Chelsea handed key FA Cup boost after Man City vs Real Madrid Champions League tie
Chelsea have been given an advantage over Manchester City ahead of their FA Cup semi-final tie on Saturday.
The Blues will take on holders City in the first semi-final with Manchester United taking on Championship side Coventry City in the second, with the ties to be played on April 20 and 21. But Pep Guardiola's side will have less time to rest and prepare for the match after being in Champions League quarter-final action to Real Madrid on Wednesday evening.
City drew 3-3 in the first leg in Spain last week, with Bernardo Silva scoring inside two minutes with a clever free-kick. Two quick-fire goals from the hosts gave them a 2-1 half-time lead.
A strike from Phil Foden and Josko Gvardiol put the visitors ahead 3-2, before Fede Valverde netted a late goal to level the tie. At the Etihad, the two teams drew 1-1 and City had to play a further 30 minutes in extra-time before the game was decided on penalties.
City were eventually defeated 4-3 in the penalty shoot-out. Silva and Mateo Kovacic missed from the spot, while Luka Modric missed Real's only penalty.
Former Chelsea star Antonio Rudiger won it for his team as his effort nestled into the bottom left corner. Prior to tonight, Arsenal's shoot-out win over FC Porto in the round-of-16 last month was the first time penalties were used to decide a Champions League contest since the 2016 final.
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Speaking after the game, Guardiola said: «I have to say thank you to these players from deep in my heart because of the way they played. But football is about winning and we didn't do enough, yet we were exceptional.
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