MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson - 6: A couple of poor passes from the back in first half that could have been punished on another day. No chance with goals and outwitted by cheeky Benzema penalty. Reuters
MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson - 6: A couple of poor passes from the back in first half that could have been punished on another day. No chance with goals and outwitted by cheeky Benzema penalty. Reuters
John Stones - 6: Playing out of comfort zone at right-back and had been solid enough up against the dangerous Vinicius Junior before limping off injured late in first half. Looked devastated as he headed off down tunnel. AP
John Stones - 6: Playing out of comfort zone at right-back and had been solid enough up against the dangerous Vinicius Junior before limping off injured late in first half. Looked devastated as he headed off down tunnel. AP
Aymeric Laporte - 5: Should have closed down Vinicius Junior before Brazilian's goal. Found himself in centre-forward’s position after 68 minutes but hit shot straight at Ederson. Blatant handball to give away penalty and allow Benzema to score from spot to make it 4-3. Reuters
Aymeric Laporte - 5: Should have closed down Vinicius Junior before Brazilian's goal. Found himself in centre-forward’s position after 68 minutes but hit shot straight at Ederson. Blatant handball to give away penalty and allow Benzema to score from spot to make it 4-3. Reuters
Ruben Dias - 6: Deflected Vinicius shot wide in opening 20 minutes but was relieved to see linesman flag go up when he deflected pass from same player onto own post. Important header with Benzema primed to finish just before hour. Twice nearly got on end of crosses that would have made it 5-3. AP
Ruben Dias - 6: Deflected Vinicius shot wide in opening 20 minutes but was relieved to see linesman flag go up when he deflected pass from same player onto own post. Important header with Benzema primed to finish just before hour. Twice nearly got on end of crosses that would have made it 5-3. AP
Oleksandr Zinchenko - 7: Drilled shot wide of target in first half but beaten to ball by Benzema for Real’s opener soon after. Set up chance for Laporte that centre-half couldn’t finish. Did really well against pace of Rodrygo. PA
Oleksandr Zinchenko - 7: Drilled shot wide of target in first half but beaten to ball by Benzema for Real’s opener soon after. Set up chance for Laporte that centre-half couldn’t finish. Did really well against pace of Rodrygo. PA
Rodri - 8: The anchorman at the base of City’s slick midfield and bossed middle of park despite being up against Kroos and Modric. Couldn’t get track back quick enough to prevent Vinicius Junor scoring. Reuters
Rodri - 8: The anchorman at the base of City’s slick midfield and bossed middle of park despite being up against Kroos and Modric. Couldn’t get track back quick enough to prevent Vinicius Junor scoring. Reuters
Bernardo Silva - 8: Not as much impact as City’s wide players in first half but still a key part of City’s superb pace and movement going forward. Cracking finish into top corner to make it 4-2. PA
Bernardo Silva - 8: Not as much impact as City’s wide players in first half but still a key part of City’s superb pace and movement going forward. Cracking finish into top corner to make it 4-2. PA
Kevin De Bruyne - 9: Brilliant diving header inside two minutes to give City perfect start, then provided cross into box for Jesus’ goal. Was simply unplayable at times and his distribution another level to everyone on pitch, which is saying something considering the attacking talent on show. PA
Kevin De Bruyne - 9: Brilliant diving header inside two minutes to give City perfect start, then provided cross into box for Jesus’ goal. Was simply unplayable at times and his distribution another level to everyone on pitch, which is saying something considering the attacking talent on show. PA
Riyad Mahrez - 8: Driving run and cracking ball into box to set-up De Bruyne’s opener but left manager Pep Guardiola going ballistic on touchline when he shot into side netting with teammates waiting for pass in middle. Hit post with glorious chance just after break and clipped another shot across face goal after mazy run. PA
Riyad Mahrez - 8: Driving run and cracking ball into box to set-up De Bruyne’s opener but left manager Pep Guardiola going ballistic on touchline when he shot into side netting with teammates waiting for pass in middle. Hit post with glorious chance just after break and clipped another shot across face goal after mazy run. PA
Phil Foden - 8: Caused chaos in the Real defence with his attacking runs down left. First touch let him down ahead of shot he pulled wide that would have made it 3-0. Should have scored just after half-time but saw Carvajal block his effort on line, but did make it 3-1 minutes later with simple header. PA
Phil Foden - 8: Caused chaos in the Real defence with his attacking runs down left. First touch let him down ahead of shot he pulled wide that would have made it 3-0. Should have scored just after half-time but saw Carvajal block his effort on line, but did make it 3-1 minutes later with simple header. PA
Gabriel Jesus - 7: Four goals against Watford at weekend and continued his scoring streak with calm finish to make it 2-0 in blistering start from City. EPA
Gabriel Jesus - 7: Four goals against Watford at weekend and continued his scoring streak with calm finish to make it 2-0 in blistering start from City. EPA
SUBS: Fernandinho – (On for Stones 37’) 6: Fantastic run down right and ball into box for Foden’s goal but got done by Vinicius Junior in run-up to Real’s second goal minutes later. Younger legs than veteran midfielder’s have found Vinicius Junior’s pace a problem, in defence of veteran. Getty
SUBS: Fernandinho – (On for Stones 37’) 6: Fantastic run down right and ball into box for Foden’s goal but got done by Vinicius Junior in run-up to Real’s second goal minutes later. Younger legs than veteran midfielder’s have found Vinicius Junior’s pace a problem, in defence of veteran. Getty
