MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid and Manchester City played out a thrilling 3-3 draw in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals, delivering a spectacle of attacking football that had fans on the edge of their seats.
The match at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium saw both teams trading blows early on, with City taking the lead through Bernardo Silva's goal in just the second minute. However, Madrid quickly responded with an own-goal by City's Rúben Dias in the 12th minute, followed by a goal from Rodrygo in the 14th minute to put the home side ahead.
City fought back in the second half, with Phil Foden and Josko Gvardiol scoring within five minutes of each other to regain the lead. Madrid, though, managed to salvage a draw thanks to Federico Valverde's 79th-minute equalizer.
Both managers expressed satisfaction with their teams' performances, with Guardiola acknowledging the entertaining nature of the match and Ancelotti praising his team's competitive spirit.
The result sets up an intriguing second leg in Manchester next Wednesday, continuing a recent history of knockout clashes between the two clubs in the Champions League. Madrid eliminated City in the semifinals in 2022, while City got the better of Madrid at the same stage last year, with both teams going on to win the title in those respective seasons.
Despite concerns over a possible terror threat, the match proceeded without any security incidents reported. In another quarterfinal clash on Tuesday, Arsenal and Bayern Munich played out a 2-2 draw in London.
The match showcased Madrid's 28-match unbeaten streak and City's 26-match unbeaten run across all competitions. City, the defending champions, extended their unbeaten streak in the Champions League to 22 games.
Guardiola had to deal with the absence of Kevin de Bruyne due to illness, while Ancelotti made his 200th appearance as a coach in the Champions League, boasting the most titles and victories in the competition.
Both teams displayed attacking intent and resilience, setting the stage for an eagerly anticipated second leg as they vie for a spot in the Champions League semifinals.
For more soccer news, visit AP soccer.
