Real Madrid vs Man City LIVE: Champions League result and final ...

On such nights, the Champions League remains the gold standard. It was the sort of game that gives the competition magical, mystical properties, the kind that will be marvelled at for years. It was seminal and special, a match of six goals, five of them arguably outstanding, of two stunning comebacks, of a blistering first half by Real Madrid and a sublime turnaround orchestrated by Pep Guardiola ended with the tantalising prospect of a return fixture next week, the reality that one of these terrific teams will be eliminated.

Which? At different points first City and then Real felt on the brink of suffering a blow that, if not a knockout, would probably leave them too wounded to prevail. Now the advantage probably lies with the defending champions, simply because the second leg is in Manchester. Yet an evening that showed cracks in their aura of invincibility ended with the feel of a triumphant affair. A test was passed, even without victory.

More from Pep Guardiola:

On half-time chat: “Be more calm, move less, be safer with the ball and attack outside the areas. Be exactly what we talked about. I said it’s 45 minutes then 90 minutes so a lot of minutes left to play. Sometimes you want to be crazy but they did really well.”

On Josko Gvardiol: “We were lucky he is with us and he could play today otherwise it would be difficult because we didn’t have players. The way he played was amazing, he played really really good. He’s a lovely guy so we’re really pleased to have him and score too.”

On Phil Foden injury: “A knock. He was grumpy with me for making the substitutions but he made a fantastic goal.

“Next week we have our people, our people are there and we need all of them, the energy to beat the kings of this competition. We will go for it in Manchester with our people.”

The England international had earlier scored a sublime goal to continue an outstanding individual season, but his departure late on looked a worry. Guardiola, though, suggested afterwards that it was not significant.

Phil Foden says that a draw in Spain is a good result for Manchester City who play the second leg of this quarter-final at home.

“I think with the possession that we had they grew a little bit more tired,” he said. “I was able to find the pockets (in the second-half). We grew into the game. We had a couple of chances and I’m just really happy I was able to make the most of mine.

“I felt a sweet connection. It’s a shot I practice in training. I’m thankful it went into the top corner.

“We’re a little disappointed with the draw after going 3-2 up. We didn’t keep the ball from the goal kick and they went and scored. But we can’t dwell on it.

“A draw is a good result. There are a lot of things we can improve on before the second leg.”

Pep Guardiola reacts to six goal thriller and going into the second leg on level terms.

“In the second-half we really showed our personality in terms of how we play,” the City boss told TNT Sports. “Coming back from 2-1 in Manchester would have been difficult. Instead we scored two fantastic goals but defending fifteen minutes in this stadium is an eternity. 3-3, we will take it.

“I told (the players) to be more calm and to attack outside. Now I say: ‘guys it’s 45 minutes after 90 minutes’. There is a lot of football to be played.

“We are lucky that Gvardiol is with us today. He was amazing in how he played. He’s a lovely guy and we are so happy to have him.”

Gvardiol also addressed Real Madrid’s first two goals which were both deflected shots that beat Stefan Ortega.

“This is football. It happens,” he said, “We need to be focused after and try to come back in the game which we did. Good result in the end.

“Happy for my first goal for Man City. Especially against a great opponent. Happy. First touch was not that good but in the end I thought well I’m just going to hit it and see what happens.

“First we have Luton on Saturday so we need to focus on that first.”

Here’s the reaction from Josko Gvardiol who scored his first goal for Manchester City tonight.

“What a game,” he told TNT Sports, “The first time for me to play here at this stadium. It was an amazing atmosphere and we take this result and we look forward to the game at home,

“Last season I faced them with Leipzig but this was a bit different. It was a different team. We knew it would be difficult but we showed quality.

“I would say it was (unlucky) but this is football. We needed to be focused and to come back which is what we did. And in the end, a good result.”

Fede Valverde, who score the late equaliser for Real Madrid, is already looking towards next week’s clash in Manchester.

“We have to remember what happened last year,” he told Movistar TV after the game. “If we go there with the same (lack of) attitude and motivation, we will not go through.

“So we have to use it for revenge, for energy, to go through.”

Real Madrid have not lost any of their last 27 home games in all competitions (with 21 wins and six draws), their best unbeaten run at home since September 2013 (G47 W40 D7).

Manchester City weren’t the only English team in Champions League action tonight as Arsenal hosted Bayern Munich at the Emirates Stadium.

This was probably the main lesson from the game, that is as important to the second leg in Munich as the aggregate score. It showed the value of experience at this kind of level, but also how you start to develop it.