take place at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on Wednesday, May 4. Real Madrid will need to overturn a one-goal deficit to reach the final, while Manchester City will be determined to seal their place in the showpiece event.
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