Manchester City, the reigning champions, faced a tough battle against Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium. Despite trailing 1-0 early on, they fought back to level the aggregate score at 4-4. However, their hopes of securing a second successive treble were dashed as Real Madrid clinched victory in a tense penalty shootout.
Real Madrid, eyeing their 15th UEFA Champions League title, secured a dramatic victory over City, booking their spot in the semifinals for the fourth consecutive season.
The opening stages of the match were characterized by cautious play from both sides, akin to a strategic game of chess. The deadlock was broken when Camavinga's attempt was saved by Ederson, only for Rodrygo to pounce on the rebound and give Madrid the lead with a composed finish.
City responded by pushing forward, with Erling Haaland coming close to equalizing as his header rattled the crossbar. As the match progressed, the intensity heightened, with Jack Grealish and Phil Foden testing Real Madrid's goalkeeper, Andriy Lunin.
Manager Pep Guardiola introduced Jeremy Doku in search of an equalizer, and the Belgian played a crucial role in setting up Kevin De Bruyne's goal, which leveled the scores. Despite opportunities to seal victory in regular time, City were unable to find the decisive goal.
Extra time saw a drop in intensity, with neither team able to break the deadlock. The match ultimately culminated in a nerve-wracking penalty shootout. Real Madrid emerged victorious, with Lunin making crucial saves to deny Mateo Kovacic and Bernardo Silva. Antonio Rudiger sealed the win with a well-placed penalty, sending Real Madrid into the semifinals.
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