The 2023-24 UEFA Champions League entered into the quarter final phase and it delivered.
The first leg of the first set of two games were settled in Madrid and London.
Defending champions Manchester City travelled to the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu to face the record winners of the competition Real Madrid.
A thrilling contest was expected and a thriller of a show was put on.
Bernardo Silva opened the scoring 120 seconds into the game, outsmarting the Madrid defence and Andriy Lunin in goal from a direct free kick.
However, on 11 minutes, Madrid equalised as Eduardo Camavinga’s shot from outside the area bounced off City’s captain on the night Ruben Dias and Los Blancos took the lead two minutes later, after Rodrygo Goes sprinted from the left hand side of the halfway line, getting the better of Manuel Akanji and Stefan Ortega Moreno in goal, to give the hosts the advantage in the first 45.
With their backs against the wall, City had to respond and that they did in the 75th minute.
Phil Foden netted a bolt out of the City blue to level matters and two minutes after, Josko Gvardiol also scored with a brilliant effort to put the visitors ahead.
However, in what was a game of goals and great goals at that, Federico Valverde left his mark with a superb volley from a Vinicius Junior cross – the Brazilian’s 10th assist in Europe this term – to ensure there is all to play for in the second leg at the Etihad.
One man who has been criticized for his overall output when he is not putting the ball in the back of the net is Erling Haaland.
The Norwegian had just 20 touches – losing possession with seven of those touches (35%), one shot, no takeons and misplacing three of his nine passes.
Pep Guardiola will definitely need his poacher firing in the return leg.
3-3 it finished in Madrid.
Speaking after the game, Carlo Ancelotti spoke of his team, saying: “I think we competed well. We have to believe. It was a very close match. We have to have the same attitude on the return leg.
“The plan was to surprise City with Vinicius as a 9 and Rodrygo on the left. I think the plan worked. I’m satisfied.
“When we pressed high, we played better. When our energy levels dropped down, City were better. We need to have the same attitude at Etihad. If we compete at the Etihad, then maybe we can make something good happen.
“We learned a lot from last year’s defeat at Etihad, I think it showed tonight.
“We wanted to win, of course. It was a fair result. We controlled the game well and I am satisfied with the performance. Our counter attacks were great.”
In London, Arsenal welcomed Bayern Munich to the Emirates – in what was the Gunners’ first quarter final appearance in well over a decade.
Mikel Arteta’s side have been in imperious form in the Premier League, giving hope that they could cause an upset against the team they faced last in their previous season in the competition – in what was a 5-1 loss to the German giants.
Bukayo Saka broke the deadlock with a well placed effort in the 12th minute but the lead did not last long as former Gunner Serge Gnabry restored parity after defensive miscommunication.
Arsenal has conceded just four goals in 2024 but their defensive lapses in this contest continued as they gave away a penalty in the 32nd minute after a brilliant solo run from Leroy Sane and Harry Kane made no mistake from the spot to give the Bavarian the lead.
Arsenal kept on searching for the leveller and their efforts were rewarded as Leandro Trossard became the first player to score in his first four consecutive home games for the North London club in the Champions League.
All to play for in Munich in the second leg.
Arteta faced the media after the game and gave his opinion of what transpired.
“The game had different moments. We started really well, we were dominant, didn’t concede anything. We scored a really good goal and after that is the moment of the game when Ben [White] is in front of [Manuel] Neuer and if it was 2-0 it would have been a very different game.
“They scored and it created some uncertainty, the second goal was unusual for us to concede but it is the Champions League, you make a mistake and get punished.
“We allowed them the spaces to run and they were very dangerous but even at 2-1 we tried to make a rhythm, we were composed and didn’t try to rush things and the changes had an impact on the game.
“I have a lot of belief we can go there and beat them. We have to prepare really well.”
UCL Quarter Final first leg results;
Real Madrid 3-3 Manchester City
Arsenal 2-2 Bayern Munich
Fixtures for Wednesday, April 10, 2024
Paris Saint-Germain vs FC Barcelona – 8:00pm (Parc Des Princes)
Atletico De Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund – 8:00pm (Wanda Metropolitano)
