Kevin De Bruyne’s sensible drive earned Manchester Metropolis a 1-1 draw at Actual Madrid in a gripping Champions League semi-final first leg battle on Tuesday. The Belgian slammed Pep Guardiola’s guests degree after Vinicius Junior opened the scoring for the reigning champions from distance in equally spectacular style. Madrid managed to utterly shackle deadly striker Erling Haaland however De Bruyne’s highly effective effort left the tie on a knife edge forward of the second leg in Manchester subsequent week. The file 14-time winners knocked Metropolis out on the similar stage final season regardless of being outplayed in each video games, and took the lead on the Santiago Bernabeu in opposition to the run of play.
Nevertheless when Madrid discovered their stride within the second half, Metropolis — nonetheless chasing their first ever Champions League trophy — hit again by means of De Bruyne.
Madrid central defenders David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger didn’t give Haaland room to breathe.
“We now have to see if we will assault (higher), Alaba and Rudiger have been so shut on Erling,” Guardiola advised reporters.
“It was not simple to search out the areas. We’ll attempt to alter one thing within the second leg to be extra fluid and play with a bit extra rhythm.”
The guests managed a lot of the primary half, with practically 70 % possession, however went in trailing on the break.
Thibaut Courtois fielded an early barrage of photographs from De Bruyne, Rodri and Haaland, as Metropolis dominated and Madrid sat again, absorbing the strain.
The hosts took the lead by means of a deadly counter-attack 10 minutes earlier than the break, with Eduardo Camavinga surging previous Bernardo Silva, tearing into area and feeding Vinicius.
The Brazilian arrowed a strike into the highest left nook from virtually 25 yards, previous Ederson’s helpless dive. It was Madrid’s solely shot within the first half, however the sport’s handiest one.
“It is regular that Metropolis have the ball, we do not have to go mad about that,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti stated.
“After the aim we performed very properly, controlling the area, creating issues, we performed very properly, I hope we will repeat it within the second leg.”
– Haaland shut down –
Alaba thwarted Haaland with a tremendous block early within the second half, as Madrid stored the Norwegian aim machine below lock and key on his first look in opposition to them.
Madrid didn’t enable him a transparent sight of aim, making certain he couldn’t add to his 51 objectives from 46 video games