Real Madrid 3 - 2 Manchester City (Champions League Day 1)

Europe is the solution. The disjointed Real Madrid, eight points under the Spanish league lider and playing in the confusion, revived in one of those European nights that occur from time to time that fans keep in their memory forever. Undeservedly, white team was two times behind on the scoreboard, overlooking a major crisis, and ended up winning 3-2 in a vibrant reaction, with all the best talent on the field and the supporters full of joy. Those who with the 1-2 left the stadium despaired, dragged by spite and pessimist, have regretted it. The final of the match was a beautiful and unforgettable spectacle.

Real Madrid 3 - 2 Manchester City. Magic night at the Bernabeu stadium

"I believe that tomorrow we will have team that as well as showing solidarity will be tight and determined... the team will be the most important thing and everyone will work for everyone. Everyone will feel on top form" said Mourinho. His team, in which Essien debuted, went out from the beginning to try to back up his words. In the 3rd minute Ronaldo sent a warning with a shot from the edge of the area that went wide. The Portuguese also had the home team’s second chance, this time it was much clearer following a counter attack. Passing Kompany his shot was saved by Hart with a great stretch in the 8th minute. It was a phenomenal save by the England goalkeeper, who again showed off his reflexes three minutes later in a very similar play. Ronaldo shot from the edge of the area, but this time the head of Higuaín deflected the ball, but not enough to surprise the visitors’ keeper.

The ball wasn’t in Manchester City’s possession very much. Real Madrid recovered possession quickly in the opponent’s half, and the English team looked suffocated by the relentless pressure of the home team. Perhaps that is why the only chances were for the Whites. They had four more before the break. Arbeloa, after a one-two with Di María and a great piece of play, he tried with his left foot and once again Hart made the stop on 18 minutes. There was a double chance three minutes later. An exceptional pass to Higuaín who failed to control the ball, took advantage of the visiting keeper’s clearance before to giving ball to Ronaldo. The Portuguese’s volley hit a defender and ended up at the feet of Khedira who put the ball high.

The last two chances, which came after substitution of the injured Nasri by Kolarov, involved Di María. A first class bit of Argentine connectivity with Higuaín, whose shot was off target on 40 minutes. With three minutes remaining of the first half ‘El Fideo’ Di María narrowly missed the target with a long shot. Real Madrid cleared any lingering doubts with a first half in which they dominated and pleased the home crowd with 16 shots on goal (eight on target) compared to one by their opponents. The Brits, meanwhile, could only find the relief from the home team’s pressure with two charges forward from Yayá Touré, who was halted with some precise Whites’ defending, in which Varane, another change in Mourinho’s team, was playing.

The second half began as the first ended: with a shot from Di Maria in the 47th minute and more dominance from the Whites. Real Madrid continued with their attempts to take an early lead and were helped by the Bernabéu crowd motivating the team that until that point the most deserving of the lead. Özil came on for Essien in the 65th minute and Mourinho gave even more bite and vision to his team. Marcelo was close to putting his team in front in the following passage of play, but his shot shaved the crossbar. It was the passage of play that came just before the visitors’ goal. The unfortunate incident happened in the 68th minute. A counter attack started by Yayá Touré and finished by Dzeko beating Casillas one-on-one in the 68th minute.

The goal spurred on the Whites, who used all of their substitutions by bringing on Modric and Benzema for Higuaín and Khedira. There was no break in play and the match was continuously end-to-end. Marcelo, the Whites’ best player in the second half, scored for the home team. A great goal for the Brazilian, who checked his run and the edge of the area and his shot back snuck into Hart’s goal in the 76th. 1-1 with 14 minutes remaining.

The siege was already at full power. The British team was pegged back inside their area and, from what they showed on the field, they wanted to start their campaign with a victory against the Whites. But just when we thought that Real Madrid had used up all of their bad luck with the first goal, along came the visitors' second goal in the 85th minute. A long range free-kick from Kolarov made its way through the crowd and nobody managed to clear the ball which surprised Casillas. 2-1 to City with five minutes left. The match had not finished. Real Madrid kept fighting for the badge on the shirt and showed their fighting spirit. They took just three minutes to bring the scores level and two more to turn around the result. Benzema levelled the match with a tight shot from the edge of the box and Ronaldo scored the goal to bring justice to the match with a shot that led to the only mistake of the brilliant Hart. Epic victory in their Champions League opener.

Summary

Stadium: Santiago Bernabeu
Attendance: 70,300
Goals: 0-1, m.68: Dzeko. 1-1, m.77: Marcelo; 1-2, m.86: Kolarov; 2-2, m.87: Benzema; 3-2, m.90: Cristiano Ronaldo.