Paris (AFP)

Real Madrid punished the feverish defense of Liverpool (3-1) while Manchester City clinched a victory over the wire against Borussia Dortmund of Erling Haaland (2-1) on Tuesday in the Champions League quarter-finals .

The teams led by Zinédine Zidane and Pep Guardiola have certainly taken a step towards the last four, but they will have to confirm during the return leg on Wednesday April 14.

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Vinicius mate the Reds

In Madrid, there were a lot of stars in the field, and the last two winners of the competition before Bayern: thirteen titles for the "White House", six for the Reds, titled for the last time in 2019. And c he Spanish club, with a record record, won this prestigious poster against the English betrayed by their defense.

Without his central defenders Virgil Van Dijk and Joe Gomez, long-injured, Liverpool sank under the blows in particular of Vinicius junior, the Brazilian winger of 20 years author of a double (27th, 65th).

Used to criticism for his underperformance, the former Flamengo player has taken care of his statistics and carried his team.

Launched by Toni Kroos, he first slipped between two misaligned defenders to control the chest and crucify his compatriot Alisson Becker.

Thirty minutes from time, he again took advantage of Nathaniel Phillips' passivity to find the loophole.

In the meantime, Madrid's second goal was also made possible by the excitement of the Reds rearguard: Asensio, in ambush to take advantage of a receding header from Trent Alexander Arnold, got rid of Alisson with a perfectly executed sombrero shot before shaking the nets.

More ambitious and inspired after the break, Liverpool preserved a small chance of qualifying, however, with the fourth goal in four C1 matches from Mohamed Salah, whose strike hit the mark with the help of the crossbar (51st).

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City in the snatch

Aspiring to the coronation, Manchester City was scared at home in front of Dortmund.

His kid Phil Foden, started in place of Raheem Sterling, finally stole the limelight from Erling Haaland, 20 years old like him, with a saving goal scored in the 90th minute.

An infuriating outcome for the German club.

Guardiola's team, presented as ultra-favorite against Borussia, thought they had paved the way for easy success with an early goal from Kevin De Bruyne (19th), well helped by the valuable work of Riyad Mahrez.

Still, the visiting club found the resources to equalize in the 84th minute by captain Marco Reus.

Determined to win, the English nevertheless regained the advantage over the gong by Foden (90th).

For the Citizens, the plan was simple: it was to muzzle the Norwegian nugget Haaland, colossus with agile feet who remained on four consecutive doubles in the Champions League, a record.

Guardiola's tactical device has proven its worth but it cracked once: Haaland, top scorer in the C1 with ten pawns in seven matches, this time turned into a decisive passer.

In the return match, the young blond colossus (1.93 m) can surely once again give Manchester City a cold sweat.

His father's former club Alf Inge Haaland had not conceded a single goal in their last seven European Cup matches.

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