International Soccer
Lunin the hero! Real Madrid eliminates champion Man City and is in the Champions League semi-finals
Real Madrid’s Ukrainian goalkeeper, Andriy Lunin, excelled in the penalty shootout with two saves and qualified Real Madrid for the Champions League semi-finals.
Andriy Lunin saves a shot in the decisive penalty shootout. (Free Press Photo: EFE)
It was in an agonizing penalty shootout at the Etihad Stadium that Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid achieved their qualification to the semi-finals of the Champions League after defeating Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City 4-3 on penalties.
It was a match in which the white team had to suffer since during the 120 minutes of play at the Etihad Stadium, control was held by Manchester City, however, a goal by Brazilian Rodrygo in the 12th minute opened the way for Merengue to qualify.
The goal scored by the 23-year-old put the series 4-3 in favor of Madrid, and from that moment everything passed through the feet of the local players who put pressure on the whites in their own area.
Erling Haaland even had a chance, but his clearest shot hit the post.
In the second half, the tone of what was seen in the first 45 minutes was maintained: City had the ball and tried to pressure Real Madrid’s exit while they adjusted in defense despite the insistence of players like Foden and De Bruyne.
It was not until the 76th minute that everything was equal again as the Belgian De Bruyne found the reward that City had been looking for so much.
The equality persisted until the end of the 90 regulation minutes and it was necessary to play an extra half hour to define the winner of the series, who will face Bayern Munich who beat English Arsenal shortly before.
In the penalty shootout it was Real Madrid that dominated, despite the fact that they started with the shots against them.
Julián Álvarez, Phil Foden and Ederson scored for City and Mateo Kovacic and Bernardo Silva missed. While Jude Bellingham, Lucas Vásquez, Nacho and Antonio Rüdiger were effective for Real Madrid; only Modric failed.
With the result, the Madrid team eliminated the defending champion and will seek its 15th title in the history of the Champions League.
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