Holders’ defence snuffed out the threat of Erling Haaland as both sides were able to take a positive spin from a tantalising first leg
Perhaps the most telling moment of Tuesday’sat the Bernabéu came nine minutes into the second half as Erling Haaland finally located a clear channel of space down the side of the Real Madrid centre-backs and set off towards goal with that easy surging stride, range finders starting to bleep and flash, finger poised over the kill button, eyes narrowing behind his aviators, target locked on.
Haaland’s reaction was probably most telling. He basically looked quite surprised. This doesn’t happen to him much. Haaland is too quick, too decisive in his movements. But this was pretty much his night, 90 minutes during which he was as quiet as he has been at any point since the inauguration of the Cruyffian “box” that sparked City’s current steamrollering run.
The point is, this is allowed to happen. Other footballers are also good. And with all due respect to the defenders of Fulham, West Ham and RB Leipzig, and indeed to the Premier League, where scorelines of 4-3 and 6-0 and 5-3 have become common. There are reasons why Tim Ream and Angelo Ogbonna are not faces you come across on bravura midweek global TV gigs while a voice shrieks “nous sommes les meilleures” andMadrid in midweek has been the elite standard in club football for the past decade.
Pep Guardiola resisted the temptation to try anything too clever in Madrid, and was rewarded with a mature performance and what looks a good result.under-thinking
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Real Madrid v Manchester City: Champions League semi-final, first leg – liveMinute-by-minute report: Join Scott Murray for updates from the big first-leg showdown at the Bernabéu
Read more »
De Bruyne finds key as Real Madrid are locked down in their super-prison | Barney RonayThe Belgian midfielder has been on a roll since the World Cup and he produced something sublime in the Spanish capital
Read more »
Barry Humphries to be farewelled in Sydney instead of home city MelbourneVictorian Premier Daniel Andrews confirms Barry Humphries's family has chosen Sydney as the city for the entertainer's service, despite him being born in Melbourne.
Read more »
Unlikely Aussie city scores exclusive Coldplay concertColdplay will head west for the first time in more than a decade for an Australian-exclusive concert the WA government is trumpeting as a “massive coup” for the state. 7NEWS
Read more »