Benzema remains ice cold from the point: a victory that makes Pep Guardiola despair

Benzema remains ice cold from the point
A victory that makes Pep Guardiola despair

By Hendrik Buchheister, Manchester

Manchester City could have won the spectacular Champions League semi-final first leg against Real Madrid more clearly than by just a goal. It was not the first time that Pep Guardiola’s side were squandering chances. Karim Benzema threatens for the second leg.

“Wonderwall” by Oasis had faded away in Manchester City’s stadium, most of the spectators had made their way home, but there was still celebration in the upper tier behind the goal. Real Madrid fans waved Spanish flags and sang songs for their team. The chants echoed in the almost empty venue. And somehow the scene fit the insane 90 minutes that had happened before in the semi-final first leg of the Champions League. Pep Guardiola’s team had played outstandingly and dominated the guests almost as blatantly as Watford FC (5: 1) in the Premier League at the weekend. But Real Madrid had the last word and was in a better mood at the end of the event.

The 4-3 win may put Manchester City in a better position for next Wednesday’s second leg in the Spanish capital, but the English champions and leaders missed out on making matters even clearer and their chances of taking part in the final in Paris against to increase Liverpool FC or Villarreal even more significantly. The hosts led 2-0, 3-1 and 4-2, but always let Real come back.

Guardiola desperate

After Karim Benzema scored his second goal of the evening with a daringly lobbed penalty in the 82nd minute and made the final score, he spread his arms jubilantly and smiled. It was clear to him that a defeat by just one goal was not a hopeless starting point for the second leg. Especially since Benzema had already eliminated Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16 and defending champions Chelsea in the quarter-finals with his goals this season. “We kept the semifinals alive. The result keeps us in the race,” said Real coach Carlo Ancelotti.

This is exactly what Manchester City could have prevented. The team had enough chances for a preliminary decision of the semi-finals in the first leg, but dealt with it too carelessly. Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez in particular, but also Aymeric Laporte and – a few minutes before the end – Raheem Sterling and Rúben Dias missed the best opportunities. Coach Guardiola threw up his hands over his head several times and went through an emotional state of emergency because of his team’s deficits in front of goal. After the game he clearly had trouble coming to terms with the 4:3.

“I will not complain about the result,” assured Guardiola, before complaining about the result: “It could be better.” Perhaps the coach also felt reminded of the Premier League top game against Liverpool two and a half weeks ago. Manchester City was better there too, but had to settle for a 2-2 lead due to many missed chances and is still breathing down the neck of Liverpool in the championship fight. City’s lead is only one point, if they had won in a direct duel it would have been four.

The fact that the team failed to convert their superiority into a corresponding result in two big games within a month should once again be interpreted in England as a sign that Manchester City urgently needs a real goalscorer. Harry Kane’s signing from Tottenham Hotspur fell through after the departure of Sergio Aguero last summer.

Erling Haaland is said to come from Borussia Dortmund for the new season. With him, Manchester City could possibly have looked for accommodation for the final in Paris before the semi-final second leg. However, the club has to fear that the wait for the long-awaited first win of the Champions League will continue. In any case, Real’s double goalscorer Karim Benzema is convinced that his team will punish Manchester City for wasting chances in the second leg: “We will do something magical – namely win.”

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