Benzema dispatched a penalty in the 82nd minute to make it 3-4 to Madrid, leaving Man City to rue missed opportunities
By Kehinde Okeowo
Man City and Real Madrid played a seven-goal thriller at the Etihad Stadium to set up a scintillating second leg tie at the Santiago Bernabeu in a week.
The home side opened the scoring as early as the 2nd minute when Riyad Mahrez cut inside and floated a cross in for Kevin de Bruyne to stick his head on and nod home.
Man City doubled their advantage 9 minutes later after Phil Foden was released down the left, checked, and found Kevin de Bruyne, who sent in a low cross that broke for Gabriel Jesus to slot in.
The visitors reduced the deficit in the 33rd minute when Ferland Mendy’s cross which didn’t look threatening was turned inside the far post with a beautiful cushion finish by Karim Benzema.
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The Citizens restored their 2 goal cushion in the 52nd minute after Fernandinho won the ball and charged forward before picking out Phil Foden who headed home his cross from close range
Real Madrid hit back immediately when Fernandinho allowed Vinicius Junior to get in behind him and pull a fine finish into the bottom corner to make it 2-3.
Man City made it 4-2 in the 73rd minute when Bernardo Silva picked the ball up after a clear foul on Oleksandr Zinchenko on the edge of the box and lashed a fierce finish into the top of the net.
The referee then pointed to the spot when Aymeric Laporte left his arm up as he rose to challenge Karim Benzema in the box and the ball struck his hand.
The French striker then stepped up to dispatch the penalty in the 82nd minute to make it 3-4 to the visitors.
Man City with the win take a slim 1-goal advantage to Santiago Bernabeu Stadium next week when the two sides face each other in Spain.