Reuters, May 9: MADRID Erling Haaland, the goal-scoring machine for Manchester City, was restrained this time, but when his team needed a spark of brilliance against Real Madrid in a gripping Champions League semifinal first leg on Tuesday, the stalwart Kevin De Bruyne delivered.
Like the rest of City's elite group of international players, the 31-year-old De Bruyne has fallen short of Haaland's record-breaking debut season in England.
Haaland, a Norwegian striker with 51 goals across all competitions, found Real Madrid's David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger to be a little more accommodating than the Premier League center backs he has harassed relentlessly all season.
Alaba denied him with one spectacular covering tackle, keeping him mostly quiet, but De Bruyne came off the bench to ensure City left the Bernabeu with a 1-1 draw.
De Bruyne once again demonstrated why he is still so crucial to City's quest to ultimately win the Champions League and perhaps a treble as Real looked at ease and threatened to extend the advantage that Vinicius Jr.'s miraculous goal had given them.
His effort from outside the box was exquisite; the ball rose only a foot off the ground before rocketing past Thibaut Courtois and through the Madrid air.
"Kevin is a huge contributor for us. City midfielder Rodri praised the Belgian superstar, who has been an integral part of four Premier League championship teams, saying, "Always he has been terrific and he helped us in the moment we most needed it.
Because they were keeping the ball, "we were suffering a little, but with the goal he gave us the confidence to keep pushing."
De Bruyne became the first player in Champions League history to score in two separate away games against Real in the knockout stages with his 14th Champions League goal for City.
It also changed the outcome of the match in favor of Pep Guardiola's team, who will hold a tiny advantage going into the second leg next Wednesday at the Etihad Stadium, where they haven't lost in the competition in five years.
They will need to be cautious, however, as Real will be looking to win the trophy for a record-extending 15th time and will also take a lot of solace from the first leg.
Despite giving City the majority of the ball, particularly in the first half, they exuded calm, never panicked, and appeared razor-sharp on the counterattack.
The defending champions also succeeded in cutting off Haaland's supply, and on Tuesday they had the finest player on the field in Vinicius Jr., a Brazilian livewire.
It makes sense that shrewd old boss Carlo Ancelotti didn't seem too upset over losing the first leg.
The Italian, who has won the competition twice with Real and again with AC Milan, said, "We have to play like this again next week." "Our tactic worked well, so we weren't concerned when they got the ball. The second half was entirely different after that. We are left with pleasant feelings.
Guardiola concurred that certain adjustments might be necessary but was otherwise pleased with what he observed.
Now, it resembles a playoff. In some areas, we can defend better, and perhaps we can attack a little differently," he remarked.
There weren't many available spaces because Alaba and Rudiger were so close to Erling. Maybe there are a few things we can change.
Martyn Herman provides reporting Toby Davis did the editing.
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