Ghana international Antoine Semenyo’s first taste of UEFA Champions League football proved a baptism of fire as Real Madrid dismantled Manchester City 3-0 at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu.
The Black Stars forward, who has enjoyed a meteoric rise to the pinnacle of European football, was handed a starting spot by Pep Guardiola for the first leg of this heavyweight Round of 16 tie.
However, his milestone evening was overshadowed by a masterclass from Madrid’s Federico Valverde.
The hosts seized control from the first whistle, suffocating City’s rhythm and exploiting gaps in a disjointed defence.
The breakthrough arrived in the 20th minute through an unlikely source of creativity, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
The Belgian’s precise distribution found Federico Valverde, who sprinted clear of the City backline.
Facing Gianluigi Donnarumma, the Uruguayan midfielder showed the composure of a seasoned striker, bamboozling the Italian keeper with a clever dummy before slotting into an empty net.
The momentum stayed firmly with the Spanish giants. Just seven minutes later, Valverde struck again, ghosting into the penalty area to latch onto a loose ball and firing home to double the advantage.
The knockout blow arrived shortly before the interval. In the 42nd minute, Brahim Diaz turned provider, squaring the ball for Valverde to tap in from close range.
The hat-trick was complete, and the Bernabéu was in raptures as Madrid went into the break with a commanding 3-0 lead.
City showed signs of life in the second half but struggled to test Courtois. Their afternoon almost went from bad to worse in the 58th minute when the referee pointed to the spot following a foul on Vinicius Junior.
The Brazilian stepped up himself, looking to put the tie beyond any doubt, but Gianluigi Donnarumma produced a sensational diving save to his right to keep the scoreline at three.
Semenyo’s historic night ended in the 70th minute when he was replaced by Rayan Cherki.
While the 26-year-old found chances hard to come by against a disciplined Madrid defence, the appearance marks a significant chapter in his career as he becomes the latest Ghanaian to grace Europe’s elite competition.
The result leaves Manchester City facing a monumental task. Guardiola’s side must now overturn a three-goal deficit when the teams meet for the second leg at the Etihad Stadium.
For Semenyo, the focus will shift to domestic duties before attempting to help City pull off one of the greatest comebacks in the tournament’s history.
