The miracle of Manchester or how to survive defensive chaos

• Chronicle Benzema offers a proof of life to Panenka (4-3)

• Tactical genius How to finish Madrid once and for all

• Benzema's panenka "Those of us on the bench knew it was going to bite her"

• Semifinals Program and results

• The lawnmower Real Madrid hurt Guardiola's ego

's absence

, historically considered a synonym for problems, was only one of the causes of Real Madrid's lousy defensive game.

Because to the four goals, the worst record in the Champions League since February 2019, we had to add the 15 shots of a runaway City, who played almost at will for many minutes.

To the poor individual performances, with a mention for

or

, we had to add the tactical doubts of

, forced to rectify his plan after the break.

If the low withdrawal of Paris, with the team too far behind, had left such a bad taste in

, yesterday's high pressure proved even more unsuccessful.

"At the Bernabéu we will have to defend better. That will be the key to getting to the final", he admitted after this sweet defeat.

The lack of synchrony, with some jumping for the rival and others not accompanying the movement, left Madrid in no man's land.

So he had to rebuild the team with a 4-4-2.

In that change of drawing,

shot the line higher, while

received help from

at the base of the play.

With so many flaws in the game without the ball, the Italian coach wanted to make the team shorter than him.

Not so exposed to City cavalry charges.

And

was the first to thank him.

Because his performance yesterday was terribly complicated.

The losses of his companions left him too exposed.

"City put five players behind the halfway line and you can't cover that with four defenders," Ancelotti admitted minutes after the final whistle.

And that from the beginning he could have trusted

, with a clear growth in the last days of the League.

The energy and elasticity of the Frenchman ahead of the central defenders had nothing to do with Kroos's arguments, much less physical, although with a much higher competitive edge.

Carletto did not want to find himself in such a critical situation as the one at Pizjuán, when Camavinga confused self-esteem with recklessness, until he became a danger to his own team.

De Bruyne, as Havertz

Of course, Guardiola was going to exploit any weakness on the sides of the pivot.

First of all, because

,

or

move through those areas with great skill.

Second, because Madrid had already been vulnerable there against Chelsea.

In fact, the 1-0 action, between Mahrez and De Bruyne, was almost a carbon copy of

's goal at Stamford Bridge.

Kroos could only follow the arrival of the Algerian with his eyes from the right profile and the last gesture of

, raising his foot too high, could never stop the power of the Belgian.

With so much free space, De Bruyne looked like never before.

Or even more painful for Madrid: he played as he could have done against rivals from the lower reaches of the Premier.

Last Saturday, without going any further, with

' poker against Watford.

But it is that the great historical dominator of the Champions League not only failed the anchor in the midfield, but a minimum degree of defensive intensity.

As a crueler test, simply mentioning that the first offense was made to wait 40 minutes.

And

committed it, retreating in the help to his side.

Alaba's worst night

Among the defensive chaos of the first half, nothing as striking as Alaba's mistakes.

Not only because of his lack of forcefulness in the action of Gabriel Jesus' goal, but also because of the continuous inattentiveness when the ball came out on the left side, the Whites' favourite.

Thus, almost unintentionally, City found themselves with an unusual lead for a semi-final.

Because a 2-0 before the 12th minute had only happened a couple of times in the entire history of the Champions League (1999 and 2009).

Although Alaba was able to make up for his mistakes with an almost uncontested header, Ancelotti's pulse would not shake after the break.

"He accused his physical discomfort, he was not comfortable and to avoid problems I have removed it," explained the white coach, as an alibi for the defender's worst night with the Madrid shirt.

In any case, both the Austrian and Casemiro will be "ready for the return leg", according to Ancelotti, who will also need Militao's rigor, so far from his usual level in LaLiga.

Facing Gabriel Jesus, a striker who never looks like one, the Brazilian didn't even find himself pairing up with

in the second half.

In the second half alone, the

shot eight times inside the area and wasted three resounding opportunities, two of them on Mahrez's boots.

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• real Madrid

• Carlo Ancelotti

• Eder Militao

• Luka modric

• Tony Kroos

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• Eduardo Camavinga