There’s no sequence of words that can accurately describe and recap the magical events that took place at the Santiago Bernabéu on Wednesday. What is certain is that Real Madrid’s miraculous comeback to win 6-5 on aggregate against Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League semifinal would never have happened without Ferland Mendy’s heroic defensive actions in the 87th minute.
Real Madrid was dead in the water after Riyad Mahrez scored in the 73rd to extend City’s aggregate lead to 5-3. Los Blancos had yet to register a shot on target and a City was still terrorizing their goal. Jack Grealish looked destined to score in the 87th minute until Mendy threw himself into his own goal to clear the ball off the line.
Ferland Mendy Clearance vs Manchester City
Una pregunta... ¡¿Cómo no entraron esos balones?! @realmadrid (3)0-1(5) @ManCityES#TuChampions | #RealMadrid | #ManCity | #UCL
— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) May 4, 2022
We need to talk about Mendy’s goal saving clearance off the line when the score was 1-0 to Man City. pic.twitter.com/2QEOp5YYdO
— WolfRMFC (@WolfRMFC) May 4, 2022
If Mendy was a quitter, he would have had the mindset of “this game is over, no worth risking an injury.” Instead, the Frenchman, with little to no hope in the game, saved Real Madrid’s incredible Champions League run.
Rodrygo madness took place less than five minutes later with a brace in two minutes to send the game to extra time.
THE GOAL THAT GAVE REAL MADRID HOPE. ⚪️ pic.twitter.com/KZGXCNa9fU
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 4, 2022
TWO GOALS IN TWO MINUTES FROM RODRYGO TO LEVEL THE TIE. BERNABEU BEDLAM! pic.twitter.com/UAr6zwvhm2
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 4, 2022
Real Madrid’s main man Karim Benzema converted from the spot in extra time to put Madrid ahead 3-1 on the night and 6-5 on aggregate.
KING KARIM IS INEVITABLE.
REAL MADRID SHOWING WHY THEY ARE THE KINGS OF EUROPE. pic.twitter.com/nWF0itchuO— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 4, 2022
Manchester City was unable to find an equalizer in extra time and their metaphorically booked tickets to the Champions League final in Paris now sit torn up in a Santiago Bernabéu bin somewhere.
Soccer fans will be gifted with a rematch of the 2018 Champions League final with Liverpool seeking revenge on Real Madrid on Saturday, May 28.
