Real reason that fired up Madrid

Karim Benzema scored an extratime penalty as Real Madrid pulled off another astonishing comeback in the Champions League to stun Manchester City 31 on Wednesday and book a showdown with Liverpool in the finalCity looked certain to go through when Riyad Mahrez put them 10 up and 53 ahead on aggregate but Rodrygo on as a substitute scored an incredible late double his goals in the 90th and 91st minutes sending the tie to extra timeWith City still reeling Real Madrid landed the knockout blow as Benzema earned and then converted a spotkick to snatch a 65 win on aggregate with another remarkable fightback at the Santiago Bernabeu added to the clubrsquos long list of magical European nightslsquoGreatness of the clubrsquoldquoItrsquos the greatness of this clubrdquo said Real coach Carlo Ancelotti ldquoItrsquos a club that doesnrsquot allow you to give up even if it seems everything is over It gives you the strength to keep going to fight to believerdquo Ancelotti said his players had watched a video before the game showing eight of Real Madridrsquos comebacks this season for inspiration ldquoAt the end it said lsquoTherersquos one more leftrsquo and we have achieved itrdquo Ancelotti said after becoming the first coach to reach five Champions League finalsCarlo AncelottiMadrid had already performed the unlikeliest of rescue acts to defeat both Paris SaintGermain in the Last16 and Chelsea in the quarterfinals Like PSG and Chelsea before them City will wonder how they emerged as losers from a match they largely controlled and there will be fresh scrutiny on coach Pep Guardiola who for all his success goes another year without leading City to the European glory they so craveThey are a victory against Liverpool away from lifting a 14th European Cup ldquoAnother magic night from the kings of Europerdquo read a banner draped over the stand at one end before kickoff but for most of normal time this match failed to live up to the sevengoal thriller at the Etihad Stadium last weekReal Madrid were the more assertive early on with Benzema given a couple of difficult opportunities that he put off targetBrilliant BenzemaIt was the 90th minute when Benzema cushioned a ball brilliantly across for Rodrygo to feather in at the near post and the cheer for the goal was only a little louder than for the stadium announcer then saying there would be six minutes of added time Madrid only needed one as Carvajal swung a cross into the box where Rodrygo headed in When play resumed Madrid emerged the stronger and four minutes in they had a penalty Benzema tumbling over the tired lunging leg of Ruben Dias10No of goals scored by Benzema in the Champions League knockout stage this season to be on part with Cristiano Ronaldo in 2016171Rodrygo is the first player to score twice in the 90th minute of a Champions League knockout tie He scored in the 90th and 91st minute v Man CityThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever