Manchester City delivered a breathtaking performance, overpowering Real Madrid with a remarkable 4-0 victory to secure their place in the Champions League final.
Bernardo Silva’s double dismantled the Spanish giants, sealing a commanding 5-1 aggregate win for the English champions on Wednesday.
Pep Guardiola’s side exhibited exceptional prowess as they relentlessly pressed forward. Eder Militao’s unfortunate own goal and Julian Alvarez’s stoppage-time strike added to the memorable triumph, bringing City one step closer to emulating Manchester United’s treble in 1998/99, requiring just three wins to match the historic feat.
Furthermore, City is poised to secure their fifth Premier League title in six seasons, with a mere three points needed from their remaining three matches. Additionally, they are set to face Manchester United in the FA Cup final on June 3.
However, City’s ultimate aspiration lies in clinching their first-ever Champions League title. With an upcoming encounter against Inter Milan in Istanbul on June 10, they emerge as strong favorites to conquer Europe.
This impressive victory not only showcased the team’s relentless determination but also drew comparisons to Guardiola’s past triumphs in charge of Barcelona, where he secured Champions League titles in 2009 and 2011.
Last season, City’s dreams were shattered by Madrid at the same stage, as the Spanish side mounted an extraordinary comeback during the dying moments of the second leg.
This time, however, Carlo Ancelotti’s men were unable to find a response to City’s brilliance. Were it not for Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, the defending champions would have suffered an even more humiliating defeat before halftime.
Courtois, utilizing his towering two-meter frame, made exceptional saves to deny Erling Haaland’s threatening headers. The Belgian shot-stopper was instrumental in keeping Madrid’s hopes alive, as Rodri, John Stones, and Jack Grealish unleashed potent strikes from the edge of the area. Yet, luck was not on Madrid’s side, and City broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute.
Kevin De Bruyne’s precise pass unlocked Madrid’s defense, finding Silva inside the area, who emphatically fired past Courtois into the top corner.
Until that point, Madrid had struggled to make an impact in City’s half. However, they came agonizingly close to equalizing 10 minutes before halftime when Toni Kroos struck the crossbar with a thunderous shot. Just as Madrid began to settle, City struck again.
Ilkay Gundogan, in scintillating form, was thwarted by Militao’s block, but the rebound fell kindly for Silva, who headed the ball into an unguarded net, securing his brace. Haaland continued to pose a threat, narrowly missing the target with another blistering effort, while Courtois denied Silva a hat-trick as City relentlessly attacked before halftime.
In the second half, City displayed resilience as they weathered Madrid’s attempts to mount a comeback, ensuring there would be no repeat of last season’s late drama between the two sides.
Real’s closest opportunity came through a dipping free-kick from David Alaba, which Ederson acrobatically tipped over the crossbar. On the other end, Courtois continued his personal duel with Haaland, denying the Norwegian striker with a crucial save, redirecting the shot onto the woodwork.
City emerged victorious, edging closer to a historic transformation since their Abu Dhabi-backed takeover in 2008.
In the dying minutes of the game, Haaland was substituted for Alvarez. The Argentine World Cup winner needed just a few moments to make his mark, slotting home a well-timed pass from Phil Foden,