Manchester City produced a stunning performance to reach the Champions League final as Bernardo Silva’s double put Real Madrid to the sword in 4-0 thrashing, securing a 5-1 aggregate win for the English champions on Wednesday.
Eder Militao’s own goal and Julian Alvarez’s strike in stoppage time rounded off a memorable night for Pep Guardiola’s men as they moved to within three wins of matching Manchester United’s treble in 1998/99.
A fifth English Premier League title in six seasons appears a formality with City needing just three points from their final three games, while United await in the FA Cup final on June 3.
But it is a first ever Champions League that City crave the most and they will be strong favourites to finally conquer Europe against Inter Milan in Istanbul on June 10.
Seven years into Guardiola’s reign as City boss, the home fans were sent in to seventh heaven by the quality of a display that rivalled the former Barcelona boss’ Champions League final wins in charge of the Catalan giants in 2009 and 2011.
Madrid dashed City’s dreams at this stage last season with a remarkable comeback from two goals down in the dying seconds of the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.
But Carlo Ancelotti’s men this time had no answer to City’s excellence.
Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City is held back by his Real Madrid marker Antonio Rudiger (right)
Were it not for Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, the defending champions would have been on the end of a hiding before halftime.
The giant Belgian needed all of his two-metre (6ft 7in) frame to claw Erling Haaland’s header round the post.
Haaland had already been denied his 53rd goal of the season by Courtois with another downward header.
Rodri, John Stones and Jack Grealish also saw pot shots fly off target from the edge of the area, but Madrid’s luck finally ran out on 23 minutes.
Kevin De Bruyne unpicked the lock as his pass found Silva inside the area, and he smashed high past Courtois’ left hand.
The visitors had barely registered a touch inside the City half for the opening half hour, but were inches away from an equaliser 10 minutes before halftime when a piledriver from Toni Kroos rattled the crossbar.
Just as Madrid were beginning to settle, City grabbed the second goal their first half dominance deserved.
The in-form Ilkay Gundogan was denied a fifth goal in May by Eder Militao’s block, but the ball looped up kindly for Silva to head into an unguarded net.
Kevin De Bruyne unpicked the lock as his pass found Silva inside the area, and he smashed high past Courtois’ left hand.
The visitors had barely registered a touch inside the City half for the opening half hour, but were inches away from an equaliser 10 minutes before halftime when a piledriver from Toni Kroos rattled the crossbar.
Just as Madrid were beginning to settle, City grabbed the second goal their first half dominance deserved.
The in-form Ilkay Gundogan was denied a fifth goal in May by Eder Militao’s block, but the ball looped up kindly for Silva to head into an unguarded net.
Eduardo Camavinga (left) of Real Madrid tracks down Kevin De Bruyne of Man City as he breaks away with the ball
Eder Militao returned to the heart of the Real Madrid defence for Wednesday’s Champions League semifinal, second leg against Manchester City in the only change in either side from the first leg, which ended 1-1.
Antonio Rudiger’s fine job in keeping City’s 52-goal striker Erling Haaland quiet in the Spanish capital was not enough for the German to retain his place as Militao returns from suspension.
Eduardo Camavinga has shrugged off a knee injury to start at left-back for the defending European champions.
City boss Pep Guardiola kept his promise not to “overthink” his line-up as the same front six start for the fifth consecutive Champions League game.
Haaland is supported in attack by Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva.
Nathan Ake is City’s only injury absentee, so Manuel Akanji again deputises on the left-side of defence.
Source: Graphiconline
