Man City and Real Madrid played out one of the greatest Champions League semi-finals at the Etihad.
At the end of the breathtaking 90 minutes, it was City that emerged 4-3 winners on the night and will take a one-goal advantage into the second leg at Madrid.
It was the home side that took the lead straight out of the gates.
Kevin De Bruyne scored the fastest goal in a Champions League semi-final when he headed in a Riyad Mahrez cross after just 94 seconds.
Mahrez dribbled through the Real defense before crossing the ball which a De Bruyne ran onto and headed past Courtois.
Pep Guardiola’s side doubled their lead in the 11th minute through Gabriel Jesus.
Fresh off of his 4 goal mauling of Watford, the Brazilian collected a pass from De Bruyne, spun away from David Alaba, and drilled home his team’s second.
Man City had further chances to put the game beyond Madrid as they ran ragged in front of a roaring home crowd.
Mahrez and Foden missed gilt-edged chances to add City’s third before Madrid started to find some rhythm.
Benzema, as is the case this season, brought Madrid back into the tie by sweeping Ferland Mendy’s cross into the far corner in the 33rd minute.
City restored a two-goal advantage eight minutes after the restart with Fernandinho picking out Phil Foden with a perfectly weighted cross which the England international nodded home.
Two minutes later though Fernandinho was at fault for Madrid’s second.
He was caught out by Vinicius Jr who broke away past him on the touchline before poking the ball past Ederson to make it 3-2 with an outstanding solo effort.
Bernardo Silva added City’s 4th with a superb drive into the top corner in the 74th minute.
But there was still more drama.
Aymeric Laporte was penalized when the ball struck his arm in the area and Benzema converted the penalty with a ‘Panenka’ down the middle eight minutes from the end.
Still, City searched for more but Raheem Sterling and Ruben Dias were both unable to make contact with a dangerous ball across the box.
The score was to remain 4-3 ahead of the second leg of this pulsating tie.
