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Real Madrid and manchester city played in the Champions League last year in qualifying and the two sides came out on top in both games. Although City won the first leg, Madrid won the return leg 2-0. Manchester City lost Lucy Bronze to Barcelona, but signed Laia Aleixandri and Deyna Castellanos from Atletico Madrid.
Rodrygo’s goals for Real Madrid and Manchester City
Rodrygo’s brace against Real Madrid was the highlight of his remarkable performance for Manchester City. The midfielder stabbed home from the edge of the box to beat Ederson in the first half. He then ran back to the halfway line before hitting a powerful shot past the goalkeeper.
Both goals were crucial to the match’s outcome. The first was a header from Benzema’s cross, and the second was a header from Dani Carvajal’s cross. The first goal came on the counter, and the second came after Benzema’s strike had cancelled Riyad Mahrez’s rocket. Rodrygo’s reaction to the equaliser was perfect.
Madrid looked doomed after Riyad Mahrez’s goal in the 73rd minute, but Rodrygo’s double in two minutes – one in the first half and one in injury time – was enough to send the game to extra time. In the subsequent penalty shootout, Rodrygo’s second goal was the decisive one, and the final goal was made by Benzema’s penalty.
Casemiro’s fouls
Manchester City fans are furious with Casemiro for the way he handled a couple of fouls against Real Madrid. The Brazilian was lucky to stay on the pitch after two yellow cards, and fans are unhappy with the decision to not book him. The incident caused a fight between Aymeric Laport and Luka Modric, and Casemiro was fortunate to escape a booking.
The match has gone into extra time. The match was tied 2-1 at half-time, but the match turned out to be a draw. Real’s Benzema had a chance to level the tie but his effort was just too low to trouble Ederson. Real knew they had the onus to level up, and Pep Guardiola’s side had allowed them to enjoy more possession.
The game is still goalless, but Madrid has a goal in added time. The Spanish team’s goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, saves the penalty by diving low to save the ball. Casemiro’s foul at half-time was one of many during the game. Real Madrid is through to the final of the Champions League.
Benzema’s defensive errors
Benzema’s defensive errors against Manchester City were not his fault. In the first half, the Frenchman had been on target twice but his shots were blocked by Ederson. He also had two fouls to his name and was booked late on, but he was still able to contribute to the team’s victory. Despite these errors, Benzema was an important player for Real Madrid and helped to strengthen their defence. The Frenchman also won four duels and played an accurate long ball.
After Benzema’s foul on Modric, Manchester City is level on aggregate. Mahrez puts the Citizens in front but Real equalise through a Benzema penalty. A foul by Casemiro and a foul by Laporte on Modric also result in a booking. The ball then goes out of play and Benzema’s header is saved by Courtois. Benzema is replaced by Dani Ceballos.
Benzema’s cynical fouls
Karim Benzema is one of the cleanest players on the field, having committed only two fouls in 1061 minutes in the Champions League this season. He has been largely quiet in the game, but has been a deadly finisher – he has scored 15 goals in the competition this season, the most of any player. In comparison, Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has only managed one goal in the knockout stages this season.
Benzema bears down on the ball and shoots but it’s off-target. The flag goes up for offside. After the ball is played back to the opposition, Foden makes a dipping effort and forces a save from Courtois. In the aftermath, Walker challenges Vinicius Junior, but the play continues. On the other side, Casemiro pulls Foden but is not booked.
Benzema’s lack of confidence in Real Madrid and Manchester City
Benzema’s lack of self-confidence at Real Madrid has been a topic of debate this season. The Frenchman has scored 15 Champions League goals this season, but has struggled to find confidence at times. However, the Frenchman was praised by pundits on BT Sport for his performance. In a 2-1 win over Manchester City, Benzema halved Madrid’s deficit from nothing, and his goal was enough to level the match.
Real Madrid has been on a winning streak of five matches, which includes four consecutive victories in La Liga. Despite their recent defeats against Chelsea, the Spaniards have done enough to reach the Champions League final. Manchester City, meanwhile, is on a roll, having won four games in a row and scored 16 goals. Benzema has been the revelation of the season so far, and the Frenchman’s lack of confidence will only hurt his chances at the Etihad.
Benzema has said that he lacks confidence at Real Madrid and fears that he won’t be able to perform. However, the Frenchman has put his team’s performance before individual accolades. He has scored four goals in six games and is on track for 14 this season.
Benzema’s late goals in Real Madrid and Manchester City
Benzema’s late goals against Manchester City sealed victory for Real Madrid. The striker was involved in two late goals, with one of them cancelling out Riyad Mahrez’s rocket from the edge of the box. Another goal was a header from a cross by Dani Carvajal, but his reaction was superb.
The first goal came as City had the lead at half-time. The defending Champions League champions dominated the first half, storming into a 2-0 lead. However, after half-time, Guardiola was forced to make changes and replace John Stones, who had been injured. Benzema’s strike cut Manchester City’s lead to 2-1. Kevin de Bruyne then restored the two-goal cushion and Vinicius Junior made it 3-2.
The second half ended in a penalty shootout, which was won by Real Madrid. The Spanish club were 2-0 down with six minutes to play, but fought back and won the shootout 6-5 on aggregate. Benzema scored his second penalty in as many minutes in the second half, to ensure that Real Madrid advanced to the final.
Casemiro’s yellow card
Casemiro’s yellow card at Real Madrid and Manchester City was controversial. The Brazilian midfielder was just one yellow card away from a suspension but was fortunate to escape with a caution. It would have ensured that he would be available for the knockout stages. Instead, he was substituted by Antonio Blanco.
Despite his physical style of play, Casemiro was lucky not to receive a yellow card against Manchester City. Although he fouled Phil Foden twice in the first half, the referee did not show the Brazilian a booking. However, some Manchester City fans have been left fuming about Casemiro’s lack of punishment.
Real Madrid was unable to build any meaningful attacks and the defending Champions League holders were reduced to a point. However, Thibaut Courtois made two excellent saves and the result was a 2-2 draw.
Rodri Hernandez’s impact on the game
If you’ve been following the recent transfers to Real Madrid and manchester city, you’ve probably heard about Rodri Hernandez. The Spaniard has a reputation for playing smart, possession football and scoring goals. He has six caps for Spain and was part of the U19 squad that won the European Championships in 2015. In his first season at City, he made 52 appearances in all competitions and scored seven goals. In his second season, he played almost every game. He was also a regular in the City team’s league and cup competitions, scoring seven goals and assisting in nine matches.
As a defensive midfielder, Rodri is excellent at defending large teams. He is often the first player to press when the ball is lost. His quickness and awareness are invaluable in such situations.
