Manchester City and Real Madrid qualify for the quarters with wins

Serious things begin, and the term is there. Manchester City, the reigning European champions and Real Madrid, the undisputed masters of the Champions League with their fourteen trophies, won the first round of 16 first leg of the competition on Tuesday 13 February.

Thanks to its Belgian playmaker Kevin De Bruyne, the English club logically won on the pitch of the Danes of Copenhagen (3-1), and the Spaniards had to fight hard to bring back the narrowest victory for Leipzig (1-0).

The return match will take place on March 6.

De Bruyne worked for Manchester City

“We played the match we had to play”: Pep Guardiola is relieved. Despite the difference in status between the two clubs, the Manchester City coach did not look down on Copenhagen, preferring to deploy his stars. Playmaker Kevin De Bruyne, who has made a strong comeback in recent weeks after a five-month absence due to injury, proved him right in a complete match.

With the Danish Lions determined not to let up at times, the reigning champions dominated the match for most of the match – with 85% possession in the first twenty minutes – opening the scoring in the 10th minute.^E

Minute Served deep by Phil Foden, De Bruyne put in a quick cross shot, his first goal in the Champions League this season, that left no chance for FCK goalkeeper Kamil Grabara (1-0).

Then the Danes, without a competitive match for two months due to the national championship’s mid-season break, equalized thanks to the recovery of new recruit Magnus Mattsson’s right, the absence of Lucas Lerager in the starting eleven, on a curling shot from 20 meters on the axis (1- 1, 34^E).

The action electrified Parken, the stadium falling asleep after City’s thunderous entrance. But at the end of the first half, Bernardo Silva again managed to deceive Camille Grabara, and restored the advantage to Manchester City (2-1, 45+1), whose star scorer, Erling Haaland remained shy. De Bruyne was still involved in the action.

Also Read | Champions League: Haaland and De Bruyne lead Manchester City against Copenhagen, slumping Real Madrid face Leipzig

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In the second half, the Citizens’ dominance remained strong but looked less threatening, better channeled by the five-man defense adopted by young opposition coach Jacob Nistrup after the break. Before the final whistle, Foden, on De Bruyne’s pass, dashed any Danish hopes (3-1, 90+2).

Manchester City have maintained their torrid run of form with this eleventh straight win in all competitions. And the “Sky Blues” set a record for an English club with their ninth consecutive Champions League success, last season, crowning the crowning glory.

Real Madrid rocked in Leipzig

In the absence of their prudential man Jude Bellingham on the Leipzig pitch, Real Madrid relied on the gem of his replacement Brahim Diaz to win on the Leipzig pitch. The Spanish playmaker scored in the second half (48^E

1-0).

A new achievement in big meetings this season for the former Milanese, who has become a luxury joker for Carlo Ancelotti, is the scorer twice against Atletico Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup (5-3) and last week in La Liga (1-1). ).

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“I’m very happy to be able to help the team, we continue to show that we are a great team. We had chances and so did they. It was a great match.”Announced the scorer of the day on the microphone of Movistar +.

Despite having a disorganized, incomplete squad in La Liga and ravaged by injuries, the Merengues continued their flawless run in the Champions League. In a carnage that seemed to continue, the hero of the day, Brahim Diaz, was forced to leave his place in the 84th by Lucas Vasquez, apparently injured in the calf.^E minute

The Germans may regret not capitalizing on their highlights in a lively first half, where they drew level with Real. The home side looked to have opened the scoring in the second minute of the game, before Benjamin Cesko’s goal was disallowed by Heinrichs for an offside position in front of Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin.

The Merengue defence, which presented itself with a central Choumaeni-Nacho hinge due to the absence of Eder Militao, David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger, struggled to manage counterattacks but ultimately proved too solid, despite several clear-cut chances on Leipzig. side

“We know that every time we play against great teams, especially in the Champions League. We know we have to protect our backs at certain stages of the game. But in the end we win, we continue to grow stronger.

Summary of French international Aurélien Tchouaméni on Canal+.

Real can thank its Ukrainian goalkeeper, the author of several decisive interventions against Slovenian scorer Benjamin Cesko (10).^E51^E62^E82^E) and Xavi Simmons (81^E) and Hydera (82^E). A top-level performance that could allow Lunin to firmly establish himself as the starter in goal in a duel with Capa Arrizabalaga as he awaits the return of Belgian Thibaut Courtois for next season.

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