Man City Hit Real Madrid For FOUR To Reach Second Champions League Final And Keep Treble Bid On Track
Manchester City reached the final of the UEFA Champions League for the second time in four years after emphatically overcoming Real Madrid on Wednesday night.
Eight days on from their 1-1 draw in Madrid, City bossed the second leg in Manchester and prevailed 4-0 to win 5-1 on aggregate.
Bernardo Silva scored twice in the first half before a 76th-minute Manuel Akanji goal and a stoppage-time Julian Alvarez strike wrapped up a remarkable victory.
Manchester City thrashed Real Madrid on Wednesday to reach the Champions League final
IMAGO/PA Images/Martin Rickett
Erling Haaland was denied by two stunning saves from Thibaut Courtois in the opening 21 minutes.
But Courtois was beaten at his near post by a powerful shot from Silva moments later.
City players and fans were overjoyed, with Jack Grealish leading the celebrations in one corner of a jumping Etihad Stadium.
Grealish was then involved in a move that led to Silva scoring again in the 37th minute.
The former Villa ace found Ilkay Gundogan in the box. Gundogan's shot was blocked by Eder Militao but the ball bounced up into the path of Silva, who stooped to head it into the net.
City ended the first half having bossed possession with 72% and recorded 13 shots to Madrid's one.
The second period was less one-sided but, unlike in last season's semi-final, City did not let Real back into the contest.
Any hope of a Real comeback was extinguished when a Kevin De Bruyne free-kick was flicked on by Manuel Akanji onto the head of Militao, who deflected the ball into his own net.
Militao was initially credited with an own goal but UEFA later awarded the goal to Akanji.
City were not finished yet and added a fourth goal to equal the record for the biggest margin of victory over Madrid in UCL history.
Haaland may have lost his personal battle with Courtois after the Belgian keeper denied him with three superb saves.
But Alvarez, who replaced Haaland in the 89th minute, beat Courtois at the first time of asking with a composed finish after being set up by fellow sub Phil Foden.
City will now face Inter Milan in the final in Istanbul on June 10.
As well as playing for a first ever Champions League title, City could well be just one win away from completing a famous treble when they meet Inter.
No team has won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in the same season since Manchester United did so in dramatic fashion in 1999.
But City are now within touching distance of matching their neighbors' greatest ever achievement.
City need only to win one of their three remaining EPL games to be crowned champions of England.
Guardiola will then take his team to Wembley to face rivals United in the FA Cup final on June 3, one week before they attempt to conquer Europe for the first time in the club's 136-year history.
