Real Madrid has done it again.
The 13-time European champion produced yet another magical Champions League night at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on Wednesday, rallying late with two goals in two minutes by substitute Rodrygo to force extra time and defeat Manchester City 3-1 to reach its first final in four seasons.
Karim Benzema, the hero of Madrid's previous Champions League comebacks this season, converted a penalty kick in extra time for the decisive goal that allowed Madrid to advance 6-5 on aggregate after a 4-3 first-leg semi-final loss in Manchester where the Spanish side escaped losing by a bigger margin.
Madrid had already pulled off thrilling comebacks at the Bernabéu against Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16 and Chelsea in the quarter-finals.
By doing it again against City, Madrid booked a spot in the May 29 (AEST) final in Paris against Liverpool, which advanced after defeating Villarreal on Tuesday. Madrid defeated Liverpool in the 2018 final, when the Spanish powerhouse clinched its record-extending 13th title.
Today's result further frustrated City's quest for its first Champions League trophy. Pep Guardiola's team lost in the final last year to Chelsea.
Madrid looked beaten near the end of regulation time before Rodrygo scored his goals two minutes apart.
Riyad Mahrez had put City ahead in the 73rd but the Brazilian forward equalised in the 90th and got the go-ahead goal with a header a minute into stoppage time.
In the process he became the first player ever to score twice in the 90th minute and beyond in a Champions League knockout match.
A few minutes before Rodrygo's first goal, Ferland Mendy had saved Madrid from conceding a second goal that could have sealed City's qualification by clearing the ball in front of the goal line while tumbling backward to keep an attempt by Jack Grealish from going in.
Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois moments later saved a Grealish shot with the bottom of his cleat.
Madrid carried all the momentum into extra time and Benzema gave the hosts the 3-1 lead by converting a 95th-minute penalty kick after he was fouled inside the area.
Manchester City will have to push aside the disappointment from its Champions League exit to focus on the final run-in in the Premier League. Guardiola's men lead Liverpool by a point with four games left.
The final in Paris will see Real Madrid attempting to extend their record with a 14th Champions League / European Cup title, while Liverpool — appearing in their third final in five seasons — will be looking for their seventh triumph.
AP/ABC
