Bernardo Silva gave Manchester City the perfect start at Real Madrid within one minute and 49 seconds after a moment of genius from the Portuguese star.
Silva stepped up to take an early free-kick about 25 yards from the goal, and he curled a low shot around the wall and into the bottom corner, with Andriy Lunin unable to keep it out despite getting a hand to it.
The current holders of the Champions League trophy are visiting the most successful club in the tournament’s history for a quarter-final first leg at the Bernabeu.
Real Madrid scored twice in two minutes, first through Eduardo Camavinga, and then Rodrygo, to turn the game back in favour of the hosts within a manic opening 15 minutes at the Bernabeu.
The hosts were given UEFA permission to close the roof at the Bernabeu to create an intimidating atmosphere that would rock Manchester City – but Silva’s early goal silenced the Real Madrid faithful.
Bernardo Silva gave Manchester City the perfect start at Real Madrid from a free-kick
While preparing for a ball into the box, Silva struck the ball hard and low into the near corner
Andriy Lunin was unable to keep the ball out of the net despite getting his hand to it
While the visitors had set themselves up to look like the ball would be placed into the heart of the penalty area, the Portuguese star found the space to strike it hard and low into the near corner, fooling the Real Madrid goalkeeper for the dream opening.
However, the hosts managed to wrangle control of the game, Camavinga scoring with their first shot of the game after 12 minutes, before Rodrygo made a run from his own half into the Manchester City box before converting.
The reverse leg will be held at the City of Manchester Stadium – as the Etihad is renamed for UEFA sponsorship reasons – a week on Wednesday.
Whoever emerges victorious from this quarter-final will face the winner of Arsenal against Bayern Munich for the right to play in June’s final at Wembley.
Bernardo SilvaChampions League
