Photo by DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images

Real Madrid are into the Champions League semi-finals

Real Madrid and Manchester City produced another tie of incredible quality which ended with a dramatic penalty shoot-out and a legendary victory for Real Madrid. Rodrygo Goes started the night perfectly for the visitors, but Kevin de Bruyne pulled one back before the end of the 90 minutes to take the game to extra-time. From there, it was a battle of attrition which ended with Antonio Rüdiger scoring the decisive spot-kick following Andriy Lunin’s heroics to deny Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic.

Three answers

1. Could Real Madrid overcome the demons of last year’s 4-0 defeat?

There were no signs of any any fear or trepidation early on in this game, and Real Madrid’s high-energy pressing in the early stages perhaps even caught out Manchester City to put them on the back foot. Anyone watching would have had little clue that only 12 months ago the same tie had ended in such a humiliation for the visitors. Carlo Ancelotti is known for his man management and here it came to the fore as he got this team believing in themselves once again. The intensity of the start and the siege mentality that followed showed a mental resilience typical of Real Madrid, but which is so hard for anyone else to replicate. Going to the home of the reigning champions, who are top of the Premier League and once again looking unbeatable, was no easy task, but they instead fixed not only the wrongs of last year, but also the defensive issues which were highlighted and exploited by Pep Guardiola’s team in the first leg.

2. Would Nacho be able to handle Erling Haaland?

Filling in for the suspended Aurelién Tchouameni, and with Éder Militão not yet fully fit, Nacho was the only real option available to Carlo Ancelotti in defence. Given little choice, the Italian went with his captain and he produced a display which justified the decision and paid back the show of faith. He kept up with Harland and showed himself capable of handling his physicality, winning two of his four duels with the Norwegian, and generally showing good marking and positional sense. What he perhaps lacks in pace or technical ability, he made up for with his experience and concentration. Regularly stepping a yard or two off, allowing Haaland to drop deep unmarked, meant that he was fixed in his position and could maintain the structure of the defensive line. It worked. The flaw which allowed Kevin de Bruyne to equalise actually came from his partner, the usually reliable Antonio Rüdiger, who failed to clear effectively.

3. Could Real Madrid keep up for 90 (or 120) minutes?

In the first leg, we saw Real Madrid play with great quality and intensity in the opening stages but then tire around the hour mark and allow Manchester City back into the game. In Manchester, it was almost a repeat. The high press of the early stages faded and Real Madrid were forced to sit back, something which is to be expected against an opponent of Manchester City’s quality, but they had no choice but to do so for a significant amount of time. Just like in the first leg, Ancelotti was too reactive rather than proactive in his substitutions, waiting until City equalised before making his changes off the bench. Making early substitutions would’ve been a gamble, but some fresh legs a little earlier would have helped to keep up the pace with a City side who could pass the ball around the Real Madrid defensive unit for fun.

Three questions

1. Are Real Madrid favourites?

Bayern Munich, who are far from enjoying a strong season, lie next up for Real Madrid in a tie that will almost certainly see them as favourites to reach the final in London. Even then, they will take on Dortmund or Paris Saint-Germain, who will surely both also feel inferior to Los Blancos. It’s also worth remembering that this is the fourth consecutive year in which Real Madrid have reached the semi-finals since when Manchester City knocked out Real Madrid in the last 16 in 2020. It’s a stat worth highlighting that this team, which has changed significantly since Zinedine Zidane’s side with the likes of Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane, Marcelo, Casemiro, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale, has been competing for the most elite of titles every year since then and they know how to get the job done. This young team will be hoping to make their own legend now.

2. What happened to Vinícius Júnior?

Much of Real Madrid’s offensive game plan post the first 30 minutes was to counter attack through the pace and power of Rodrygo Goes and Vinicius Júnior. Rodrygo, who looked exhausted, came off on 84 minutes and left his compatriot with even more to do, until he came off on 103 minutes with a limp after a challenge with Kyle Walker following a long sprint. The decision to replace him Lucas Vázquez was surely not one that Ancelotti would have made unless enforced, which seems to suggest that an injury for the Brazilian. He almost certainly would have been one of the team’s key players in the final 15 minutes and been on a list of penalty takers, but instead he had to watch from the bench.

3. What is Real Madrid’s record on penalty shoot-outs in Europe?

Real Madrid have now won three of their five penalty shoot-outs in European competition. This was the first since the 2016 final against Atlético Madrid, and extends the team’s run without defeat in such circumstances since the 2012 semi-final against Bayern Munich when Sergio Ramos skyrocketed his decisive spot kick. Before then, you’d have to go back to 1975 when Red Star Belgrade won 8-5 in the shoot out to find a time when Real Madrid were not victorious when the tie was settled from 12 yards. The other shoot-out came against Juventus in 1987. Los Blancos’ European strength goes far beyond just getting the job done tactically or with talent, but also with the ultimate test of skill and fortune from the penalty spot.