JOSKO GVARDIOL is a centre-half who is filling in at left-back for Manchester City. He has not scored or had a shot in 32 games.

So, in a game of magnificent chaos, it was right that the Croatian hammered home a brace to put Manchester City in pole position for next Wednesday’s second leg of this duel of European footballing aristocracy.

7Foden’s goal was arguably the pick of the bunchCredit: Reuters7Gvardiol gave him a run for his money thoughCredit: GettyGvardiol’s first touch was terrible when Jack Grealish cut back from the left, almost giving Toni Kroos possession, but his second touch was a goal as he ripped from beyond the box to put City ahead.

Federico Valverde scored a spectacular equalizer, but City will be relieved to return to Manchester on equal footing after withstanding some excellent Real showboating and trailing for the entirety of the match.

After Bernardo Silva scored an incredible free kick in the second minute, Eduardo Camavinga and Rodrygo gave the 14-time European champions the advantage.

Gvardiol scored the second City rocket in five minutes after Phil Foden’s spectacular equalizer, his 22nd goal of an incredible season.

This match between the current European champions and the team that has controlled the continent the most times was an incredible belter of a match.

For some reason, City ends up here for a knockout tie every time. After winning two of the previous three, Pep Guardiola’s team was victorious for the fourth time in five seasons.

The world’s best squad plays the most prestigious club in the world, led by the two most successful managers of the Champions League era, Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti, and it always feels like some kind of final.

Perhaps this will be the last one in a while, or perhaps the City project will be derailed by the numerous financial accusations they must deal with on an expensive legal timeline.

7Bernardo Silva put City ahead with a smart free kickCredit: Reuters7

In a 1-1 draw from the previous season, Kevin De Bruyne scored here. This time, the Belgian was benched, but the reason wasn’t a Guardiola brainwave; rather, it was a stomach ailment.

Last season, Real was destroyed 4-0 at the Etihad in the second leg, but it was before Jude Bellingham joined the team.

There was nothing untoward about the weather, so yesterday night this enormous ancient cooking pot with its new retractable roof on to improve the acoustics was left lid-on.

For an extended while, it was just amplifying the Madridistas’ whistling and complaining.

But not for long. For a brief moment, it seemed as though their entertainer was playing Sweet Georgia Brown on the whistle.

At their best, Real has always been like the Harlem Globetrotters of football, stooging their opponents in exhibition matches.

Real hit with speed and skill, bringing forth back heels, nutmegs, and Cruyff turns all at once.

It wouldn’t have been out of place if Vinicius Junior had taken a bunch of flowers out of his sleeve.

They will need two balls when Kylian Mbappe is here this summer.

The equalizer was fortunate; Camavinga came in from the right and, shockingly, kept his spot ahead of an Ederson who was back in shape, as his effort massively deflected off Ruben Dias to wrong-foot Stefan Ortega.