The Champions League semifinals on Wednesday night were a mix of emotions. In Manchester, the match between the defending champions Manchester City and the always-tough Real Madrid went all the way to the wire. In Munich, Germany, Bayern Munich beat Arsenal by a small margin to move on to the next round.
How Real Madrid Improved, and How the City's Dream Shattered
The Etihad Stadium was rocking as City tried to build on last week's 3-3 draw in Madrid. But Real was the one who hit first. Vinicius Jr. made a quick run and sent a precise cross to Rodrygo, who scored from the rebound after Ederson saved the first shot. When City quickly replied, Bernardo Silva had a header that hit the crossbar and then his own knee, but it was so close that it hurt.
The city kept putting pressure on itself in the second half. After a loose ball in the box, Kevin De Bruyne finally scored to tie the game in the 75th minute. Even though City had most of the ball, they couldn't score in regular or extra time, which set up a dramatic penalty shootout.
It was a close shootout; both teams missed their penalties until Antonio Rüdiger of Real Madrid stepped up and calmly made the winning kick. Real Madrid experienced these victories as sweet retaliation for City's 4-0 playoff defeat last year. The loss ended City's hopes for an unheard-of second straight treble. It was a bitter taste after their unbeaten home record in the Champions League came to an abrupt end.
Bayern's clinical effectiveness makes them better than Arsenal
At the Allianz Arena, Bayern Munich played better under control against Arsenal. The match was very close after a 2-2 draw in London; Bayern only needed one goal to move on. In the first half, there were no clear scoring chances for either team because of the defensive tie. But in the 63rd minute, the game was finally over. Raphaël Guerreiro's cross was perfect; it found Joshua Kimmich. With a powerful header, Kimmich beat David Raya, the Arsenal goalie.
Arsenal didn't make the most of their few chances, and Bayern's strong defence stayed strong. When the game ended, there was joy in the stands because Bayern had earned a spot in the playoffs. This sets up a thrilling matchup with Real Madrid, a repeat of the Champions League final from 2018.
A battle of champions is coming
Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich in the semi-finals is shaping up to be a very smart game of chess between two of Europe's biggest teams. Because they never give up and are used to playing under a lot of pressure, Real Madrid will look for any holes in Bayern's defence. Bayern, on the other hand, will try to keep the ball for long periods of time and use Kimmich and Robert Lewandowski, two outstanding attack players, to their advantage.
It looks like the other semifinal game, between Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund, will be a different kind of show. One team is very good at offence, and the other is known for playing fast, pressing football.
What happened in the Champions League on Wednesday night reminded us of how exciting this league can be. It showed how tough Real Madrid is, how sad City is, how good Bayern is at playing the game, and how driven Arsenal is. It's clear that everyone is looking forward to an exciting ending as the game draws to a close.
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