Real dominates Liverpool, Manchester City beats Dortmund on the wire

Real Madrid punished the feverish defense of Liverpool (3-1) as Manchester City clinched a victory over the wire against Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland (2-1) on Tuesday April 6 in the quarter-finals of Champions League.

The teams led by Zinédine Zidane and Pep Guardiola have certainly taken a step towards the last four, but they will have to confirm during the return leg on Wednesday April 14.

The Spanish club wins this prestigious poster

In Madrid, there were a lot of stars on the pitch, and the last two winners of the competition before Bayern: thirteen titles for the ” White House “, six for the Reds, titled for the last time in 2019. And it is the Spanish club, with a record record, which won this prestigious poster against the English betrayed by their defense.

Without his central defenders Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez, long-injured, Liverpool sank under the blows in particular of Vinicius Junior, the Brazilian winger of 20 years author of a double (27e, 65e). Used to criticism for his insufficient performance, the former Flamengo player has taken care of his statistics and carried his team.

Egyptian striker Mohamed Salah (left) and Brazilian midfielder Casemiro in the Champions League quarter-final first leg between Real Madrid and Liverpool at Alfredo di Stefano stadium in Valdebebas, on the outskirts of Madrid, April 6.

Launched by Toni Kroos, he first slipped between two misaligned defenders to control the chest and crucify his compatriot Alisson Becker. Thirty minutes from the end, he again took advantage of Nathaniel Phillips’ passivity to find the loophole.

In the meantime, Madrid’s second goal was also made possible by the excitement of the Reds’ rearguard: Marco Asensio, in ambush to take advantage of a receding header from Trent Alexander-Arnold, got rid of Alisson with a perfectly executed sombrero shot before shaking the nets.

More ambitious and inspired after the break, Liverpool preserved a small chance of qualifying nevertheless with the fourth goal in four C1 matches from Mohamed Salah, whose strike hit the mark with the help of the crossbar (51e).

Manchester City got scared

Aspiring to the coronation, Manchester City was scared at home in front of Dortmund. His kid Phil Foden, started in place of Raheem Sterling, finally stole the limelight from Erling Haaland, 20 years old like him, with a saving goal scored in the 90e minute. An infuriating outcome for the German club.

Manchester City's Phil Foden (left) and Borrussia Dortmund's Mateu Morey in the Champions League quarter-final first leg at Manchester's Etihad Stadium on April 6.

Guardiola’s team, presented as ultra-favorite against Borussia, thought they had paved the way for easy success with an early goal from Kevin De Bruyne (19e), well helped by the precious work of Riyad Mahrez.

However, the visiting club found the resources to equalize at the 84e minute by his captain Marco Reus. Determined to win, the English nevertheless regained the advantage over the gong by Foden (90e).

For the Citizens, the plan was simple: it was to muzzle the Norwegian nugget Haaland, colossus with agile feet who remained on four consecutive doubles in the Champions League, a record. Guardiola’s tactical device has proven its worth but it cracked once: Haaland, top scorer in C1 with ten pawns in seven games, this time turned into a decisive passer.

In the return match, the young blond colossus (1.93 m) can surely once again give Manchester City a cold sweat. His father’s former club Alf Inge Haaland had not conceded a single goal in their last seven European Cup games.

The World with AFP