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Champions League: Manchester City Heartbroken after Penalty Shootout Defeat
Real Madrid Advances to Semifinals
City Exit Tournament Despite Dominant Home Leg
Manchester City's hopes of retaining the Champions League title were dashed on April 9, 2024, after a dramatic penalty shootout defeat against Real Madrid. The highly-anticipated clash at the Etihad Stadium ended with a 4-3 win for the visitors in the shootout, sending City crashing out of the competition.
The match had all the makings of a classic, with both teams putting in spirited performances. City took the lead in the second half through Riyad Mahrez, but Real Madrid equalized late on through Karim Benzema. With the scores level after extra time, the tie went to a penalty shootout.
In a cruel twist of fate, City missed two of their five attempts from the spot. Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden both had their penalties saved by Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, while Real Madrid converted four out of their five attempts. The decisive penalty was scored by Luka Modric, sending the Spanish giants into the semifinals.
The result was a crushing blow for City, who had been hoping to reach the final for the second consecutive season. Pep Guardiola's side had dominated the match for long periods and looked set to progress, but they were ultimately undone by their poor finishing and Real Madrid's resilience.
Real Madrid, on the other hand, will be delighted with their victory. They have now reached the semifinals of the Champions League for the second time in three years and will be hoping to lift the trophy for the 15th time in their history.
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