…The Brazilian scored his in the first half (36′) with a fine strike before De Bruyne responded in the 67th minute.

Real Madrid secured a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their last-four Champions League semi-final clash with Manchester City at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu on Tuesday night ahead of a second leg in England next Wednesday.

The visitors dominated the opening stages with almost all of the ball as the hosts kept their shape and waited for any rare opportunities to counter-attack, Eurosport reports.

With Erling Haaland kept quiet, City’s best chance fell to Rodri who forced a diving save from Thibaut Courtois with a shot from distance, but Pep Guardiola’s side were limited to half chances throughout.

Real had the first moment of magic as Vinicius unleashed a thunderbolt from almost 30 yards that flew past Ederson and gave the hosts the lead.

City, stunned, struggled to break down a Real side that planned perfectly for all their opponent’s possession.

And as the hosts grew into the game, Rodrygo, Vinicius and Karim Benzema started to create chances of their own as Real Madrid had their best spell of the match.

But just as Vinicius had done in the first half, City scored with their opponents on top as De Bruyne’s sweet strike from the edge of the box pulled them level.

With the game in the balance, Benzema forced a diving save from Ederson and De Bruyne continued to threaten with brilliant balls into the box.

But neither side could find a winner to take into a second leg at the Etihad where they must be separated.

Player of the match, Kevin De Bruyne is still the man that City cannot afford to lose in big games like these.

Against the prediction of pundits that City would walk over Real Madrid with the firepower of Haaland, in the end, Real were perfectly prepared for City’s possession.

City have never lifted the trophy but Madrid have won it a record 14 times – including five in the last nine seasons.

Madrid and City have now played each other nine times; they have three wins a piece and three draws.

The first leg of the other semifinal between Italian rivals Inter Milan and AC Milan is on Wednesday.