Two-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid, Steve McManaman, offered his reflections on the draw between Real Madrid and Manchester City in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final. The comments were distributed by the competition’s press office through UEFA reports.
McManaman described the pairing as a clash between two outstanding sides. He noted that City currently carries a slight edge in the eyes of many observers, acknowledging that the match delivered moments of top-tier quality. He highlighted the intense ball battles across the pitch, describing a contest that lived up to the expectations of a high-caliber European tie.
The match in question concluded in Madrid with a 1-1 result, played in the capital of Spain. In the opening half, the home team’s Vinícius Júnior appeared to give the lead, while with twenty-three minutes remaining, Kevin De Bruyne struck back to level the score, ensuring parity as the clock wound down.
The second leg is scheduled for 17 May in Manchester, with kickoff set for 22:00 local time. The tie remains finely poised as both teams prepare to confront each other once again in a decisive atmosphere.
Meanwhile, further up the bracket, Italian clubs Inter Milan and AC Milan are slated to face each other in the other semi-final. The first leg is set for 10 May, with the whistle echoing at 22:00 local time to begin what promises to be a tense encounter between two historic rivals who continue to push for European glory.
The tournament’s grand finale will take place in Istanbul, where the winner will be crowned on 10 June after a season of intense competition across Europe.
Beyond the on-pitch action, Arsène Wenger, a former manager of Arsenal, commented on the broadcast. He noted that the video assistant referee (VAR) system appeared to have an error in part of the match between Manchester City and Real Madrid, a point that sparked discussion among analysts and fans about the implementation of VAR in high-stakes games (as reported by credible sources following the match).