Real Madrid defeated Manchester City in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League semi final tie, and qualified for a record breaking 14th European Cup final appearance.
Real Madrid overcame an uninspired City side still reeling from a thumping defeat at home a few days ago. Gareth Bale scored via a Fernando deflection to send Real Madrid into the final as they look to win their second Champions League title in three years.
It was a game that lacked quality. After Captain Vincent Kompany had to be taken off in the first half, City’s key players decided to not show up and the result was an easy Madrid win.
Madrid now face arch rivals Atletico Madrid led by Diego Simeone in a repeat of the 2014 final. The San Siro is set to witness a Madrid derby with Atletico looking to extract revenge for that heart-breaking loss inflicted by the then Ancellotti led Real Madrid.
Player Ratings
Real Madrid
Navas: 6
Had little to do the entire game. Easy tie overall for the Madrid shot stopper as he equaled the record for most number of clean sheets kept in a single season in the Champions League.
Carvajal: 7
Came up against a strong and confident Jesus Navas, but didn’t give the Spaniard too much freedom. Later on faced Sterling and Kelechi Iheanacho for a bit, but kept the youngsters in check with an energetic display throughout the game. Linked well with Gareth Bale going forward to create chances and provided cover for the Welshman.
Pepe: 6
Had little to do against an isolated Aguero upfront. Teamed up well with Ramos to shut him out completely, forcing the Argentine to drop deeper, and farther from goal. Sterling and Iheanacho coming on didn’t faze the experienced Portuguese as he got the better of each of their attackers.
Ramos: 7
Strong, confident display from the captain as he and Pepe shutout any threat from Aguero, Sterling or Iheanacho. Was faster to the ball and looked hungrier for it than City’s attackers.
Marcelo: 7
Coped well against De Bruyne as the Belgian was hardly a challenge for the seasoned Brazilian. Kept attacking up the flanks and in one instance ran up with the ball through the middle of the pitch holding off two City players, which had the Bernabeu on its feet. Easy night overall.
Modric: 7
Had a stellar game. Ran the show in midfield. Great passing, movement and decision making. Rating would have been higher if he hadn’t missed a simple chance on goal after being set through by Bale, because he thought he was in an offside position. Came off the pitch after 87 minutes for Kovacic as Real looked to hold on to the lead and go on the defensive.
Kroos: 7
Had to settle for a more defensive role due to the absence of Casemiro. Did not disappoint, however. Launched attacks and made sure the transition from attack to defence was smooth. Was strong on the ball and almost never gave it away.
Isco: 7
Brought off after 65 minutes to be replaced by James Rodriguez. Has been preferred by Zidane over James for most of the season and showed why. Put in a very strong and confident display for Los Blancos going forward and contributed well defensively. Was surprisingly substituted quite early, mostly for tactical reasons.
Jese: 6
Decent performance at best. Eyebrows were raised when he was picked over Lucas Vazquez, who eventually replaced him after 55 minutes. Used his pace in the centre and kept switching with Bale and Ronaldo down the wings. Couldn’t contribute anything of significance. Was kept in check by Mangala and Otamendi.
Ronaldo: 6
Not his best day. He was only returning after injury, but took too many wayward shots. Did test Hart a little, but it was a rare goal-less performance, one the Portuguese won’t be happy with. Was lucky to be let off without a booking for holding the ball from a cross.
Bale: 8
Real’s best player on the night. Superb in attacking and going forward. Unfortunately his goal will be taken away and given as an own goal. Was unlucky with a brilliant header which hit the post. Made superb passes to set his team mates through on goal, notably Modric and Ronaldo. Enjoying a fine run of form, and will hope to take his A game to the finals.
Lucas Vazquez: 5
Lucky to stay on the pitch after a dangerous tackle on Raheem Sterling. Looked lively, never threatened.
James Rodriguez: 6
Strange substitution, because Isco was having a good game. Didn’t threaten much and scuffed two chances late in the game.
Kovacic: 5
Brought on at 87 minutes. He has been labelled as ‘the next Modric’ and that was who he replaced. Brought on to provide defensive stability and cover for the back four late in the game as Madrid looked to hold on the lead.
Manchester City
Hart: 7
Could do nothing for the goal. But kept out Modric and Ronaldo. Didn’t do his reputation any harm, one of City’s better players in this tie.
Sagna: 7
Did not succumb to the pressure from Ronaldo, even if it was a less threatening one. Had an easier evening once Ronaldo moved to the center as the young Vazquez did not threaten. Made some rash tackles out of frustration and seemed overwhelmed at times.
Kompany: –
Limped off after 10 minutes with an injury. Felt pain in his left leg and went down, after playing a simple pass. Subbed off for Mangala.
Otamendi: 7
Made some brilliant tackles to keep his side in the game, even though he couldn’t keep up with the movement of the Madrid front three. In more than one instance, he threw his body at the attacker, getting results most of the time, but also getting booked.
