A fast-paced, thoroughly entertaining match littered with goals starting from the 92nd second has been praised as yet another Champions League classic. Manchester City led by two goals three times during the first leg semi-final against Real Madrid on Tuesday, but could only hold on to a 4-3 win.
The clash between the two European heavyweights was expected to be the tie most fans, pundits and players alike would have been hoping to catch a glimpse of, and it lived up to expectations.
There were flashes of delightful passes and crosses, devastating nutmegs, a calmly slotted Panenka spot-kick, and seven goals.
Here are some of the Twitter reactions
What a fantastic game 🤯 Give my boy Benzi the Ballon D'Or 👑☝🏼 #MCIRMA @Benzema @ChampionsLeague
— Mesut Özil (@MesutOzil1088) April 26, 2022
Seven goals.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 26, 2022
Over 30 legends.
Under 23 huge talents.
Two different, top managers.
The next Ballon d’Or winner.
Only two cards in 90 minutes.
One ‘Panenka’ penalty.
It wasn’t a game - it was a movie. ⭐️ #UCL
Good news: we’ve another one in 8 days.
Champions League football 🏆✨
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙜𝙪𝙣… ¡ Somos el Real Madrid ! ⚔️🤍 #Nueve #HalaMadrid #UCL #Alhamdulilah 🤲🏼❤️ pic.twitter.com/e6adMFSzly
— Karim Benzema (@Benzema) April 26, 2022
Hopefully the second leg will be more entertaining.
— Gary Lineker 💙💛 (@GaryLineker) April 26, 2022
We're in a world where we're (rightly) criticising Manchester City for ONLY scoring 4 against Real Madrid
— Sam Lee (@SamLee) April 26, 2022
I LOVE THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) April 26, 2022
Wow… fair play @ManCity & @realmadrid! @btsportfootball @ChampionsLeague
Pep Guardiola’s reaction to Vinicius’s dummy 🤣 pic.twitter.com/LVv64SjFh2
— S. (@utdz0ne) April 26, 2022
👀 Karim Benzema is just one goal away from equalling Cristiano Ronaldo's record...#UCL pic.twitter.com/9jMqPtQeaZ
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 27, 2022
The original #Panenka #Benzema ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/4I8hazmxD8
— Darren Fletcher (@DFletcherSport) April 26, 2022
Just a quick mention because nobody knows or realises on BT that Benzema missed 2 penalties in Real Madrid’s last game v Osasuna. Yet still had the nerve to pull off the “Panenka” 👏
— Terry Gibson (@TerryGibson88) April 26, 2022