Real Madrid stun Man City, Rodrygo the hero, Guardiola's side melt down in Champions League semifinal

MADRID — Manchester City and Real Madrid followed up Tuesday night's drama between Villarreal and Liverpool with a remarkable show of their own, with City just moments from reaching the final only for Rodrygo's injury time goals to send it to extra time, 5-5 on aggregate, with Karim Benzema scoring a penalty to send the Spanish giants and LaLiga giants to the showpiece game in Paris on May 28.

— Report: Real Madrid stun Man City, book UCL final spot

Here are three quick thoughts on a spectacular, dizzying and fantastic game.

Real Madrid will face Liverpool in the Champions League final after a dramatic night at the Bernabeu during which Manchester City were just minutes from advancing to Paris.

City were on the verge of booking their place in Paris after Riyad Mahrez's second-half goal had given them a two-goal lead on aggregate, only for substitute Rodrygo to score twice in two minutes in stoppage time and force extra time.

Karim Benzema, quiet up until that point, scored the decisive goal in the first period of extra time from the penalty spot to make it 3-1 on the night and 6-5 on aggregate.

City were in control for the most of the night until Real Madrid's late fight-back, and could have extended their lead before Rodrygo's first goal if Jack Grealish (a second-half substitute) had taken one of two chances. Instead, Real Madrid, crowned champions of Spain on Saturday, will get the chance to win a 14th Champions League trophy when they meet Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool on May 28 in a repeat of the 2018 final.

Meanwhile City are left to rue a golden opportunity to reach a second successive final and having at one stage been challenging for a treble, they're now left to contend for the Premier League.

Not long after Mahrez