We experienced another exciting game between Real Madrid and Manchester City last Wednesday (4th May) night at Santiago Bernabéu (Madrid), where the hosts White snatched the game in a miracle way to enter the final of the UEFA Champions League 2021/22.
It was the return leg game of the second semi-final of the ongoing UCL season. Earlier, in the first leg of this semi-final, Manchester City claimed a 4-3 win. So, it was a must-win game for Real Madrid.
While Riyad Mahrez scored the first goal of the match in 73 minutes to provide the 1-0 lead for the visitors, Rodrygo scored two excellent back-to-back late goals in 90 minutes and 90+1 minutes to level the aggregate scoreline of this round to 5-5.
In the five minutes of the extra-time of the match, Karim Benzema successfully scored from a penalty to secure the 3-1 lead for the home team. With that goal, the aggregate scoreline moved to 6-5 in the favour of the Whites.
Manchester City failed to score another goal as Real Madrid advanced to the final of this tournament. On 28th May 2022, Los Blancos will face another Premier League team, Liverpool, in the final of this UCL season at Stade de France (Saint-Denis).
Now, we are talking about some key factors that helped Real Madrid to make an inspiring comeback against Manchester City that night.
Unshakable team spirit from Real Madrid
Since Carlo Ancelotti joined Real Madrid for the second time at the beginning of the ongoing European season, the Spanish giants have only grown up as a strong team. Apart from the unstoppable French striker Karim Benzema, young Brazilian forward Vinícius Júnior and Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois have also performed consistently with top-class support from their entire teammates.
Once again we saw the same attitude in the Whites even in the toughest period of this season. The team spirit was so strong that the Spanish giants never gave up before the final whistle. Once they broke the deadlock in the late moment, they opened up their strong beliefs as a team.
The strong team spirit always stays ready to change the hardest fate into the best day. We have experienced it again in this high-quality game. Every player brought out their best to deny the visitors’ luck.
Thibaut Courtois – the costly untired hands
Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois played one of his best-ever football matches last Wednesday night. It was one of the toughest challenges for him, but the 29-year-old was always confident in his job and played a saviour role for Real Madrid.
Manchester City had some more good chances, which could end the game earlier if they managed to score at least a few of those. But Courtois gave all of his to stretch the game as much as possible. His role is undeniable in that extraordinary victory as Los Blancos’ fans will always remember this special night.
Rodrygo – the young talent from Brazil
The 21-year-old Brazilian winger Rodrygo managed to produce one of the best performances by a substitute in the UEFA Champions League history. In the 68th minute, when the Brazilian youngster replaced Toni Kroos, the football world didn’t know the significance of that substitution.
Manchester City worked hard to stop both the in-form players Karim Benzema and Vinícius Júnior. But Rodrygo snatched away that match from their hands.
Rodrygo’s back-to-back two late goals completely changed the atmosphere of that game, and the visitors failed to reply. While he excellently finished Benzema’s brilliant cross to open the scoreline in 90 minutes, the Brazilian’s powerful header stunned the top Premier League side.
Power of home fans
Football is all about the fans. Football fans are always known as the 12th man of a team. The Real Madrid fans once again proved that on their tough night.
Despite the time moving towards the end and Real Madrid were very close to suffering a defeat, most of the home fans still didn’t lose their hope at all and stayed in the stadium till the final result.
The powerful home fans always motivate a team, and we experienced it once again at Santiago Bernabéu (Madrid). Once the Whites managed to open the scoreline, fans’ non-stop chanting were only charging them up. So, there was no surprise about the final result.
