By: EFE Updated May , 10: 16 am EDT
Accustomed to European feats and unthinkable comebacks, Real Madrid faces the second leg of the Champions League semifinals against Manchester City in a new setting, defying history that points out that on the eight occasions he lost in the first leg of the tie that gives access to the final, he never got through.
Carlo Ancelotti’s team will seek a new achievement in which it is his thirty-first semi-final in the most prestigious competition. Surpassed 15 of the thirty he played, but was eliminated whenever he lost the first leg, as happened in the Etihad Stadium in a crazy clash.
With 4-3 in favor of Manchester City, the record for goals in a semi-final match in the Champions League, up to seven as happened in Ajax’s victory against Bayern Munich (5-2 in l to season 1994/100) and Liverpool’s thrashing of Roma at Anfield (5-2 in the campaign 2017/18). The result presents a new challenge for Real Madrid to overcome.
The first time it happened dates back to the campaign 1967/68, when Manchester United, eventual champions, won 1-0 at Old Trafford with a goal from George Best and in the second leg they managed to tie three to reach the Wembley final, in which they defeated Benfica. Real Madrid went on to have a 2-0 and a 3-1, but goals in the final stretch from David Sadler and Bill Foulkes ended the hopes of the team that led by Miguel Muñoz (3-3).
Six years later, the great Ajax captained by Johan Cruyff on his way to his Real Madrid won the third title in a row in the European Cup after beating the Amsterdam Olympics 2-1. In the return leg, Ajax was far superior to Miguel Muñoz’s team and won again 0-1 with a goal from Gerrie Muhren.
👀 A selection of players courting interest among managers on # UCLfantasy, as well as those who could provide lucrative assets…— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 30, 2022
A campaign later, Bayern Munich returned to cross the path of Real Madrid in the semifinal. A brace from Cristiano Ronaldo and a goal from Arjen Robben sent the confrontation to extra time and to penalties, in which the errors of the Portuguese, Kaka and Sergio Ramos frustrated the madridista intention.
The last time that Real Madrid lost in a semi-final after losing the first leg was on the course 2014/11 against Juventus, who won 2-1 in Turin and drew 1-1 at the Bernabéu.
In this way, Real Madrid, the king of Europe with its thirteen conquests, is obliged to tear down one of the historic walls with whom he has never been able. The positive fact is that the only time he faced City in a semifinal, in the campaign 2015/16, made it through, although it was after drawing 0-0 in Manchester and winning 1-0 at the Bernabéu. It was the beginning of the three titles in a row under the direction of Zinedine Zidane.
Read also:
America could lose a key player like Álvaro Fidalgo: Santiago Solari wants him in Spain and will take him away from the Eagles
The road to Liga MX: Which teams qualified and what are the playoff games in Mexican soccer?