By : Lukanyo Tshitshi and Samane Jnr Marks
Manchester City's striker Erling Haaland and Real Madrid's Forward Vinicius Junior, ahead of the second leg on Wednesday at Etihad Stadium in England image (sourced online)
The UEFA Champions League’s clash between the two European giants, Real Madrid and Manchester City enthralled the global football fraternity, amongst the jubilant fans were Cape Peninsula University (CPUT) students who explained the game as a 'proper UCL' experience.
District six campus students were stunned and expressed emotions of shock at the 1st leg contest of the Champions League between La Casa Blanca and The Cityzens. The game was played under the closed roof of Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, ending 3-3 following Valverde’s late goal to spoil the party for Guardiola’s side and seal a draw for Real Madrid at home.
One of CPUT's tourism management students, Asakhe Maqholo, told Future News the game was a “proper UCL night” show.
“Despite Manchester City’s volatile performance in the first leg, the Cityzens will be a stronger team in the second leg. City actually played really well but in the first half, they were not that team that I usually know.” But in the second half, they were hungry for more goals, it was a “proper UCL game, " Maqholo explained.
He further added that Manchester City playing at home “will work to the advantage of Guardiola’s side having not lost in four consecutive encounters at home against Carlo Ancelotti’s side. City will win it, the advantage is on us, I don't see a problem that we're going to encounter when we are playing against Real Madrid at home,” he said.
Litha Zenny, a Manchester United fan at heart reflected on Mancity and Real Madrid's first leg game as a stunner and a final like game of football. Photo captured by (Nhlanhla Mabunda)
Meanwhile, a die-hard Real Madrid supporter, George Mabunga, who's at CPUT said he expected his team to win, because it was a clash between experienced players of Madrid.
“I feel like the first leg was hey man, [exciting] we all expected Madrid to win, specifically so because of how they played and the fact that it was big players playing against inexperienced city players,” he said.
Sefako Mosia, one of Mancity's die hard fans around District six campus gave a bold overview of the first leg clash against the two European Giants. Photo capture by (Nhlanhla Mabunda)
Transitional attacks
Sefako Mosia, one of the PR students at District six campus told future News, Real Madrid's transitional play helped them with counters.
"Madrid had speed upfront, their count attacks was lethal but had yielded no results towards the final third of the match cause Man city controlled the game," he explained.
Mosia said that "Madrid won't yield good results cause of their approach to the game, given that city is now at their own backyard, they'll punish them and ensure to bury the game as they did in the previous season. Its now like a formula."
Etihad the slaughter house
Real Madrid is heading to Manchester at Etihad Stadium, which Guardiola’s side have turned into a slaughterhouse after not losing a continental game at Etihad Stadium since September 19, 2018, when they lost 3-1 against the French League One side Lyon.
City hold the home advantage heading into the second-leg of the quarter-final Champions League tie, with the aggregate score level at 3-3 after a thrilling previous encounter in the Spanish capital.
However, Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti (64) shows no fear nor worry, as he believes that his side is strong enough to face Manchester City in their own kraal.
“Now we have a small disadvantage because we play away from home, but with the confidence that we can repeat this performance."
The Italian born coach, Ancelotti is determined to have every one of his top stars join the team for the trip to England on Wednesday and has included a midfield player suspended for the game in the Madrid’s 22-man squad.
Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola the head coach of Manchester City hailed his team for its performance in the 1st leg tie and said they are planning to use the advantage of playing home on Wednesday to try and win the second leg quarter finals tie.
“We [will] take the results [ 3 -3 at Madrid], one week in Manchester, our people will be sold out [and] they will help us score 1 goal and we will do the rest.
“We’ll try again to reach the semifinal, it’s simple the team who wins will reach the semi final,” he said.
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