UCL: Pep Guardiola Savages Real Madrid And Santiago Bernabeu Pitch After Man City Thriller

• Real Madrid and Manchester City drew in a Champions League quater-final game
• The Santiago Bernabeu Stadium roof was closed before the first-leg match began
• Pep Guardiola criticised the quality of the Bernabeu turf after the thrilling match

Pep Guardiola took a dig at Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu Stadium and its turf after his Manchester City team drew a 3-3 thriller there in a UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg on Tuesday.

The clash between the reigning champions and the competition's record holders exceeded expectations in what could be deemed the marquee fixture of the tantalising Champions League knockouts.

Six goals were scored in the captivating encounter, leaving the tie finely balanced and setting the stage for another nail-biting showdown in the second leg.

Los Blancos was granted special permission by UEFA to close the roof of their recently renovated ground, per TalkSPORT.

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When asked about this post-match, Guardiola said via GOAL:

"I like to see the sky, but the truth is that the stadium is impressive. Now they just have to take care of the grass. Don't take it the wrong way, it's an impressive piece of work. When I was playing, the Bernabeu grass was a carpet, a carpet, but hey, I guess they'll fix it," the Spaniard added.

While the pitch appeared to fall short of its usual impeccable standard, this did not detract from the game's status as an instant classic.

Guardiola has a long history with Real both as a player and a manager, and his relationship with media in the Spanish capital has always been tetchy, which likely played into his comments.

With his City side facing the La Liga giants at the Etihad Stadium in the second leg next week, the Spaniard shouldn't have any grievances about the turf.

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He will aim to see his team secure a fourth consecutive semi-final appearance, buoyed by the positive update on Phil Foden's injury.

Ancelotti optimistic ahead of City return leg

Meanwhile, it's not just Guardiola who's eagerly anticipating playing on the Etihad turf. Sports Brief also covered Madrid boss, Carlo Ancelotti's optimistic outlook on their second-leg tie against City.

Despite a disappointing 4-0 loss in Manchester last season, Ancelotti is convinced that this time will be different and stressed the importance of his players' courage and personality in achieving the win.

Rodrygo pays tribute to Ronaldo

In a previous publication, Sports Brief reported that Rodrygo paid tribute to Al-Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo during Real Madrid's thrilling Champions League quarter-final first-leg match against Man City.

The Brazilian forward, showcasing remarkable form as the season progresses, netted his fourth goal in his last three appearances for club and country with a clever finish, before busting out a 'Siuuu'.