Watch Kyle Walker Match Real Madrid Speedster Vinicius Junior In Sprint Race

Manchester City's fastest player Kyle Walker and Real Madrid speedster Vinicius Junior tested each other for pace as they had a sprint race at the Bernabeu.

Kyle Walker was a big miss for Manchester City in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid.

The 31-year-old had been unavailable due to an ankle issue, while fellow right-back Joao Cancelo was suspended.

As a result of his two star full-backs being absent, Pep Guardiola started the first leg with John Stones on the right side of City's defense, before replacing him with Fernandinho mid-match.

Neither stand-in right-back was able to match Vinicius Junior for pace and the Real winger scored a brilliant solo goal at the Etihad Stadium after skinning Fernandinho.

City won the first leg 4-3 but the semi-final was still very much alive going into the second game in Madrid.

Vinicius Junior (right) races with Kyle Walker during Real Madrid's Champions League semi-final second leg against Manchester City :: IMAGO/Lagencia/Cesar Cebolla

Walker was not fully fit, but Guardiola decided to take a "risk" by picking his fastest player to go up against Real's.

Guardiola was quoted by the Manchester Evening News before the match as saying: "I'm not a guy who likes to risk but there are moments in a season you have to risk, this is one of them."

That risk looked like a wise move during the first half as Walker performed superbly against Vinicius.

0 - Vinícius Júnior didn't complete any of his four take-on attempts in the first half (0/4), while Kyle Walker made more tackles than any other player (3). Guardian. pic.twitter.com/PpN9h2xYtA

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 4, 2022

Walker made more tackles than any other player on the pitch in the first half, including a superb recovery sliding challenge on Vinicius inside the penalty area.

Vinicius looked surprised.

It is likely that he had never previously gone up against a full-back who could match him for speed, especially not one who was a decade older than him.

What. A. Tackle.

Kyle Walker, just a slight upgrade over Fernandinho at right back #UCL

(via @TUDNUSA) pic.twitter.com/S6zb0GlOko

— SI Soccer (@si_soccer) May 4, 2022

Walker left the field to be replaced by Oleksandr Zinchenko in the 72nd minute when the second leg was tied at 0-0.

Moments later Riyad Mahrez scored to give City a 5-3 aggregate lead.

City still held that two-goal advantage going into the 90th minute at the Bernabeu, but a late Rodrygo double set up extra time where a Karim Benzema penalty proved decisive.

Real will face Liverpool in the final in what will be their ninth meeting. Real lead Liverpool by four wins to three in their head-to-head history.