April 17, 2024 – A disastrous pair of penalties in the shoot-out consigned Manchester City’s defence of the Champions League to failure, with elimination to Real Madrid after 120 minutes in which Pep Guardiola’s side had dominated.
The Etihad Stadium was sent, in all but the away end, into a stunned silence when Antonio Rudiger drilled in the winning penalty in this quarter-final at 10.45pm.
Although not quite as stunned as they had been moments earlier when Bernardo Silva chopped the second of City’s five penalties gently into the arms of goalkeeper Andriy Lunin with a chance to press home the advantage.
The Real great Luka Modric, a second half substitute, had himself missed the first of Real’s penalties, and after fighting an exhausted defensive effort Real found themselves a goal behind in the shootout.
Yet Silva and then substitute Mateo Kovacic both had their penalties saved by Lunin. Real’s four remaining penalty takers, starting with Jude Bellingham, completed the job.
City’s last penalty taker, goalkeeper Ederson took the shootout to the final round of penalties. In the aftermath of defeat, Erling Haaland, substituted before the start of extra-time, shepherded a distraught Bernardo away from the cameras.
City knew they had the scope to win the game in 120 minutes. In searching for the breakthrough, Guardiola had substituted Haaland and then Kevin De Bruyne, who had scored a crucial second half equaliser.
In their best period of the game in the first half, Rodrygo had given Real a lead in the tie. But for the most part, Real were forced backwards. Although the chances came for City they never took them.
