Manchester City 4-0 Real Madrid: Pep Guardiola masterminds comprehensive win for rampant Citizens at Etihad
Manchester City demolished Real Madrid 4-0 (5-1 on aggregate) to set up a Champions League final with Inter Milan.
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.
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Toni Kroos came close to levelling the score shortly afterwards when his vicious effort from 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 the action early in the second half when he pulled off a sublime save to keep out David Alaba’s free kick.
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.
TALKING POINT – ONE STEP CLOSER TO GLORY
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 an 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.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH – BERNARDO SILVA (MANCHESTER CITY)
The 28-year-old was simply magnificent from the first whistle to the last. His first goal to put Manchester City ahead was a sublime finish to beat Thibaut Courtois, who had already pulled off a couple of world-class saves. For his second Silva had to show composure and finesse to direct his delicate header into the back of the net. Out of possession he was tenacious, chasing down and pressing Real Madrid when they had the ball and he didn’t stop all night. It was an excellent performance from a terrific player.
PLAYER RATINGS
Manchester City: Ederson 8, Akanji 8, Stones 7, Walker 8, Dias 7, Gundogan 8, De Bruyne 8, Bernardo Silva 9, Rodri 8, Grealish 8, Haaland 7. Subs: Mahrez 7, Foden 7, Alvarez 7
Real Madrid: Courtois 8, Camavinga 6, Alaba 6, Militao 6, Carvajal 6, Valverde 6, Kroos 6, Modric 6, Vinicius 6, Benzema 6, Rodrygo 6. Subs: Rudiger 6, Ceballos 6, Tchouameni 6, Vazquez 6, Asensio 6
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
13′ IT LOOKED A CERTAIN GOAL! – Jack Grealish whips in a delicious ball from the left-hand side aiming for Erling Haaland but Thibaut Courtois somehow manages to keep it out and David Alaba is on hand to hook it away.
22′ WHAT A SAVE BY COURTOIS – That is absolutely world class from Courtois. Erling Haaland rises highest to power a header destined for the back of the net but the Belgian keeper dives across to push it behind for a corner.
23′ GOAL – MANCHESTER CITY – A fantastic goal from Bernardo Silva has Manchester City ahead. Kevin De Bruyne slides in Silva with a fantastic pass and the Portuguese attacker smashes his effort near post past Courtois.
34′ KROOS RATTLES THE CROSSBAR! – Toni Kroos fires a vicious effort from distance which rattles the crossbar. Ederson looked to have got the slightest of touches on it.
37′ GOAL – MANCHESTER CITY – It’s 2-0 and it’s Bernardo Silva again! Jack Grealish finds Gundogan and the German’s effort is saved by Courtois but Silva is on hand to delicately loop his header into the back of the net.
52′ TIPPED OVER BY EDERSON! – A wonderful strike from David Alaba and Ederson pulls off a great save to tip it over the bar for a corner.
72′ A HUGE CHANCE FOR HAALAND! – Almost 3-0 to Manchester City but for another piece of magnificent goalkeeping from Courtois. Gundogan and Haaland play a superb one-two and the Norweigan then sees yet another effort saved by Courtois.
76′ GOAL – MANCHESTER CITY – City make it 3-0! Kevin De Bruyne whips in his free kick and Akanji heads it onto Militao who turns it into his own net.
91′ GOAL – MANCHESTER CITY – Julian Alvarez makes it 4-0 at the Etihad and 5-1 on aggregate! Foden plays a superb pass into Alvarez who slides it past Courtois into the corner.
KEY STAT
The UEFA Champions League final will be the first time Manchester City and Inter have met in European competition.
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