Bellingham says Madrid mentality drove Man City smash-and-grab | OneFootball

Real Madrid are through to the Champions League semi-finals after beating Manchester City on penalties at the Etihad.

The Spanish side opened the scoring in the second leg as Rodrygo turned in at the second attempt after 12 minutes, handing Carlo Ancelotti’s side the lead on aggregate after a 3-3 draw at the Bernabeu last week.

Real Madrid defended well but were second best on the night, as the Citizens had 67% of the possession and fired 33 efforts on goal. The equaliser eventually arrived on 76 minutes when Kevin De Bruyne capitalised on Antonio Rudiger’s miscued clearance, firing high into the net to restore parity between the teams.

Los Blancos held firm in a cagey extra-time period to take the tie to a shootout, the first in a Champions League quarter-final since 2005.

Luka Modric missed the first spot-kick for Real Madrid to hand Manchester City the advantage, but Andriy Lunin made back-to-back stops from Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic to swing the momentum back in the favour of the Spaniards.

Antonio Rudiger stepped up to convert the winning kick and hand Real Madrid a 4-3 win on penalties, booking the 14-time European champions a semi-final tie with Bayern Munich.

Despite exits for both Manchester City and Arsenal on Wednesday, there will be English representation in the Champions League final, as Jude Bellingham takes on Harry Kane in the last four.

“It’s relief. You put so much into the game. I’ve played against City before and they snatch it away from you. I was pretty much dead on my feet at the end,” Bellingham told TNT Sports.

“It’s so difficult. They are continuously probing with the ball and move you around. Most teams would fall apart when City get on top of you but we stood up really well.

“I could never dream of how it started [his time at Real], just the feeling you get playing for the club – getting to put the badge on your chest. Long may it continue. Hopefully more nights like this.

“Our biggest strength is he [Carlo Ancelotti] finds a way to let a lot of boys play with freedom. We’re so off the cuff. As a man he fills you with calmness and confidence. I caught him yawning and he said to go out and excite him.

“You have to see it as a responsibility not a pressure if you want to play for a team like Real Madrid.

“Today it came down to mentality.

“It’s beautiful. My brother is here today, the first time he’s seen me play for Madrid.”

Read – Real Madrid vs Man City: Five who played for both clubs

See more – Five transfer release clauses we expect to be triggered this summer

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