For the second consecutive year, the Etihad Stadium will resolve a majestic duel between Real Madrid and Manchester City, who exchanged comebacks at the Santiago Bernabéu in a great football spectacle (3-3), which saved the Madrid epic after the demonstration of power without Kevin De Bruyne of the current champion, who could not participate due to stomach discomfort. “We wanted to win, to leave the Bernabéu with a more positive result than a draw. We have conceded goals that we shouldn’t have. But there is the return leg, the tie is open,” Rodrygo warned. The Brazilian striker from Real Madrid wanted to highlight “Madrid’s ability to react” after Manchester City’s 1-0 draw and highlighted that “at that moment we were able to control the game more and that, when they mark you first, is always difficult.”
Regarding the drawing that Ancelotti provided, Rodrygo remarked that “they weren’t waiting for me on the left because Vinícius is always there. I think he turned out well. Carlo Ancelotti agreed with him. “Rodrygo and Vini combined very well, the second goal was a perfect play,” analyzed the Real Madrid coach, who went from being the one singled out for his decisions in the starting eleven in the 4-0 win suffered last year in the Etihad, to be the architect of the approach that caught Manchester City by surprise. A 4-4-2 with Rodrygo Goes attached to the left side and Vinícius Junior inside.
“I’m left with the fact that we fought. Although we started badly and it took a while until we managed to keep the pressure high for sixty minutes. When we lowered the energy, they handled the situation better. It was a very close game and we needed the same attitude in the second leg. We wanted to take a slight advantage but it was a very close game,” added the Real Madrid coach, who completed 200 games in the Champions League.
Fede Valverde, author of the final tying goal, showed himself along the same lines. “Scoring the tying goal gives you encouragement for the return even though we were looking for victory. Thank the public for their encouragement and we will fight for qualification in Manchester. The important thing is that we knew how to counter and that we want to continue attacking. We must not lower the intensity. Yes We go with the same attitude, we will achieve classification. It is a worthy draw for both teams,” he said.
