Real Madrid secured their place in the semi-final stage of the UEFA Champions League after defeating Manchester City on penalties. They managed to defend for 120 minutes, showcasing excellent organization off the ball, while Manchester City demonstrated impressive ball movement and control. The scale of City’s dominance made Real Madrid, the competition’s most successful club, appear like a “small” team.
Manchester City had 33 attempts at goal, with nine on target, and attempted a remarkable 920 passes, while Real Madrid attempted 457 passes and finished the match with only 32% possession. These statistics may suggest that Manchester City should have been preparing for a semi-final tie against Bayern Munich. However, football can be played and won in different ways.