Big Match Feature: Man City v Real Madrid

Manchester City and Real Madrid produced a classic first leg in their Uefa Champions League quarterfinal as they meet for the return in north-west England level at 3-3.

The sides are meeting for the third season in succession in the latter stages of the Uefa Champions League – their fifth knockout tie in nine seasons – with City having struck first at the Santiago Bernabéu on 9 April through Bernardo Silva's second-minute free-kick. Ten minutes later, however, Rúben Dias deflected in an Eduardo Camavinga shot and two minutes after that, Madrid were in front through Rodrygo.

In a pulsating contest, spectacular long-range efforts from Phil Foden (66) and – with his first City goal – Joško Gvardiol (71) seemed to have extended the visitors' run of successive Champions League victories to 11 but 11 minutes from time Federico Valverde volleyed in to leave the tie in the balance ahead of the City of Manchester decider.

Madrid ousted City in dramatic fashion in the semifinals on their way to their 14th European Cup in 2021/22 but Pep Guardiola's side took their revenge at the same stage last season. A 4-0 second-leg win in Manchester – Madrid's record Champions League defeat – earned a place in the club's second final, where City overcame Inter Milan to claim the trophy for the first time.

The Spanish side have won 16 of their 19 Champions League quarterfinals – including the last 11 – but face opponents who have been victorious in their last three contests at this stage.

City finished top of Group G in this season's Champions League before beating Copenhagen 6-2 on aggregate in the round of 16. Madrid, meanwhile, also won every game in the group stage, finishing eight points clear at the top of Group C before overcoming Leipzig 3-1