Real Madrid to face Liverpool in Champions League final after astonishing fightback

Real Madrid pulled off one of the most astonishing comebacks in Champions League history, netting two late goals against Manchester City at the Bernabeu to send the match to extra-time before Karim Benzema grabbed a winner from the spot.

City appeared to be cruising into the final after Riyad Mahrez’s 73rd-minute strike, with the visitors holding a 5-3 aggregate lead at the time, but substitute Rodrygo’s dramatic late brace levelled the tie and sent the match to extra-time.

Minutes after the match resumed, Benzema won and scored a penalty to put Real 6-5 up and City’s stunned players were unable to mount a response as the Spanish giants set up a rematch of the 2018 final against Liverpool.

The match was a feisty affair from the off, with an early challenge from Casemiro leading to a brief melee, while Benzema fired two half-chances over the bar – the sort he had been burying with aplomb in previous matches.

Kyle Walker had been rushed back into the starting XI to deal with the pace and trickery of Vinicius Jr. but the Brazilian continued to cause City problems down the left flank, blazing an effort high and wide.

The first big chance of the match arrived in the 20th minute and it fell to the visitors, with a dinked pass from Kevin De Bruyne finding Bernardo Silva on the edge of the six-yard box but his powerful shot was well saved by Thibaut Courtois.

Phil Foden went close with a right-footed volley shortly before half-time while Walker’s running duel with fellow speedster Vinicius was a fascinating battle, though in truth neither side looked particularly fluid in a tense and goalless first half.

Real flew out of the traps after the restart, though, with a long ball straight from kick-off releasing right-back Dani