Manchester City advanced to the Champions League final for the second time in three seasons with an impressive 4-0 victory over reigning champions Real Madrid, securing a 5-1 aggregate win at a lively Etihad Stadium.
Bernardo Silva’s brace in the first half established City’s dominance over the 14-time European champions. Eder Militao’s own goal after the break and a late fourth goal from Julian Alvarez sealed the triumph for Pep Guardiola’s team, avenging last year’s painful semifinal defeat.
With a final against Inter Milan on the horizon, City now finds themselves as strong favorites to fulfill Sheikh Mansour’s long-awaited dream of claiming the coveted trophy since his acquisition of the club in 2008. Their previous final appearance ended in defeat against Chelsea two years ago.
The victory extended City’s remarkable unbeaten streak of 26 home matches in the competition. Their lead was established early on when Portuguese attacking midfielder Silva fired a shot past Thibaut Courtois in the 23rd minute and then headed home the second goal in the 37th minute.
The second half was a mere formality as Real Madrid, aiming for their sixth title in 10 seasons, were outplayed by a relentless City side closing in on a potential treble. Kevin De Bruyne’s free-kick deflected off Militao in the 76th minute, leaving no way back for Carlo Ancelotti’s team. Alvarez added the finishing touch to City’s memorable night with a clinical finish as a substitute for Erling Haaland.
The atmosphere at City’s fortress was filled with anticipation and tension, considering the match was seen as a de facto final, with Inter Milan waiting for the winners after their first final appearance in 13 years, despite a mediocre Serie A season.
The lineups mirrored the scintillating 1-1 draw at Bernabeu Stadium, with the only change being Militao replacing Antonio Rudiger in Real’s defense.
Similar to the previous encounter in Spain, City quickly took control of the game, leaving Real struggling to connect passes and break out of their own half. Thibaut Courtois made two crucial saves from close-range Haaland headers within the opening 20 minutes, one fortunate and the other extraordinary.
City’s relentless pressure eventually paid off, with Silva finding the net with a left-footed strike from the right edge of the penalty area, marking City’s eighth attempt on goal in the first 23 minutes.
It took Real half an hour to launch an attack, and even then, Kyle Walker won a sprint race against Vinicius Jr to extinguish the threat.
Toni Kroos, one of five current Real players with five Champions League titles to their name, unleashed a powerful right-footed shot that City goalkeeper Ederson, who had been a bystander until then, tipped onto the crossbar.
Silva ensured City reached halftime with a firm grip on the final, reacting swiftly to loop a header into the net after Ilkay Gundogan’s shot was saved.
City toyed with the 14-time champions for the remainder of the half and could have increased their lead further.
Real needed something extraordinary to revive their hopes, and they came close six minutes into the second half when David Alaba’s dipping free-kick was acrobatically saved by Ederson.
Courtois made another impressive save from Haaland, leaving the Norwegian waiting for his 53rd goal of the incredible season.
Any hopes of a repeat of last year’s miraculous turnaround, when Real won 6-5 on aggregate, were shattered when De Bruyne’s curled free-kick glanced off Militao and found the net.
Alvarez then calmly placed the ball into the bottom corner during stoppage time.
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