Raheem Sterling – (On for Jesus 83’) N/A. Getty
Raheem Sterling – (On for Jesus 83’) N/A. Getty
REAL MADRID RATINGS: Thibaut Courtois - 6: Helpless as defence went missing far too regularly and nothing he could do about first three goals – but caught flat-footed for fourth when Silva fired into top corner of his near post. EPA
REAL MADRID RATINGS: Thibaut Courtois - 6: Helpless as defence went missing far too regularly and nothing he could do about first three goals – but caught flat-footed for fourth when Silva fired into top corner of his near post. EPA
Dani Carvajal - 7: Allowed De Bruyne to ghost in front of him for City’s early goal. Vital clearance just before break from Mahrez cross across six-yard box and even more important block on line just after half-time from Foden after Mahrez hit post. Good ball into box that Militao failed to finish. EPA
Dani Carvajal - 7: Allowed De Bruyne to ghost in front of him for City’s early goal. Vital clearance just before break from Mahrez cross across six-yard box and even more important block on line just after half-time from Foden after Mahrez hit post. Good ball into box that Militao failed to finish. EPA
Eder Militao - 5: Struggled to deal with City’s movement and looked shaky at back throughout. Turned inside out by Jesus late in first half and then easily beaten by Mahrez early in second when Algerian hit post. Headed chance straight at keeper that would have made it 3-3. AP
Eder Militao - 5: Struggled to deal with City’s movement and looked shaky at back throughout. Turned inside out by Jesus late in first half and then easily beaten by Mahrez early in second when Algerian hit post. Headed chance straight at keeper that would have made it 3-3. AP
David Alaba - 5: Austrian defender was injury doubt before match and badly caught out for Jesus’ goal. Flicked header just wide of target on half-hour mark. Didn’t make it out for second half as gamble to play failed to pay off. AFP
David Alaba - 5: Austrian defender was injury doubt before match and badly caught out for Jesus’ goal. Flicked header just wide of target on half-hour mark. Didn’t make it out for second half as gamble to play failed to pay off. AFP
Ferland Mendy - 6: Supplied ball into box for Benzema’s goal but couldn’t handle Mahrez’s runs down his flank and endured a tough night defensively. Reuters
Ferland Mendy - 6: Supplied ball into box for Benzema’s goal but couldn’t handle Mahrez’s runs down his flank and endured a tough night defensively. Reuters
Luka Modric - 7: Croatian mdifelder seemed to be missing midfield partner in crime Casemiro as Real couldn’t get ball off City for first 20 minutes. Played his way into game and hit shot just wide of target from edge of box in last 15 minutes. Reuters
Luka Modric - 7: Croatian mdifelder seemed to be missing midfield partner in crime Casemiro as Real couldn’t get ball off City for first 20 minutes. Played his way into game and hit shot just wide of target from edge of box in last 15 minutes. Reuters
Toni Kroos - 6: Gave away clumsy foul on edge of Real box just before break and was relieved to see De Bruyne crack shot straight at wall. A lot expected of Real’s midfield before game but German struggled. EPA
Toni Kroos - 6: Gave away clumsy foul on edge of Real box just before break and was relieved to see De Bruyne crack shot straight at wall. A lot expected of Real’s midfield before game but German struggled. EPA
Federico Valverde - 7: Tireless workrate as always and in right place to divert cross away after Militao had been skinned by Jesus. Getty
Federico Valverde - 7: Tireless workrate as always and in right place to divert cross away after Militao had been skinned by Jesus. Getty
Rodrygo - 6: Powered shot straight at Ederson as Real started to battle back into game after disastrous start. Kept relatively under control by Zinchenko and his last contribution before being taken off was a poor pass out for goal-kick to waste good opportunity for Real. Getty
Rodrygo - 6: Powered shot straight at Ederson as Real started to battle back into game after disastrous start. Kept relatively under control by Zinchenko and his last contribution before being taken off was a poor pass out for goal-kick to waste good opportunity for Real. Getty
Karim Benzema – 9: Great ball into box that Alaba headed wide in first half. Pulled Real back into game with excellent first-time finish after 33 minutes for 40th goal of season. Ice-cold nerves with Panenka finish from the spot and make it 3-3 from the most in-form striker on the planet. EPA
Karim Benzema – 9: Great ball into box that Alaba headed wide in first half. Pulled Real back into game with excellent first-time finish after 33 minutes for 40th goal of season. Ice-cold nerves with Panenka finish from the spot and make it 3-3 from the most in-form striker on the planet. EPA
Vinicius Junior - 7: Saw shot deflected wide after 18 minutes when Benzema was crying out for pass. Some Brazilian magic to make it 3-2 with a sensational dummy past Fernandinho, surging down left flank before finishing well. Getty
Vinicius Junior - 7: Saw shot deflected wide after 18 minutes when Benzema was crying out for pass. Some Brazilian magic to make it 3-2 with a sensational dummy past Fernandinho, surging down left flank before finishing well. Getty
SUBS: Nacho – (On for 46 Alaba’) 6: Real would have been hoping Spaniard would help shore up a leaky defensive showing but found dealing with City’s attackers as problematic as his teammates. AFP
SUBS: Nacho – (On for 46 Alaba’) 6: Real would have been hoping Spaniard would help shore up a leaky defensive showing but found dealing with City’s attackers as problematic as his teammates. AFP
Eduardo Camavinga – (On for Rodrygo 70’) 6: No chance for highly-rated midfielder to make his mark. Reuters
Eduardo Camavinga – (On for Rodrygo 70’) 6: No chance for highly-rated midfielder to make his mark. Reuters
Dani Ceballos – (On for Rodrygo 79’) N/A. Reuters Marco Asensio – (On for Vinicius Junior 88’) N/A.
Dani Ceballos – (On for Rodrygo 79’) N/A. Reuters Marco Asensio – (On for Vinicius Junior 88’) N/A.

