Benzema crowns Rodrygo's double strike: Real is in the CL

Carlo Ancelotti had to do without defense chief Alaba in the "most important game of the season", as Modric titled the semi-final second leg in advance. The Austrian plagued added problems, he was replaced by Nacho. In addition, routinner Casemiro returned to the starting eleven, Rodrygo moved to the bench for the Brazilian, Valverde on the right outer track. Otherwise, the freshly baked Spanish champion was incurred in terms of personnel compared to the first leg. For a good reason, because the royales, actually clearly superior Citizens in a typical real manner, offered a gap in a playful manner, but still ran behind in the Bernabeu.

• City only dangerous after 20 minutes
• Mahrez dampens real hopes
• Benzema meets the point - Fernandinho awards

There was already a similar constellation in the round of 16 against Paris St. Germain, Pep Guardiola and his Skyblues was therefore aware that the narrow lead that was developed by the 4: 3 eight days ago was anything but a preliminary decision. And so City appeared very concentrated from the kick -off, but was unusually difficult for his own ball. Guardiola was able to rely on Joao Cancelo and Walker again, the full-back duo was missing in the first leg yellow-locked or struck.

City no longer had speed deficits in the defense chain, but real was often dangerous. Benzema, who came very freely to the header after five minutes, started, but put the ball over the goal. City subsequently attracted the pace, but found hardly any gaps against the unfamiliar 4-2-3-1 of the royal. The Skyblues often appeared in front of the penalty area, but they did not come to conclusions. Anders Real, which, as expected, put it on counterattack and recorded the next score (12th) by Benzema and recorded the next goal approach (12th)

City only dangerous after 20 minutes

The same picture until the 20th minute, in between Vinicius Junior came to the left in the penalty area again, the Brazilian also shot over it (18th). But then City, which in the person of Bernardo Silva came dangerously into the sixteen - the Portuguese tested Courtois in the short corner. Shortly afterwards it was Gabriel Jesus, who pulled off from 16 meters, but shot just right (23rd). As a result, the pace remained high, only Real was now able to free itself more frequently and even recorded the possession of the ball. City, on the other hand, made simple mistakes more often, often played out possible counter situations. At least on the defensive, the Skyblues acted consistently, especially Walker, who clarified several times against Vinicius Junior in the running duel (37th, 40th).

Not much happened in the penalty rooms until the break, which changed immediately after the restart. Carvajal appeared right at the penalty area after a few seconds, the Spaniard played a diagonal ball directly across the second post. Vinicius Junior had run in there, but the Brazilian shot past left from a short distance (46th). The Skyblues first had to gather, were subsequently looking for the game control. This was only possible in phases, because suddenly simple mistakes occasionally calmly, which in turn invited to counter. However, all of them ended in the penalty area at Vinicius Junior - until then the left wing was not to be held, but then it failed either on the last pass or on the ball.

Mahrez dampens real hopes

After an hour the game lost a thread, a lot took place in midfield, and the game was often interrupted. This gained City in time, Real ran away from it. After 73 minutes, the deficit to be catched up was even greater, Bernardo Silva served on the right in the Mahrez penalty area, which was humorously transformed into a short corner with the left. Courtois had no chance, 1-0 for City.

The hit had an effect at Real, now two goals were missing to get into the extension. Only in the last few minutes did the royal threw everything forward, Meanwhile, Ancelotti had already substituted all offensive players. Among other things, Rodrygo, who initiated the 90th minute, which no one had considered possible in Bernabeu. First the Brazilian pressed a cross from Benzema from a few meters with the right over the line, rather he brought the stadium to explode a minute later: Asensio extended a precise cross from Carvajal with his tips Eck completed - 2: 1 for Real (90.+1)!

Benzema meets the point - Fernandinho awards

The stoppage time went for another five minutes, but City could no longer answer and recently no more hit. So it went into extra time, as in the quarter -finals against Chelsea. And as against the blues, it was Benzema who finally pulled the game to the side of the royal: the Frenchman was fouled in the penalty area of Ruben Dias, and he certainly transformed the following penalty into the right corner to his 15th CL goal this season.

The Bernabeu was finally head, City tried to collect somehow. The Skyblues had significantly more possession in the last few minutes, but they only came to a good chance throughout added time: Courtois parried a header from Foden, the margin stumbled Fernandinho left (105.). In the second half of the extension, City ran once and again, the defensive real was held - and it remained 3-1.

The 17th final entry of the royal in the Champions League was perfect, while City missed it to be in the final for the second time in a row. The final will increase in Paris on May 28, where Real Madrid meets FC Liverpool.