Madrid will face Liverpool in final after comeback win over City

Real Madrid needed just one point more than Manchester City in the second leg of the Champions League semifinals after losing 4-3 in the first leg. In the first half, neither team was doing much, but by the 73rd minute, City took the lead on a goal by Riyad Mahrez. Having produced no goals all game, some Real Madrid fans began to wander out of the stadium before the magic happened literally at the last minute.

“I saw people leave in the 87th minute,” said one Real Madrid fan after the game had ended. “They don’t know what Real Madrid is. They don’t know that they fight until the last minute.”

Of course, you all know by now what happened. - Rodrygo came in and scored a goal in the 90th minute, then seconds later, did it again, and suddenly, Madrid was back in the game with the two teams even at 5-5. In extra time, it was none other than Karim Benzema who converted Dias’ spot kick to give Madrid the lead and send them on to the Champions League final. What. an. ending.

Fun facts to know about Real Madrid heading into the Champions League final

Real Madrid is the first team to lose one leg in the last 16 quarterfinals and semifinals, and then reach the Champions League final.

Rodrygo became the first player in Champions League history to score twice in the 90th minute of a knockout tie.

Pep Guardiola has now lost six Champions League semifinals, tying Jose Mourhino’s record.

Carlo Ancelotti has reached his fifth UEFA Champions League final as a coach and his first since 2014 with Real Madrid.

Real Madrid to face Liverpool in 17th European Cup final

On Monday, Liverpool won its semifinal game against Villarreal to move on to the Champions League final and the team was waiting anxiously to find out who they would face on May 28 at the Stade de France de Saint-Denis in Paris, France.

Los Blancos have won 13 trophies from the 16 Champions Leagues they’ve been a part of. They go into the final this time as the visiting side, and will be looking for a re-do of the 2018 final in Kyiv when Real Madrid defeated Liverpool. This will make the third time the two teams face each other in a Euripean Cup final.

Liverpool will be looking for their seventh European Cup after sweeping Group B, defeating Inter, Benfica, and Villarreal in the last 16, quarterfinals, and semifinals. But Madrid have played in and won the most Champions League finals, winning every one they’ve reached since losing to Liverpool in 1981.