Man City produced a dominant display to beat Real Madrid 4-0 (5-1 on aggregate) in their Champions League semi-final second leg at the Etihad, to set up a Champions League final showdown with Inter Milan.
Bernardo Silva scored twice in the first half as City overwhelmed the defending champions. Carlo Ancelotti’s team tried to rally after the break but Eder Militao’s own goal and Julian Alvarez’s stoppage-time finish only reflected the gap in class.
In front of a thronging Etihad crowd, Thibaut Courtois pulled off his first world-class save after 13 minutes to deny Erling Haaland’s header following a pinpoint Jack Grealish cross.
Courtois was on hand yet again to deny Haaland in the 22nd minute. The Norwegian rose highest to power a header that looked destined for the back of the net, but Courtois somehow got across to make a stunning save.
According to Eurosport, Manchester City side made the breakthrough just a minute later, courtesy of Bernardo Silva. Kevin De Bruyne slid Silva in with an incisive pass and the Portuguese attacker smashed his effort past Courtois.
Toni Kroos came close to leveling the score shortly afterward when his vicious effort from a distance rattled the crossbar.
But Silva was on hand to score his and City’s second of the game after 37 minutes. Ilkay Gundogan’s effort was saved by Courtois and Silva was on hand to delicately loop his header into the back of the net.
Ederson was called into action early in the second half when he pulled off a sublime save to keep out David Alaba’s free kick.
Man City came again though and made it 3-0 15 minutes from time. De Bruyne’s free-kick was met by Manuel Akanji and his effort deflected off Eder Militao and into the back of the net.
Julian Alvarez put the icing on the cake with a goal in stoppage time to make it 4-0 on the night and 5-1 on aggregate. Substitute Phil Foden played a superb pass into the path of Alvarez who calmly squeezed it past Courtois and into the corner.
Manchester City are into their second UEFA Champions League final and have a chance to win the one trophy that has eluded them thus far when they take on Inter Milan in Istanbul.
Pep Guardiola’s side are on the brink of winning a third successive Premier League title, are into the FA Cup final, and now have a golden opportunity to compete for what would be a historic treble. For Guardiola, it is a night of great significance as it means he now has the chance to lift the trophy for the first time since 2011 with Barcelona.
The Spaniard failed to win it during his time in Germany with Bayern Munich and so far, he hasn’t managed to win it with City but that could all change on June 10 in Istanbul.
The UEFA Champions League final will be the first time Manchester City and Inter have met in European competition.
