2021-22 UEFA Champions League, Semifinals

2nd Leg - Real Madrid advance 6-5 on aggregate

2nd Leg - Real Madrid advance 6-5 on aggregate

Real Madrid stun Manchester City with incredible comeback to reach Champions League final

Real Madridproduced one of the all-time great European comebacks to stunManchester Cityand book a most unlikely spot in the Champions League final againstLiverpool.

A brace fromRodrygoand aKarim Benzemapenalty, all scored from the 90th minute on, gave Carlo Ancelottis side a 3-1 win after extra time at the Bernabeu on Wednesday to send them to Paris with a 6-5 aggregate triumph in a semifinal not soon to be forgotten.

- Ogden:Another Man City meltdown or classic Real Madrid rally?

-UCL talking points: Will Liverpool or Real Madrid lift the trophy?

-Ranking Guardiolas worst UCL exits since he last won trophy

Madrid trailed 1-0 on the night and 5-3 on aggregate heading into the 90th minute afterRiyad Mahrezs 73rd-minute goal looked set to send City to their second successive Champions League final. But, as dramatic comebacks againstParis Saint-GermainandChelseahave already shown in this seasons competition, Madrid are never to be counted out.

And they saved their most incredible feat for this night. After coming off the bench, Rodrygo scored in the 90th and 91st minutes to level the aggregate score and send the Bernabeu crowd into bedlam and the semifinal to extra time. With City shaken, Benzema then won and scored a penalty in the first five minutes of extra time to give Madrid a lead they would not relinquish.

As they seek a record-extending 14th European Cup, Madrid will now take on six-time winners Liverpool in the final at the Stade de France later this month. No one will be writing them off.

Incredible, MadridsCasemirotold Movistar Plus afterward. Theres no better feeling, no way to explain this, how difficult it was to get here. The best is yet to come, the most important [thing] is yet to come, but we have to enjoy the moment. ... Were in the final, but the most difficult is yet to come.

The great virtue of this club is never giving up, fighting to the end.

For much of the night, there was little sign of the drama that was to come.

In sharp contrast to last weeks breathless contest in Manchester, the second leg of the semifinal was largely a much more cautious affair. City, boosted by the defensive returns ofKyle WalkerandJoao Cancelo, were largely happy to try to contain a Madrid side that featured the return of midfield enforcer Casemiro.

Still, spurred by a fired up Bernabeu crowd, Madrid began both halves strongly and had chances to level the tie.

Benzema, the competitions top scorer this season, uncharacteristically headed over from the center of the box just four minutes in. AndVinicius Jr.missed an even clearer opportunity in the opening moments of the second half when getting his finish all wrong after a rehearsed kickoff routine gave him a clear sight of goal from six yards.

Madrid looked like they would be made to pay for that profligacy. Mahrez, who had missed some big chances of his own a week ago, fired an emphatic near-post finish pastThibaut Courtoisfollowing a flowing counterattack to seemingly send City to Paris.

There was little in the following 15 minutes to suggest Madrid had another epic comeback in their locker. Indeed, City were inches from putting the result beyond doubt when substituteJack Grealishbeat Courtois only to seeFerland Mendydesperately clear the ball off his own goal line.

Instead of the icing on the cake, it was just a precursor to the remarkable next few minutes.

Rodrygos opening goal, when he got to a Benzema pass ahead ofEderson, was Madrids first effort on target on the night. His second, headed home from aDani Carvajalcross, made it not only the first time that City had conceded two goals in the 90th minute or later but the first time theyd conceded goals in consecutive minutes since Pep Guardiola took charge.

From that point on, there looked to be only one winner. And that theory was cemented whenRuben Diasbrought down Benzema in the City penalty area in the opening minutes of extra time.

This team, this club is capable of anything, we believed until the end, Courtois said. Mendy made a key save on the line, I did, too, we made it 1-1 and then 2-1 and they were dead. We were better in extra time. We had to defend well, and we did it. Incredible.

As Madrid now look forward to a record 17th Champions League final and Ancelotti to an unprecedented fifth final of his own, Citys agonizing wait to be crowned champions of Europe goes on for at least one more season.

We were close. We were close. But in the end we could not reach it, Guardiola told BT Sport.

We didnt play our best, but it is normal, a semifinal, the players feel the pressure. Football is unpredictable, it is a game like this. We have to accept it.

With the final set, Caesars Sportsbook installed Liverpool as a (-195) favorite over Real Madrid (+155) in a matchup that looked extremely unlikely late in Wednesdays semifinal.

Real Madrid were as long as 45-1 to come from behind against Man City at Caesars Sportsbook. And one bettor saw the remarkable ending coming.

Caesars reported taking a $1,000 bet on Real Madrid to win the match in regulation just 15 seconds prior to Rodrygos first goal. Rodrygos second goal, which gave Madrid a 2-1 lead at the end of regulation, earned the bettor in Nevada a net $45,000 payday.

Information from Reuters was used in this report. ESPNs David Purdum also contributed to this story.

Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.More Details

Messis career might have peaked at the World Cup, but he still has plenty of milestones to reach. Here we track his progress and list his records.

There have been plenty of disappointing and/or confusing big-club performances this season but what is going on at these six specific teams?

Real Madrid said UEFAs plan to refund ticket costs for fans caught up in the Paris 2022 Champions League final chaos is not enough.

Richarlison criticises Antonio Conte over his lack of game time following Tottenhams 0-0 draw with AC Milan.

Gab & Juls discuss Antonio Contes tactics vs. AC Milan and Richarlisons criticism of his manager.

Julien Laurens questions Lionel Messis PSG future after their Champions League exit vs. Bayern Munich.