Honours even in UCL semi-final first leg

Vinicius Junior’s first-half rocket was cancelled out by Kevin De Bruyne’s second half drive in an enthralling encounter in the Spanish capital which saw City show plenty of character to come back.

The result leaves the tie delicately in the balance but Pep Guardiola’s men will relish a home decider at the Etihad next Wednesday in front of a boisterous home support.

The fully-deserved draw extended our unbeaten run in all competitions to 21 games and also lengthened our unbeaten run in this competition to 11 matches.

WHAT HAPPENED

It was a positive first half by City but one tinged with frustration due to the scoreline at the end of the 45 minutes.

Pep Guardiola’s men were on top for much of that initial period as we settled nicely, kept the ball in an assured way and suffocated possession for the hosts - but we went in 1-0 down.

Kevin De Bruyne had the first chance of note on eight minutes, firing goalwards dangerously from 20 yards only to see Thibaut Courtois get down low to parry his shot away.

Courtois was called into action again, on 14 minutes, as he kept out a fierce drive by Rodrigo from 25 yards as our defensive midfielder aimed to add to the stunner he scored in the quarter-final first leg against Bayern Munich.

Erling Haaland, moments later, was played in down the left channel by the influential De Bruyne but his first time strike from just inside the box was not firm enough to really trouble Courtois, who was being kept very busy by City.

Haaland was back in the thick of things shortly after when his header from a deep Jack Grealish cross from the left was again saved by Courtois.

There was frustration in the sky blue ranks on 19 minutes when the referee waved ‘play on’ rather than pulling back the action for a free-kick right on the edge of the box after John Stones had been floored.

The first chance of note for the hosts, soaking up the pressure for much of the half, saw tremendous defending from the ever-reliable Ruben Dias in the box on 25 minutes, the solid stopper stretching to clear the ball with the dangerous Karim Benzema waiting menacingly behind him.

With it looking like a matter of time before City broke the deadlock, it was Los Blancos who opened the scoring after a fast break on 36 minutes.

Eduardo Camavinga was played in down the left wing, following a fine one-two with Luka Modric, and he found Vinicius Junior who blasted home with a rocket from 25 yards.

That lifted spirits inside the Bernabeu in a game that, up to the goal, had been dominated by Guardiola’s men.

City looked to get back into the game as the second half started while Madrid came out to put the tie to bed.

Benzema, quiet in the opening period, sprung to life on 49 minutes as he rushed goalwards but Stones did brilliantly to ensure his shot deflected away from danger.

De Bruyne raised City hopes when he flew down the right channel two minutes later but Courtois was, again, equal to the goalbound strike – and the Belgian’s left footed effort on 55 minutes from just outside the box was again kept out by his fellow countryman.

David Alaba was the man to frustrate City on 55 minutes as he showed strength and speed to block Haaland’s shot.

Soon after, City weathered a Madrid storm as Real enjoyed more possession and opportunities than they’d had previously but slowly we found our feet again – and an equaliser arrived on 67 minutes.

De Bruyne smashed home from 25 yards to level matters, after fine build-up work involving Rodrigo, who stole the ball from the hosts, as well as Grealish and Gundogan.

Ederson produced a top-class save on 78 minutes to deny Benzema with a goalbound header - and then again in the dying minutes from a rasping drive by substitute Aurelien Tchouameni.

It was nip-and-tuck in those closing stages as City saw out the game professionally to set up a mouth-watering decider next Wednesday at the Etihad.

TEAM NEWS

MADRID XI: Courtois, Carvajal, Rudiger, Alaba, Camavinga, Valverde, Kroos (Tchouameni 84’), Modric (Nacho 87’), Rodrygo (Asensio 81’), Vini Jr, Benzema

Subs: Lunin, Luis Lopez, Vallego, Hazard, Odriozola, Lucas, Ceballos, Mariano

CITY: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Dias, Akanji, Rodrigo, Gundogan (C), De Bruyne, Bernardo, Grealish, Haaland

Subs: Ortega Moreno, Carson, Phillips, Laporte, Alvarez, Gomez, Mahrez, Foden, Palmer, Lewis

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: KEVIN DE BRUYNE

Kevin De Bruyne is a big game player – and he showed it here in Madrid.

He’s been there, done it and once again he produced a special goal in the Bernabeu to help us pick up what could be a valuable 1-1 draw.

De Bruyne was a menace throughout the 90 minutes and blasted home an unstoppable shot to bring us back into the tie ahead of an exciting decider next week in Manchester.

GUARDIOLA REACTION

“It was a really tight game. Congratulations to the team because in this competition and this scenario the teams are always so difficult for their history but especially their quality.

“We started really well and when we were better they made an incredible transition from Camavinga and an incredible finish from Vinicius.

“And when they were better than us in the second half, we scored a goal.

“It was a tight game. It’s open to Manchester, it will be a final playing at home with our people and we look forward to it.

“The effort was incredible. It’s like a play-off now.”

RODRIGO REACTION

“It’s very tough always when you come here. The lads were incredible, the effort was there.

“Sometimes it’s difficult against this team because they have a lot of quality. The first 25, 30 minutes we controlled the game so good. With their first chance they scored an incredible goal. We stayed in the game.

“With our philosophy we didn’t get fazed, we kept playing even though it was difficult.

“Kevin found the goal. He’s a massive player for us.

“He’s always been great and he helped us in the moment we most needed.”

GREALISH REACTION

“I loved it. These are the nights you play football for. It’s like a dream come true really.

“We have the perfect balance of experience and youngsters, like Phil and Erling. We just have quality.

“I swear I’ve never felt so confident going onto the pitch and having these players around me.

“It shows our character, to go a goal down, especially at a place like this, and it was a fair result in the end. I really enjoyed it, I loved it.

“I said myself that we’ll score from a shot from the edge of the box. When it fell to Kev, it was unbelievable.

“We see it every day in training, you wouldn’t choose anyone else for it to fall to.”

WHAT IT MEANS

We head into the Champions League semi-final second leg at the Etihad with the tie balanced nicely at 1-1 following tonight’s draw at the Bernabeu.

The deciding tie takes place on home soil next Wednesday, with an 20:00 (UK) kick-off.

We’re sure to be backed loud and proud on the night as we look to make it through to our second Champions League final in three seasons and a date with either Inter or AC Milan.

WHAT’S NEXT

Our next assignment is back in the Premier League as we face Everton away.

We head to Goodison Park this Sunday, with a 14:00 (UK) start.

We are top of the table with 82 points from 34 games – one point ahead of Arsenal who have played a game more.

Our opponents, the Toffees head into the game with their tails up, having beaten Brighton away 5-1 on Bank Holiday Monday.

Interestingly, the Gunners – aiming to keep up the pressure on us in the bid for the title, play later on Sunday evening, with a 16:30 (UK) kick-off at the Emirates against the Seagulls.