Dramatic comeback vs. Manchester City boosts Real Madrid into Champions League final

The Spanish giants needed extra time to claim the 3-1 second-leg victory (6-5 on aggregate), with Rodrygo and Karim Benzema the heroes on a night to remember. 

City appeared to be cruising toward the final in normal time after Riyad Mahrez's well-struck opener in the 73rd minute gave the English club a 5-3 aggregate lead and seemed to be more than enough to see them through against a lacklustre Real attack that couldn't muster a shot on target throughout the first 89 minutes of play.

The Sky Blues nearly scored a second moments before the full-time whistle as Jack Grealish's industrious effort was cleared away — off an unsuspecting Phil Foden — just inches before rolling across the line.

That near-miss would come back to haunt the visitors, who appeared to switch off after Grealish's brilliant run, and in the 90th minute a well-placed cross found Benzema near the byline, and he squared the ball to an onrushing Rodrygo for a tap-in that gave the hosts a lifeline.

They still needed another goal to force extra time though, and they got it nearly immediately after the ensuing kick-off as Rodrygo soared to meet a deflected cross and nod home.

Still in shock at the stoppage-time turn of events, City's night went from bad to worse five minutes into the first extra time period as they gave up a penalty kick that Benzema easily converted.

Now trailing for the first time, the Sky Blues' desperation over the final 15 minutes were not sufficient as Madrid held on in front of an appreciative home crowd.

The result sets up a showdown in Paris between Real Madrid and Liverpool on May 28. The teams also met in the 2017-18 Champions League final, with Madrid claiming a 3-1 victory on that day.