Gary Lineker was left amazed by something a Manchester City player did in the 71 minute against Real Madrid.
It is fair to claim that the contest between Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti’s sides lived up to the billing in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final.
The pair of elite clubs served up a classic for the ages, with goals galore, chances aplenty, several talking points and drama from minute one.
Bernardo Silva opened the scoring in the second minute with a clever free-kick which bamboozled the Real Madrid wall.
City could not have got to a better start at the Santiago Bernabeu, with the Portuguese international once again showcasing why he enjoys facing the European giants on Tuesday night.
However, the visitors’ happiness was short-lived as just 10 minutes later, an Eduardo Camavinga strike took a massive deflection off Ruben Dias to level the scores at 1-1.
Just two minutes later, Rodrygo Goes put the hosts into the lead, after his tame attempt struck Manuel Akanji’s foot, making it impossible for Stefan Ortega to stop.
Gary Lineker stunned by Man City star against Real Madrid
The Sky Blues were down at half time and deservedly so.
It seemed like the nerves had set into a Manchester City side that struggled in every department against Real Madrid.
In possession, the City players were uncharacteristically sloppy, conceding turnovers for fun and struggling to create chances.
Out of possession, these turnovers led to the treble-winners allowing Real Madrid to hit them on the counter time and again.
Luckily for Guardiola and Co., the score was only 2-1 after 45 minutes.
In the 66 minute, Phil Foden thundered the ball into the top corner from outside the box, leading Gary Lineker to describe him as “superb” as City were back into the game.
Just five minutes later, Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol popped up with a sensational strike against Real Madrid, which understandably floored Gary Lineker.
“Wow! Another stunning goal for Man City. [Josko] Gvardiol does it for [Pep] Guardiola”, he wrote on X.
READ MORE: Paul Dickov says Josko Gvardiol is ‘finding his feet’ at Man City
Unfortunately for the £200,000-a-week centre-back, Federico Valverde also bagged an outstanding goal as both teams had to share the spoils.
Even aside from the goal, Josko Gvardiol was outstanding
Of course, Gary Lineker and lovers of the game would largely be discussing how incredible of a strike Josko Gvardiol produced for Manchester City against Real Madrid when breaking down his showing.
But even aside from his goal, Gvardiol was tremendous against Los Blancos.
Unlike his colleagues at the back, the Croatian international dominated his duels from the very start as well as making crucial challenges and on the ball, he seemed ice-cold as he did not put a foot wrong in possession.
Despite just being 22 years old, it showed that Gvardiol had previous European experience as the raucous Bernabeu atmosphere did not seem to get to him one bit.
The youngster is well and truly a special talent and he showed that against Real Madrid.