Ancelotti breaks another record – Real Madrid beat Man City to reach Champions League final

Liverpool wait in the final 

Real Madrid have reached their first Champions League final in four years after a dramatic 3-1 win over Manchester City in the second leg of their semi-final in the European competition. The result overturned a 4-3 defeat in England one week earlier and now means the Spanish side will face Liverpool in a rematch of the 2017/18 final. 

After starting the match brightly, Madrid would have been forgiven for giving up midway through the second half, when Riyad Mahrez latched on to a through ball in the 73rd minute and fired a left-footed shot inside the near post to give Man City an important lead. And one that many assumed would be enough to book their place in the final. 

Real Madrid have reached the Champions League final after coming from behind to scoregoals against Manchester City! pic.twitter.com/DlK1G20PRD

— Transfermarkt.co.uk (@TMuk_news) May 4, 2022

However, as luck would have it, Madrid’s star striker Karim Benzema once again came up with the goods at the right time, when he found Rodrygo in the City box to allow the forward a first-time shot, which flew into the left side of the goal. A consolation goal, perhaps, until Madrid fired home a second less than a minute later, when a delightful cross found the head of Marco Asensio, who knocked the ball into the path of Rodrygo to once again nestle the ball into the back of Ederson’s net. 

With momentum in their favour and Man City still stunned from a last-minute capitulation, Madrid took the game to their visitors in extra time and looked far sharper and hungrier for the all-important winner. And that became clear for all to see in the 93rd minute when a late and somewhat clumsy challenge from Rúben Dias brought Benzema down in the box. The referee awarded Madrid a penalty and the French striker stepped up to score his 43rd goal of the season. 

Two records broken in less than a week – Ancelotti reaches new heights with Madrid 

While Madrid’s stars will receive most of the plaudits for Wednesday night’s performance, it was another wonderful moment in the career of Carlo Ancelotti. Just days after guiding Madrid to the Spanish league title and becoming the first manager in European football history to win the top flight in the five major leagues, the Italian manager achieved another equally impressive feat. 

Carlo Ancelotti has become the first manager to reach a fifth Champions League final

pic.twitter.com/2rGwf8gExZ

— Transfermarkt.co.uk (@TMuk_news) May 4, 2022

Indeed, when Madrid take on Liverpool in the Champions League final, Ancelotti will become the first manager in the history of the sport to make a fifth appearance at a final of the European competition. Having guided AC Milan to three finals in 2003, 2005 and 2007, as well as previously winning the tournament with Madrid in 2014, Ancelotti has now surpassed legends of the game such as Sir Alex Ferguson, Marcello Lippi and Jürgen Klopp by adding a fifth final appearance to his record.  

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