Haaland fires Man City into Champions League semifinals against Real Madrid

Manchester City's Norwegian striker Erling Haaland (R) runs past Bayern Munich's French defender Dayot Upamecano and towards the goal as he prepares to score their opening goal during the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal second leg against Bayern Munich. (AFP)
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Updated 20 April 2023
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Haaland fires Man City into Champions League semifinals against Real Madrid

  • City are bidding to win the Champions League for the first time
  • It is Bayern’s third consecutive quarterfinal exit since winning the tournament in 2020

MUNICH: Erling Haaland scored for Manchester City to advance to a Champions League semifinal against Real Madrid with a 1-1 draw against Bayern Munich in the second leg of their quarterfinal on Wednesday.

The Norway forward missed a first-half penalty but atoned by sealing City’s progress with a 4-1 win on aggregate by scoring the opening goal on a counterattack in the 57th minute, just after Bayern missed a good chance at the other end.

Bayern’s lack of confidence after losing the first leg 3-0 in Manchester showed as they failed to take advantage of numerous chances.

Joshua Kimmich scored the Bavarian powerhouse’s consolation from the penalty spot in the 83rd after City defender Manuel Akanji was penalized through VAR for handball.

Bayern counterpart Dayot Upamecano was also penalized for handball when İlkay Gündoğan’s cross grazed the bottom of his arm in the 35th, but Haaland blasted that spot kick just over the bar.

Kevin De Bruyne played Haaland through to settle it early in the second half, when the unfortunate Upamecano slipped as he tried to recover.

City did little in manager Pep Guardiola’s return to the club he led to three consecutive Bundesliga titles between 2014-16, but the visitors didn’t need to thank to their commanding lead from the first leg and Bayern’s lack of efficiency.

It is Bayern’s third consecutive quarterfinal exit since winning the tournament in 2020 and the second competition it has been knocked out of in as many weeks following Freiburg’s win over Bayern in the German Cup quarterfinals.

Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel was sent off late with his second yellow card for protesting, while his assistant Zsolt Low was shown a direct red card.

City are bidding to win the Champions League for the first time. It would be Guardiola’s first since winning as Barcelona coach in 2011. City will play Madrid, the defending champion, away for the first leg of their semifinal in May.


Al-Hilal win to cut Al-Nassr’s lead at the top to two points

Updated 01 January 2026
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Al-Hilal win to cut Al-Nassr’s lead at the top to two points

  • Reigning champions Al- Ittihad beat Neom 3-1 to end the year on a high after difficult title defence
  • Leaders dropped their first points of the season on Tuesday after a 2-2 draw against Ettifaq

RIYADH: Al-Hilal have closed the gap on leaders Al-Nassr lead at the top of the Saudi Pro League table to two points after beating Al-Khollod 3-1 on New Year’s Eve.

The win saw Al-Hilal leapfrog Al-Taawoun into second place they now have 29 points from 11 matches, just two behind Al-Nassr, who on Tuesday dropped their first points of the season after a 2-2 draw with Ettifaq.

Al-Hilal took the lead through Sergei Milinkovic-Savic after 45 minutes there was still enough stoppage time for Ramiro Enrique to equalize form the penalty spot. Two second half goals from Theo Hernandez secured a vital three points for Al-Hila.

Earlier in the day reigning SPL champions Al-Itttihad beat hosts Neom  3-1 to go fifth in the table and end the year on n relative high after a difficult defence of their title so far in this campaign.

Roger Fernandes opened the scoring on 14 minutes from Steven Bergwijn’s assist, but Said Benrahma equalized 13 minutes later for teams to go into the break on equal terms. 

Second half goals by Bergwijn and Ahmed Al-Ghamdi secured a morale-boosting win for Al-Ittihad.

In Wednesday’s other match, Al-Qadsiah beat hosts Al-Shabab 3-2 to stay fifth in the table.