After a lukewarm start to the match, Kyle Walker stayed on the pitch as Rodrygo gave Real Madrid the lead against Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Walker returned to captaincy following the birth of his fourth child over the weekend, but played with Federico Valverde and was unable to stop the cross towards Rodrygo, who scored despite Ederson’s best efforts.
City were hoping to maintain their aspirations of winning a second consecutive treble after their success last year in a match dubbed “champions against kings”, and went into the game as favorites after a 3-3 draw in the first leg.
Kevin De Bruyne had a first-half chance with eight minutes on the clock, but his low cross from Erling Haaland was met by Andriy Lunin in the Madrid goal, and Haaland hit the crossbar shortly after the first goal.
Walker, 33,’s participation was in doubt after he celebrated the arrival of his son with wife Annie Kilner at the weekend, but he returned to lead his team in a repeat of last year’s semi-final.
Kyle Walker could not prevent Rodrygo from giving Real Madrid the advantage against Manchester City
Walker returned to the Manchester City team as team captain after celebrating the arrival of his son with his wife Annie Kilner.
Annie (R) discovered in December, while she was pregnant, that her husband Kyle had fathered a second child with Instagram influencer Lauryn Goodman.
A friend said the last few months have been “devastating” and “difficult” for Annie, who discovered in December – when she was pregnant – that her husband Kyle had fathered a second child with instagram man of influence Laura Goodman.
Rio Ferdinand, who works as a pundit for TNT Sports, welcomed Walker’s return and insisted he could help his team and would look to “compete with anyone”, with the full-back’s pace being a big part of his game and advantage for his team.
Steve McManaman, meanwhile, said of Walker’s efforts for Rodrygo’s goal: “Great save by Ederson, but it was in vain. Jude is fine, a terrible touch, but a beautiful piece of work. Kyle Walker is playing with Vinicius, that’s fine. Ederson was unlucky, Rodrigo stood on tiptoe to get a touch. Akanji didn’t see Wallker behind. Even Walker raises his hands, but he’s playing it sideways.
Walker looked somewhat out of place in the game, calling offside with defenders 15 meters behind him and at times losing in his final battle with Madrid star Vinicius Jnr.
City pressed hard after the goal, but failed to create too many clear-cut opportunities for 31-year-old striker Haaland.
There were three team changes from the first leg, with Ederson starting again in goal and Kevin De Bruyne returning from illness to help his team going forward.
For Madrid, all eyes were on Jude Bellingham as the England star returned to his homeland to try and shock Pep Guardiola’s side in their bid to win another treble.
In the first leg, England star Phil Foden scored another good finish in the first leg, with Bernardo Silva and Josko Gvardiol also scoring for City.
Jude Bellingham, meanwhile, returned to his homeland to try to help Spanish side Madrid advance in the competition.
England star Phil Foden was hoping to maintain his excellent form in the Manchester match.
The midfielder remained tight-lipped when asked if he could have joined City instead of Madrid in the summer, saying it was “up to me as a new member of the team” to help avenge last season’s 4-0 defeat. City sang ‘Hey Jude’ around the pitch before kick-off, before booing the Champions League anthem that had previously been played by UEFA.
City manager Guardiola said his team will have to be “close to our best level or it will be more difficult” as he prepared to battle Carlo Ancelotti once again.
More to follow.
