Global Courant 2023-05-15 23:09:13
The Etihad Stadium has historically not been comfortable for the Spanish team, which will go in search of a ticket to the final for Orejona on a hostile English terrain.
There are few stadiums in the world in which Real Madrid fails to feel comfortable. Being the greatest winner in the history of the Champions League -with 14 editions to his credit- is conclusive proof of how strong he was able to become on most occasions both at home and away. However, there are two specific pitches that do not bring back positive memories for Merengue fans. And one of them is the one who will have to go on Wednesday to go in search of a new European final.
The first of these is San Siro in Milan, where Real Madrid have lost on their first five visits to the European Cup and have drawn on their most recent two. The mythical Italian field is the only one that worsens in visitor numbers compared to the Etihad Stadium, the home of Manchester City, where those led by Carlo Ancelotti play the ticket to the final in Istanbul, a scenario in which Madrid never he managed to beat the English in four games. In addition, the fact of having Pep Guardiola in front of him supposes an extra seasoning.
Both teams turn out to be among the best at European level in recent years. This is demonstrated by the statistics: nine of their confrontations have been in four hand-to-hand crosses; They have met three times in the semifinals, and only once in the round of 16 as in the group stage.
Etihad Stadium, terreno host for el Madrid. Photo: Manchester City.
And the record shows even greater parity between the two: three wins for each team and three draws, the last one played last week at the Santiago Bernabéu for the first leg of the semifinals of this edition of the Champions League with a 1-1 result. that left everything open for the return.
Despite this parda, the Madrid team does not have the best memories of their time at the Etihad. Never come out victorious on their visits, where they have already been eliminated on one occasion from the top continental competition and have been defeated on the last two occasions.
Although Madrid can also resort to the archive to remember historical matches in their favor against the English. One of them is recent. This is the unforgettable comeback in the last semifinals, with a 5-3 aggregate in favor of the Citizens when the 90th minute was up at the Santiago Bernabéu, until the Brazilian Rodrygo appeared to score two goals in one minute that commanded the game to the extra time -and there Karim Benzema sentenced the series by means of a penalty-.
Such hand in hand served to erase from memory the feeling of inferiority suffered in 2020, in the round of 16 tie marked by the coronavirus pandemic that stopped football and caused more than five months to separate two games. Then, the team led by Zinedine Zidane fell by the same result at the Santiago Bernabéu and at the Etihad (2-1), with no chance of a comeback.
The defeat of Real Madrid in 2020 and that left it out of the Champions League in the round of 16. Photo: REUTERS/Shaun Botterill.
Until then, despite the fact that the Real Madrid team had not won in Manchester either, they dominated the duels and had never been defeated in England. The first confrontation between both teams in the maximum continental tournament took place on Spanish soil in a group stage. On the first day of the 2012-13 edition, the goals from Brazilian Marcelo, Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo served to turn the game around twice after the appearances of Bosnian Edin Dzeko and Serbian Aleksandar Kolarov (3-2).
The return and first visit of Real Madrid to the Etihad, in November 2012, was the occasion in which they came closest to victory in Manchester territory. Kun Agüero prevented it through a penalty, in the final stretch of the game (1-1), after an early goal by Benzema.
Three years after the start of a match that was already common in the last 10 years, in the 2015/2016 season, there was a reunion again in the semifinals. In what were the first for City in its international history, losing to Real Madrid in a tie full of equality that was decided by a small detail. On their second visit to the Etihad, the Real Madrid team drew 0-0 in a serious game that gave way to a tension-filled duel at the Bernabéu. The luck factor decided the return when Real Madrid prevailed 1-0 with a goal against the Brazilian Fernando.
The first one-on-one series between the two teams was for Madrid, although they did not win in England. Photo: Brand
The Guardiola effect
With the arrival of Pep Guardiola at City in 2016, the Manchester team turned its relationship with Real Madrid around. They only lost one match (in overtime), won three and tied the rest.
Guardiola always turns out to be a little extra nuisance for Real Madrid. The Catalan coach made his debut by conquering the Bernabéu in the round of 16 of the Champions League, in February 2020, days before the confinement due to the pandemic. The tie would be resolved five months later with another 2-1 citizen victory, in what meant Madrid’s third visit to the Etihad.
The fourth and last visit to date of the white team to the home of City left a new defeat for Real Madrid in what was the first leg of the semifinals of the last edition of the Champions League. It was a 4-3 victory for Pep Guardiola’s team, who will seek to continue respecting the streak they have against Madrid as a local. Whatever the result that gives them victory this Wednesday, it will ensure their pass to what would be the second Champions League final in the history of the English team.
Pep Guardiola during his visit last week to the Bernabéu. Photo: EFE / Rodrigo Jimenez.
All visits from Madrid to the Etihad Stadium
26/4/2022: Manchester City 4-3 Real Madrid – First leg of the 2021/22 Champions League Semifinals.
8/7/2020: Manchester City 2-1 Real Madrid – 2019/20 Champions League Round of 16 second leg.
4/26/2016: Manchester City 0-0 Real Madrid – First leg of the 2015/2016 Champions League Semifinals.
11/21/2012: Manchester City 1-1 Real Madrid – Champions League Group Stage 2012-13.
Manchester City and Real Madrid will seek to get differences for a pass in the continental final. Photo: JAVIER SORIANO / AFP.
With information from EFE
