Pep Guardiola has said Manchester City will go to the Bernabeu to win the Champions League semi-final second leg after earning a slender advantage with a thrilling 4-3 victory at the Etihad on Tuesday.
Early goals from Kevin de Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus gave City a comfortable lead, before Karim Benzema pulled one back in the first half. Phil Foden restored City's two-goal advantage after the break, only for Vinicius Jr to keep Real Madrid in touching distance.
City again pulled clear through a stunning Bernardo Silva strike but the Premier League leaders will protect a one-goal lead after Benzema scored his second with a superb Panenka-style penalty.
With the second leg taking place at the Bernabeu next Wednesday, Guardiola insisted City will not be cagey in Spain in an attempt to protect their lead but will look to take the game to Real Madrid as they attempt to reach their second successive Champions League final.
"It was a fantastic game for both sides. We did many good things. Unfortunately we conceded goals and we could not score more. But two games and we have another one in one week," Guardiola told BT Sport.
"We played a fantastic game against an incredible team. The moments where they rise and come back into the game in the first half I think we gave them as our build-up was so nervous. Normally we are so safe and so good. Also they press really good and strong. All around the world and for Manchester City, we are so proud. But it is about reaching the final and sometimes football happens. We go to Madrid to try to win the game."
The win over Real Madrid keeps City firmly in the hunt for a Champions League and Premier League double. City lead the league table by one point and next face Leeds United on Saturday, and Guardiola insisted all the focus will be on the visit to Elland Road before next week's return fixture at the Bernabeu.
"I say to the players to rest. Leeds now is the most important thing and we go to Madrid to win," Guardiola said. "Both teams want to attack and have the quality to play. Football is a fantastic spectacle. Congratulations to Carlo and his team as they are so good. At the same time, we saw ourselves that we can be there."
Man City v Real Madrid player ratings
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MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson - 6: A couple of poor passes from the back in first half that could have been punished on another day. No chance with goals and outwitted by cheeky Benzema penalty. Reuters -
John Stones - 6: Playing out of comfort zone at right-back and had been solid enough up against the dangerous Vinicius Junior before limping off injured late in first half. Looked devastated as he headed off down tunnel. AP -
Aymeric Laporte - 5: Should have closed down Vinicius Junior before Brazilian's goal. Found himself in centre-forward’s position after 68 minutes but hit shot straight at Ederson. Blatant handball to give away penalty and allow Benzema to score from spot to make it 4-3. Reuters -
Ruben Dias - 6: Deflected Vinicius shot wide in opening 20 minutes but was relieved to see linesman flag go up when he deflected pass from same player onto own post. Important header with Benzema primed to finish just before hour. Twice nearly got on end of crosses that would have made it 5-3. AP -
Oleksandr Zinchenko - 7: Drilled shot wide of target in first half but beaten to ball by Benzema for Real’s opener soon after. Set up chance for Laporte that centre-half couldn’t finish. Did really well against pace of Rodrygo. PA -
Rodri - 8: The anchorman at the base of City’s slick midfield and bossed middle of park despite being up against Kroos and Modric. Couldn’t get track back quick enough to prevent Vinicius Junor scoring. Reuters -
Bernardo Silva - 8: Not as much impact as City’s wide players in first half but still a key part of City’s superb pace and movement going forward. Cracking finish into top corner to make it 4-2. PA -
Kevin De Bruyne - 9: Brilliant diving header inside two minutes to give City perfect start, then provided cross into box for Jesus’ goal. Was simply unplayable at times and his distribution another level to everyone on pitch, which is saying something considering the attacking talent on show. PA -
Riyad Mahrez - 8: Driving run and cracking ball into box to set-up De Bruyne’s opener but left manager Pep Guardiola going ballistic on touchline when he shot into side netting with teammates waiting for pass in middle. Hit post with glorious chance just after break and clipped another shot across face goal after mazy run. PA -
Phil Foden - 8: Caused chaos in the Real defence with his attacking runs down left. First touch let him down ahead of shot he pulled wide that would have made it 3-0. Should have scored just after half-time but saw Carvajal block his effort on line, but did make it 3-1 minutes later with simple header. PA -
Gabriel Jesus - 7: Four goals against Watford at weekend and continued his scoring streak with calm finish to make it 2-0 in blistering start from City. EPA -
SUBS: Fernandinho – (On for Stones 37’) 6: Fantastic run down right and ball into box for Foden’s goal but got done by Vinicius Junior in run-up to Real’s second goal minutes later. Younger legs than veteran midfielder’s have found Vinicius Junior’s pace a problem, in defence of veteran. Getty -
Raheem Sterling – (On for Jesus 83’) N/A. Getty -
REAL MADRID RATINGS: Thibaut Courtois - 6: Helpless as defence went missing far too regularly and nothing he could do about first three goals – but caught flat-footed for fourth when Silva fired into top corner of his near post. EPA -
Dani Carvajal - 7: Allowed De Bruyne to ghost in front of him for City’s early goal. Vital clearance just before break from Mahrez cross across six-yard box and even more important block on line just after half-time from Foden after Mahrez hit post. Good ball into box that Militao failed to finish. EPA -
Eder Militao - 5: Struggled to deal with City’s movement and looked shaky at back throughout. Turned inside out by Jesus late in first half and then easily beaten by Mahrez early in second when Algerian hit post. Headed chance straight at keeper that would have made it 3-3. AP -
David Alaba - 5: Austrian defender was injury doubt before match and badly caught out for Jesus’ goal. Flicked header just wide of target on half-hour mark. Didn’t make it out for second half as gamble to play failed to pay off. AFP -
Ferland Mendy - 6: Supplied ball into box for Benzema’s goal but couldn’t handle Mahrez’s runs down his flank and endured a tough night defensively. Reuters -
Luka Modric - 7: Croatian mdifelder seemed to be missing midfield partner in crime Casemiro as Real couldn’t get ball off City for first 20 minutes. Played his way into game and hit shot just wide of target from edge of box in last 15 minutes. Reuters -
Toni Kroos - 6: Gave away clumsy foul on edge of Real box just before break and was relieved to see De Bruyne crack shot straight at wall. A lot expected of Real’s midfield before game but German struggled. EPA -
Federico Valverde - 7: Tireless workrate as always and in right place to divert cross away after Militao had been skinned by Jesus. Getty -
Rodrygo - 6: Powered shot straight at Ederson as Real started to battle back into game after disastrous start. Kept relatively under control by Zinchenko and his last contribution before being taken off was a poor pass out for goal-kick to waste good opportunity for Real. Getty -
Karim Benzema – 9: Great ball into box that Alaba headed wide in first half. Pulled Real back into game with excellent first-time finish after 33 minutes for 40th goal of season. Ice-cold nerves with Panenka finish from the spot and make it 3-3 from the most in-form striker on the planet. EPA -
Vinicius Junior - 7: Saw shot deflected wide after 18 minutes when Benzema was crying out for pass. Some Brazilian magic to make it 3-2 with a sensational dummy past Fernandinho, surging down left flank before finishing well. Getty -
SUBS: Nacho – (On for 46 Alaba’) 6: Real would have been hoping Spaniard would help shore up a leaky defensive showing but found dealing with City’s attackers as problematic as his teammates. AFP -
Eduardo Camavinga – (On for Rodrygo 70’) 6: No chance for highly-rated midfielder to make his mark. Reuters -
Dani Ceballos – (On for Rodrygo 79’) N/A. Reuters Marco Asensio – (On for Vinicius Junior 88’) N/A.
