Real Madrid vs Manchester City: Vinicius and De Bruyne stunners set up tense second leg

Two sensational goals on either side of half-time settled an entertaining 1-1 draw between Real Madrid and Manchester City in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal to set up a winner-takes-all affair in the return leg at the Etihad Stadium. 

Manchester City were hit with a Vinicius Junior sucker punch 10 minutes from the end of the first half, but did well to recover after being under immense pressure from Los Blancos. 

They found their footing midway through the second half and were rewarded with a sensational equaliser from Kevin De Bruyne. 

Manchester City started the more dominant side as expected, threatening to blow Real Madrid away at the Bernabeu, but they failed to find a way past Thibaut Courtois in goal for Los Blancos despite having more possession and creating more chances. 

Against the run of play, Real Madrid took the lead with a blinding effort from Vinicius Junior, leaving Ederson with no chance to put Los Blancos 1-0 up on the night. 

The goal left the Cityzens shellshocked and they struggled to regain their composure as Real Madrid tried to make the best of their period of dominance towards the end of the first half. 

The start of the second half was a carbon copy of the end of the first, and Real Madrid will feel they could have taken the lead in the opening minutes of the second 45 minutes. 

Despite their dominance, it was their turn to concede a goal out of nothing as Manchester City’s Ilkay Gundogan found De Bruyne in some space on the edge of the 18-yard box, and the Belgian rifled in a daisy cutter to make it 1-1 for the Cityzens. 

Real Madrid came close to regaining their lead twice after Manchester City’s equaliser, but Karim Benzema and Nacho Fernandez were both denied expertly by Ederson to preserve the draw. 

After the draw, Manchester City will be seen as favourites in the tie, but they will be wary of Real Madrid’s expertise at this level nonetheless. 

The Cityzens will have to host Los Blancos in one week’s time, although they will be confident of having the home advantage, with their fans willing them on to victory, unlike last season where they buckled under the pressure of the Bernabeu crowd.