Sport

Football

Man City vs Real Madrid player ratings: De Bruyne 9, Foden 8; Benzema 9, Vinicius Jr 7

Guardiola's City run out 4-3 winners in thrilling Champions League semi-final first leg

Gareth Cox

April 27, 2022

  • English
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Manchester City defeated Real Madrid 4-3 in a thrilling Champions League semi-final first leg on Tuesday.

On a breathless night at the Etihad Stadium, City secured a one-goal advantage to take over to Spain, but must be wondering how they did not score more.

Pep Guardiola's side came flying out of the blocks, opening the scoring after just 90 seconds when Kevin de Bruyne headed home Riyad Mahrez's cross.

It was 2-0 in the 11th minute thanks to a cool finish from Gabriel Jesus, who scored four against Watford in the Premier League on Saturday, following a defensive error from David Alaba.

Mahrez and Phil Foden both missed chances to make it three before Karim Benzema pulled a goal back with a fine first-time finish from a Ferland Mendy cross.

It was 3-1 in the 53rd minute when Phil Foden headed home soon after missing another chance following a Mahrez effort that had hit the post.

City's lead was cut again when Vinicius Junior dummied past Fernandinho – brought on at right-back for the injured John Stones – and ran from inside his own half to score Real's second.

But the home team restored their two-goal advantage when referee Istvan Kovacs played an advantage after Oleksandr Zinchenko had been fouled that allowed Bernardo Silva to blast into the top corner for City's fourth.

Real, though, refused to give up and were awarded a penalty after Aymeric Laporte's handball and Benzema stepped up to chip a Panenka penalty past Ederson and cap a remarkable night of Champions League football.

The stage is now set for the second leg that takes place in Madrid next Wednesday.

You can view the player ratings from the game in the gallery above. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows, or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.

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Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.

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Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.

Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.

Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.

Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.

Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.

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Match info

Athletic Bilbao 0

Real Madrid 1 (Ramos 73' pen)

GIANT REVIEW

Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan

Director: Athale

Rating: 4/5

Updated: April 27, 2022, 2:42 AM
Manchester CityReal MadridKarim Benzema