Manchester City booked their spot in the final of the Champions League with a resounding 4-0 triumph over Real Madrid in the second leg of their semi-final clash, securing a commanding 5-1 aggregate win.
Bernardo Silva stole the show with a brace in the first half, overwhelming the defending champions. Despite Real Madrid’s attempts to rally in the second half, Eder Militao’s own goal and Julian Alvarez’s stoppage-time finish only emphasized the evident class difference between the two teams.
Manchester City’s exceptional form, having gone unbeaten in 23 consecutive matches and winning their last 15 games at the Etihad Stadium, proved too much for Real Madrid to handle. The magnificent Manchester City will now face Inter Milan in the highly anticipated Champions League final set to take place in Istanbul on June 10.
The first leg at the Bernabeu last week ended with each team scoring a spectacular goal, leaving the tie delicately poised. The atmosphere for the decisive clash matched the significance of the occasion, with pyrotechnics greeting the team bus upon arrival at the stadium. While boos echoed during the Champions League anthem, the atmosphere turned raucous thereafter, as fans fervently hoped to witness their beloved team dethrone European royalty.
From the outset, the game displayed a clear dominance by Manchester City. Despite Erling Haaland being relatively contained by Antonio Rudiger in the previous match, the absence of Militao in Real Madrid’s defense meant Rudiger was relegated to the bench. Yet, shutting out City’s relentless striker proved to be only half the battle.
Within 13 minutes, Haaland was denied a goal by an impressive body save from Thibaut Courtois. Shortly after, Courtois extended his arm to thwart Haaland’s attempt once again. Though Courtois managed to keep Haaland at bay late in the game, he could not prevent City from finding the back of the net for long.
In the first leg, Guardiola’s side had dominated proceedings early on, but the lesson learned was that appearances can be deceiving. Ancelotti’s team had demonstrated their self-confidence and ability to patiently wait for their moment. There were a few warning signs, such as Vinicius Junior briefly exploiting space behind Kyle Walker, only to be thwarted by Walker’s impressive recovery speed. Toni Kroos came closest to scoring for Real Madrid, striking the crossbar with their sole attempt in the opening 45 minutes.
However, aside from these isolated moments, Ancelotti’s side failed to exert control. Instead, they were overwhelmed by Manchester City’s relentless attacks. Silva’s second goal accurately reflected the gulf in class, as he nodded in the ball after Ilkay Gundogan’s shot was blocked. Real Madrid’s most notable moments were individual efforts, with David Alaba’s powerful strike being tipped over by Ederson. In contrast, Manchester City’s play was slick and efficient, with the only surprise being that their third goal was not a thing of beauty, as Militao inadvertently put the ball into his own net from Kevin De Bruyne’s free-kick. The celebration in the stands, reminiscent of the iconic Poznan-style celebrations, turned into unbridled joy when Alvarez slotted in the fourth goal.
For Manchester City fans, there has often been a sense of anticipation for something to go wrong in this prestigious competition. However, this match showcased a complete and dominant performance, which could potentially signify a changing of the guard in European football.
Having already overcome Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals, Manchester City has now vanquished another heavyweight of European football in Real Madrid. Their sights are firmly set on Inter Milan as they prepare for the final in Istanbul.