Clichy: 6
Tried his best to keep up with Bale and Carvajal, but was often overrun. Couldn’t attack because Bale kept him busy the entire night. Was missing when Bale made the goal for Madrid.
Fernando: 6
Unlucky that his deflection led to the goal. Isco and Modric looked to be giving him a hard time throughout but he did the best he could, and didn’t shy away from a challenge.
Fernandinho: 6
Had a shot hit the post, but that was his only significant contribution. Was overcome by Isco, Modric and Kroos. Yaya Toure having a terrible day didn’t help his cause either, finding himself prone to extra defensive duties.
Toure: 5
Abysmal performance. Didn’t impose himself as at all in the middle of the pitch. Made no significant contributions defensively. Didn’t seem to have the legs to play in the number 10 role behind Aguero. Returning for a high pressure game immediately after a spell on the sidelines seemed too much for the Ivorian and he made way for Sterling.
Navas: 7
Came off in the 69th minute and was replaced by youngster Kelechi Iheanacho. Arguably Manchester City’s best player in the first half. Showed a lot of desire on his return to his home country. Couldn’t keep up the same form in the second half, fizzed out over the course of the game.
De Bruyne: 5
Not a good game for the Belgian. Tried a silly shot from a threatening free kick position which was wasted. Lackluster, even though he had some shots at the goal. Booked for a challenge on his marker, Marcelo. Never really threatened the Brazilian.
Aguero: 5
Was offered no support the entire game and eventually dropped deeper in the second half to see more of the ball. Had a shot skim over the roof of the net in the dying moments, but that was all. Ramos and Pepe hardly had trouble with the Argentine.
Mangala: 6
Came on for Kompany early in the first half and held his own. Was beaten in the air on a few occasions, but had a tidy game and the goal could not be helped.
Raheem Sterling: 6
Came on as a substitute later in the game to provide more pace and add some attacking threat, but never threatened. Nearly had his ankle taken off by a Vazquez tackle. Couldn’t influence the game at all and was kept in check by Carvajal.
Kelechi Iheanacho : 5
Showed glimpses of what he could do, but was left alone as Aguero dropped deeper. Confident display, but nothing influential or significant.
Manager Ratings
Zinedine Zidane: 8
Won the tactical battle and set up a side to go on the offensive. Made some questionable substitutions but it had no bearing on the scoreline and the legendary Frenchman takes his team to the finals of the Champions League in his first season in charge.
Speaking after the match, he spoke of how his side ‘suffered’ at the hands of a strong and active City side. He said “I didn’t see a weak City, I saw City participating, a team who made it difficult for us. They didn’t manage to get too many opportunities, but they played, they defended well and it was difficult for us.”
Real now face cross town rivals Atletico Madrid in a repeat of the 2013/14 final and Zinedine Zidane insists there are no favourites for the final. “There is no favourite. As usual it’s a final and I think both of us deserve to be in the final. When you start the match it is 50/50.” He insisted that they had not won anything together, and have to keep working towards the same, together (via SkySports).
Manuel Pellegrini: 5
His choice for the starting lineup was peculiar at best. An unfit and just returning Yaya Toure in place of Iheanacho upfront to partner Aguero made a mess of things in midfield for the Citizens as the Ivorian was the worst player for City on the pitch. He later sent on Raheem Sterling and Iheanacho as they looked to attack more in the later stages of the game, but they proved to be pointless as it left Aguero playing the number 10 role and Iheanacho up front alone. Unlucky with having to sub off Kompany early in the game, but couldn’t rally his troops during half time and it was a disappointing day for the Chilean.
Speaking after the match, Pellegrini lamented the missed opportunities and his side’s lack of creativity.
“We tried to create but we couldn’t,” he said. “We didn’t deserve to lose this game, the goal was very lucky, a deflection into the top corner. Missing David Silva, Nasri and Yaya coming from an injury we didn’t have creative players to make a difference.”
He insisted that there are no regrets, and that the focus of the club would be to now finish the domestic season as strongly as possible. “No, there are no regrets, we worked very well for 90 minutes. That’s why Real Madrid couldn’t create any chances. But we needed to create in the final third and today we couldn’t.” (via guardian)
What Next?
It’s back to the drawing board for Manchester City as they now head back to England and try to secure a top 4 finish and await the arrival of Pep Guardiola. Pellegrini would have hoped for a better send off, as he goes into his last few games as City manager.
As for Real Madrid and Zidane, they will come up against familiar foes Atletico Madrid and add yet another chapter in the story of this fierce rivalry. Zidane was present on the bench as assistant manager for Real Madrid as they beat Atletico in the finals in 2014 to clinch that elusive La Decima. After a torrid start to the season, Zidane has managed to turn the fortunes of the club around and has now led them to a record breaking 14th European final appearance. With the race for the La Liga set to go down to the wire, Real will look to focus on winning the Champions League for the 11th time against a Simeone led Atletico Madrid side, who will be desperate to extract revenge for that night two years ago.
