MATCHDAY: City leads Madrid 4-3 in Champions League semis

Posted May 03, 2022 7:00 am

By The Associated Press

Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne, left, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Champions League semi final, first leg soccer match between Manchester City and Real Madrid at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Tuesday, April 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson) The Associated Press

A look at what's happening in the Champions League on Wednesday:

REAL MADRID vs. MANCHESTER CITY (3-4)

Manchester City will look to fend off another Real Madrid comeback to return to the Champions League final and keep alive its hopes of winning the competition for the first time. City won the first leg of the semifinals 4-3 in a wild match at Etihad Stadium last week. Madrid is trying to reach the final for the first time since 2018, when the Spanish team won its 13th European Cup title. Madrid rallied past Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 and defending champion Chelsea in the quarterfinals. With Karim Benzema enjoying his best season with 42 goals, scoring hasn't been a problem for Madrid, which has 22 goals in its last eight games in all competitions. City should be stronger defensively with Joao Cancelo having served his one-game European suspension and fellow full back Kyle Walker returning to training after an ankle injury. City manager Pep Guardiola was forced to use a center back, John Stones, at right back in the first leg, with center midfielder Fernandinho finishing the game there after Stones came off injured. City also eliminated Madrid in 2020, though that was at the last-16 stage.

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Real Madrid's Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring during La Liga soccer match at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Saturday, April 30, 2022. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) The Associated Press

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola meets the media during a press conference at the City Football Academy, in Manchester, England, Tuesday May 3, 2022, ahead of their Wednesday's semi-final 2nd leg Champions League soccer match against Real Madrid. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP) The Associated Press

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