Haaland shackled, but De Bruyne shows his class

MADRID : For once Manchester City goal monster Erling Haaland was shackled, but when his side needed a moment of magic the old reliable Kevin De Bruyne conjured it against Real Madrid in an absorbing Champions League semi-final first leg on Tuesday.

The 31-year-old De Bruyne, like the rest of City's high-quality collection of internationals, has been outshone by Haaland's record-shredding first season in England.

Norwegian powerhouse Haaland has netted 51 goals in all competitions but he found Real Madrid's Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba a little less accommodating than the Premier League centre backs he has bullied mercilessly all season.

He was kept relatively quiet, with Alaba denying him with one sensational covering tackle, but De Bruyne popped up to make sure City emerged from the Bernabeu with a 1-1 draw.

With Real looking comfortable and threatening to add to the lead given to them by a Vinicius Jr wonder strike, De Bruyne showed again why he remains so indispensable for City as they seek to finally win the Champions League and perhaps a treble.

His shot from outside the area was a thing of beauty, the ball rising no more than a foot off the turf as it streaked like a missile through the Madrid air and past Thibaut Courtois.

"Kevin is a massive player for us. Always he has been great and he helped us in the moment we most needed it," City midfielder Rodri said of the Belgium talisman who has been a key component in four Premier League winning teams.

"We were suffering a bit because they were keeping the ball and with the goal he gave us the confidence to keep pushing."

De Bruyne's 14th Champions League goal for City means he is the first player in Champions League history to score in separate away games against Real in