On Tuesday, April 9, Real Madrid overcame a late deficit to tie the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal match against Manchester City.

Carlo Ancelotti made two changes to the team after they defeated Athletic Bilbao. Eduardo Camavinga and Vinicius Jr.’s return from suspension was welcomed by him. Brahim Diaz and Nacho Fernandez made room for the two.

Meanwhile, Manchester City made four changes to their lineup following their victory at Crystal Palace. Mateo Kovacic, Manuel Akanji, Phil Foden, and Bernardo Silva entered the starting eleven, replacing Rico Lewis, Oscar Bobb, Julian Alvarez, and Kevin De Bruyne, respectively.

The hosts experienced a shaky start as Manchester City seized the lead in the second minute. Silva successfully converted a free kick, and despite Andriy Lunin’s efforts, his low shot found the back of the net.

Real Madrid swiftly regained composure and equalized in the 12th minute. Camavinga’s long-range strike took a deflection off Ruben Dias, sneaking past the goalkeeper into the bottom corner to level the scores.

Just moments later, they surged ahead with a quick counter-attack. Rodyrgo capitalized on his isolation against the City defense, dribbling past Akanji before slotting the ball home to take the lead.

The intensity persisted into the second half, and in the 66th minute, the visitors leveled the scoreline at 2-2. Foden unleashed a spectacular strike from the edge of the box, finding the top corner with precision, leaving Lunin with no chance.

City swiftly turned the tide in the game just five minutes later, with Gvardiol unleashing another sensational long-range shot. Real Madrid once more faltered, and the Croatian’s powerful strike found the back of the net, putting City ahead 3-2.

Los Blancos persisted in their pursuit of an equalizer, which they eventually secured through Fede Valverde. A cross from Vinicius on the left found the Uruguayan, whose brilliant volley rocketed into the net, leveling the score once again.

The thrilling encounter between the two teams sets the stage for an eagerly anticipated second leg back in Manchester. Here are the player ratings:

Real Madrid Player Ratings

Andriy Lunin – 5/10

The Ukrainian goalkeeper could have performed better with the first goal, as he found himself out of position when Bernardo Silva scored with a clever effort. However, regarding the other two goals, he had limited options and managed to make three saves throughout the game.

Dani Carvajal – 6/10

He faced difficulties dealing with Jack Grealish down his flank and did not significantly contribute to Real Madrid’s attack either.

Antonio Rudiger – 7.5/10

Rudiger delivered a stellar performance, effectively neutralizing Erling Haaland throughout the match. The German repeatedly found himself in one-on-one situations with the Norwegian and managed them admirably, concluding with three duels won, three clearances, and two interceptions.

Aurelien Tchouameni – 5.5/10

It was a challenging evening for the Frenchman who was deployed as a makeshift center-back. Unfortunately, his night took a turn for the worse when he received a yellow card within the first minute of play, rendering him unavailable for the next clash.

Ferland Mendy – 6.5/10

He displayed a dynamic presence on the left flank, effectively linking up with both the midfield and the attackers. His skill on the ball was evident, showcasing his talent and contributing positively to the team’s attacking play.

Eduardo Camavinga – 6.5/10

Following his goal that opened the scoring for his team, Camavinga delivered an energetic performance operating in front of the back four. He created one scoring opportunity, executed five passes into the final third, completed six recoveries, and contributed with six defensive actions throughout the game.

Toni Kroos – 6.5/10

Kroos played a pivotal role in Real Madrid’s midfield dominance during periods of the game. However, defensively, he could have been more proactive in preventing City’s third goal by stepping out to challenge Gvardiol.

Fede Valverde – 7/10

The relentless Uruguayan found the back of the net with a stunning strike, showcasing his renowned work rate by tirelessly covering every area of the pitch. He contributed with three shots, two of which were on target, created one scoring opportunity, won three duels, and made five recoveries throughout the match.

Jude Bellingham – 6/10

It was a relatively subdued evening for Real Madrid’s standout midfielder, who appeared visibly frustrated on occasion.

Vinicius Jr – 6.5/10

Similar to his teammate Bellingham, Vinicius experienced a challenging first half but showed improvement during the second period. His performance notably improved, culminating in his pivotal contribution to Valverde’s goal.

Rodrygo – 7/10

The Brazilian displayed his liveliness throughout the first half, playing a crucial role in Real Madrid’s lead with a composed finish. He maintained his performance levels until his substitution, tallying three shots, two of which were on target, and creating two scoring opportunities in addition to his goal.

Substitutes

Luka Modric – 6/10

A decent 20 minutes for the Croatian who could not make much of a difference after coming on for Kroos.

Brahim Diaz – 6/10

Similar to Modric, he played the last 20 minutes replacing the lively Rodrygo but could not contribute much.

Joselu – N/A

He came on late and did not play enough minutes to merit a rating.