The first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals between Real Madrid and Manchester City ended in a thrilling 3-3 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
The match kicked off with an unexpected twist as City's Bernardo Silva found the net for the third consecutive season against Real Madrid, deceiving goalkeeper Andriy Lunin with a crafty free-kick just two minutes into the game.
However, Madrid quickly responded, with Eduardo Camavinga's strike from outside the box deflecting off City's Rúben Dias to level the score ten minutes later, catching Stefan Ortega off guard.
The hosts seized the momentum and surged ahead two minutes after equalizing, with Rodrygo latching onto a superb pass from Vinicius Junior and slotting the ball through Ortega's legs with a slight touch from Manuel Akanji.
The second half maintained the intensity, with both teams squandering opportunities until City's rising star Phil Foden beautifully curled a shot into the top corner from a John Stones pass, making it 2-2.
Just five minutes later, Josko Gvardiol marked his debut City goal with a thunderous long-range strike that left Lunin rooted to the spot.
However, with the game seemingly slipping away from them, Real Madrid's Federico Valverde rose to the occasion, connecting with a pinpoint cross from Vinicius Junior to unleash a spectacular volley that ignited the Bernabeu crowd.
Ultimately, neither side could secure a decisive advantage, with football emerging as the true victor in this captivating and fiercely contested encounter.
Read also | Liverpool's Missed Opportunities in Premier League Title Bid
Read also | Real Madrid Seeks UEFA Approval for Covered Encounter with Manchester City: Report
