By Manchester City’s hopes of retaining the Champions League were dashed after a thrilling quarter-final clash against Real Madrid ended in a penalty shoot-out defeat at the Etihad Stadium.
In an intense encounter that saw the teams deadlocked at 1-1 on the night and 4-4 on aggregate, Real Madrid emerged victorious in the shoot-out, with Antonio Rudiger scoring the decisive spot-kick after Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic had their attempts saved.
Rodrygo’s early goal had given Real Madrid the advantage, but Kevin De Bruyne’s equalizer in the 76th minute forced the game into extra-time. Despite City’s dominance, they couldn’t find the winning goal, setting the stage for a tense penalty shoot-out.
It was a bittersweet moment for City, who received applause from the crowd even in defeat. Manager Pep Guardiola expressed pride in his team’s performance, acknowledging their efforts despite the disappointment of elimination.
Guardiola also revealed that key players like Erling Haaland and De Bruyne requested substitutions due to injury concerns, highlighting the physical toll of the match.
For Real Madrid, the victory was a testament to their resilience, with midfielder Jude Bellingham describing the win as “beautiful” and praising the team’s mentality and composure during the crucial moments.
As City shifts focus to the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea, they will look to bounce back from this setback and keep their hopes of a domestic double alive, while Real Madrid set their sights on the semi-finals against Bayern Munich, aiming for another shot at European glory.
