By Victor Kanayo
Manchester City on Wednesday night comfortably thrashed Real Madrid 4-0 to book a UEFA Champions League final clash against Inter Milan.
In aggregate, City flogged Madrid 5-1 after their first leg encounter ended 1-1 a fortnight ago.
In defeating Carlo Ancelotti side that almost turned spectators at the return leg at the Etihad, Pep Guardiola’s boys avenged the 2022 semi-final encounter in spectacular fashion.
How City Dominated Proceedings
It was all City from the outset with Madrid keeper Thibaut Courtois making a pair of stellar saves to keep out a pair of Erling Haaland headers in the early going and Kevin De Bruyne flashing a free kick from distance just wide of the near post.
The relentless pressure from Pep Guardiola’s side finally paid off in the 23rd minute when De Bruyne played a defence-splitting pass to Sliva, who cut onto his left foot and powered a shot past Courtois.
Fifteen minutes later, Silva had his second. This time the Portugal international placed a lovely, looping header past Courtois after the rebound from Ilkay Gundogan’s close-range strike sat up perfectly for him.
Madrid — the 14-time European champions — barely had a sniff of the ball, much less the City goal, throughout the entirety of the first half as the home team took a two-goal aggregate lead to the break.
City faced the occasional threats from Real after the break, Ederson saving well from David Alaba and Karim Benzema, but they were no match and when Manuel Akanji’s header deflected in off Eder Militao 14 minutes from time the celebrations started.
Substitute Julian Alvarez then wrapped up the dominant win with a late strike after latching onto a brilliant Phil Foden pass.
Drawing Closer To Glorious Season Of Infinite Treble
City — losers to Madrid in dramatic fashion in last year’s UCL semis, will play Inter on June 10, 2023, as they look to win the Champions League for the first time.
When they almost knicked it in 2021 under Guardiola, the blue side of Manchester 1-0 to Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea in the final battle.
With their place in the Istanbul showpiece secured, City can win their fifth Premier League title in six seasons this weekend and also have an FA Cup final to look forward to.
