Real Madrid’s victory over Manchester City in the penalty shoot-out has been dissected, revealing the secrets behind their triumph and dashing Pep Guardiola’s hopes of securing a second Treble.
Real Madrid’s Lunin and Rudiger secure victory in dramatic shoot-out
Goalkeeper Andriy Lunin emerged as the hero, saving crucial spot-kicks from Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic early in the shoot-out. The defining moment came when Antonio Rudiger confidently stepped up to seal Real Madrid’s progression.
The shoot-out unfolded after a tense 1-1 draw, with Kevin De Bruyne’s goal canceling out Rodrygo’s early opener for Real Madrid in a match largely dominated by City.
Lunin shared insights into Real Madrid’s strategy, disclosing that they had identified three City players likely to aim their penalties down the middle. This foresight proved invaluable when Silva directed his spot-kick centrally, allowing Lunin to make a save.
Kovacic also sent his kick centrally and Lunin was able to get down to his right to repel it.
”We prepared it with the goalkeeping coach and there were three players with whom we had doubts about whether to stay in the middle or not,” Lunin told Marca.
Real Madrid’s penalty shootout success against Manchester City saw key players stepping up while others declined to take kicks due to various reasons, such as Eder Militao’s predictability and Federico Valverde’s fatigue. Substitutes Luka Modric and Lucas Vazquez, with fresher legs, filled the gap.
Goalkeeper Kepa, though sidelined, played a crucial role in advising Lunin before the shootout, drawing from his own experience against City. Also, Rudiger’s guidance to Lunin helped him save Kovacic’s penalty, securing Real’s victory and progression to the semi-finals.
Meanwhile, Sports Buddy recently that Real Madrid forward Rodrygo was seen in a video making gest of Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola for his ‘bombastic side-eye’ look in his post-match interview
