Real Madrid, Man City roll into Champions League semis

Real Madrid and Manchester City nailed 2021 UEFA Champions League semis berths over Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund, respectively, on Wednesday, April 14 (Thursday, April 15, Manila time).

Real Madrid and Liverpool both went into their Champions League quarterfinal tie heavily depleted in defense, but the Spaniards proved they had greater strength in depth as they advanced to the semifinals.

Unfamiliar centerback pairing Eder Militao and Nacho Fernandez held firm as Real ground out a 0-0 draw in Wednesday’s, April 14 game at Anfield to protect their 3-1 advantage from the first leg.

Brazilian Militao was making his ninth start this season while Spaniard Nacho had played little more than half his side’s matches, but their assured displays meant Real barely missed first-choices Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane.

“We had some huge absences, Ramos and Varane are two pillars of this team, but Nacho and Militao proved they have what it takes,” said Real midfielder Casemiro.

“You never know when you might get your turn, and it’s not easy at all to play in this team, but they showed they are up to the task.”

Liverpool had far more chances than in last week’s defeat but Real’s central defenders plus unfamiliar right back Federico Valverde and regular left back Ferland Mendy did enough to keep Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino at bay.

“Militao and I are first-team players and the fact we’re here means we’re doing something right,” said Nacho after a third big performance for Real in eight days which also included a 2-1 win over Barcelona.

“We’ve just played three really demanding games, all of them very difficult but we performed at the highest level. We knew Liverpool would push us all the way but we were spectacular in defense.”

Liverpool have been missing their defensive leader Virgil van Dijk for most of the season plus experienced defenders Joel Matip and Joe Gomez.

Real have lost more players than any other team in La Liga this season, and were also without right backs Dani Carvajal and Lucas Vazquez against Liverpool.

“All you can say is that we are all in this together, with everything that has happened to us this season, all the injuries we have had. This team can never be written off,” said coach Zinedine Zidane.

The 13-times European Cup winners have reached the Champions League last four for the ninth time in 11 seasons and will meet Chelsea for a place in the Istanbul final on May 29.

Breakthrough semis berth

Manchester City scored twice in the second half through Riyad Mahrez and Phil Foden to beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 on Wednesday and reach the Champions League semifinals for the first time in 6 years.

Foden, who scored the winner in their 2-1 first-leg victory, fired in off the post in the 76th minute after Mahrez had converted a 55th-minute penalty to secure a 4-2 aggregate triumph and send City into the last 4 for the second time.

“It means a lot, this club this team deserves it,” City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan said. “We are grateful for being in a great competition, reaching the semifinal for the first time with this team.

“This Borussia team has a lot of quality,” he said. “On a good day they can beat everyone. It’s about staying in the game, attitude, personality, especially in that stage of the competition.”

Dortmund had gone ahead when striker Erling Haaland chased down a deep cross, the ball falling to Jude Bellingham and the teenager curling his shot into the top corner in the 15th minute for his first Champions League goal.

Premier League leaders City, eliminated in the quarterfinals of the competition in the previous 3 years, will face Paris St Germain in the semifinals after the French champions knocked out holders Bayern Munich on Tuesday.

City manager Pep Guardiola reached his eighth Champions League semifinal as a coach, equalling Jose Mourinho, and his first with the English club.

Seven changes

The Spaniard had made seven changes from Saturday’s team that lost to Leeds United but it was Dortmund who looked fresher and went ahead through a fine strike by English teenager Bellingham who scored his first Bundesliga goal at the weekend.

City, faced with a fourth consecutive quarterfinal exit, upped the tempo and Kevin De Bruyne rattled the post with a 25th-minute shot.

Mahrez was denied by Bellingham’s clearance as City took control of the game, but the Algerian did better 10 minutes after the restart when he converted a spot-kick awarded for a handball by Dortmund defender Emre Can, whose mistake also gifted City their opening goal in the first leg.

The hosts tried hard to get back into the game and Mats Hummels’ 69th-minute header fizzed narrowly over the bar.

The Germans, however, were opening up more as they looked for the winner that would take the game into extra time and City found the space they needed to strike again.

De Bruyne forced a good save from Dortmund keeper Marwin Hitz in the 75th minute before Foden scored with the very next move to settle the tie and keep City on course to win four major trophies this season.

“Obviously, this is bitterly disappointing. We were in the next round after 3 of the 4 halves in this tie,” said Dortmund coach Edin Terzic.

“We tried to keep it tight and we managed to do that for much of the game. Now we will spend the remainder of Wednesday feeling disappointed.

“But City played outstanding football in both matches and deserved to go through,” he said. – Rappler.com