'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAHAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAb/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAB/9oADAMBAAIQAxAAAACDjwf/xAAiEAACAQIFBQAAAAAAAAAAAAABAwIEEQAFBgcxEhNScuH/2gAIAQEAAT8ApdHZKzbCuarvNzydWuZEOmK1QErDkeJlxiWjW3Ngu3v8x//EABQRAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD/2gAIAQIBAT8Af//EABYRAAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABIf/aAAgBAwEBPwBU/9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Real Madrid have booked their place in this season's UEFA Champions League semifinals but there is a debate over their win against Manchester City. The La Liga giants won 4-3 on penalties last night (April 17) at the Etihad after a 1-1 draw (4-4 on aggregate).
The Cityzens dominated much of the game with 33 shots to Los Blancos' eight. Rodrygo opened the scoring for the visitors in the 12th minute but Kevin De Bruyne drew the hosts level in the 76th minute.
The tie headed to penalties and Modric missed Real Madrid's opening effort. The Croatian icon's blushes were spared though, as Ukrainian goalkeeper Andriy Lunin denied Manchester City's Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic.
The hosts were left reeling after crashing out of the Champions League with Rodri airing his grievances with the manner of the exit:
"I saw only one team today, to be honest... In my opinion, we should go through, in terms of chances and everything. It’s the trickiness of the competition."
This isn't the first time Real Madrid's Champions League heroics have been questioned. Modric told critics during the 2021-22 campaign that it was unfair to suggest Carlo Ancelotti's side were lucky (via Madrid Xtra):
"It's impossible to beat so many teams, so many champions, to reach so many semi-finals, just by luck. Let them think what they want. This is an unfair opinion and they only make us laugh, but everyone can say what they want."
Ancelotti's side won the Champions League that season, knocking PSG, Chelsea, and Manchester City out en route to the final. They won 1-0 against Liverpool in the final and will hope their campaign turns out similarly. The record holders face Bayern Munich in the semifinals with the first leg away on April 30 and the second at home on May 8.
Manchester City's Bernardo Silva named Real Madrid's Luka Modric as a role model
Modric and Silva shared the pitch last night at the Etihad although the Croat entered the fray late on. The playmaking pair are regarded as two of European football's most creative players and are a joy to watch.
Silva, 29, spoke glowingly about the 2018 Ballon d'Or winner and how the 38-year-old and Toni Kroos were inspirations. The Manchester City attacker said before last night's meeting (via the source above):
"Toni Kroos & Luka Modric? Definitely role models & inspirations for me personally because they play in a position I play... It’s not one season, it's 15 years... After everything they achieved, they keep going."
Kroos and Modric have become two of Real Madrid's most iconic midfielders. The latter has won five UEFA Champions League trophies, bagging 39 goals and 84 assists in 525 games across competitions.
Ancelotti has handed Modric a more withdrawn role this season but he's still impressed. He's managed two goals and six assists in 37 games across competitions.
