A ruthless Manchester City put four past Real Madrid on Wednesday night to set up a final with Inter Milan in Istanbul in the UEFA Champions League on June 10. Pep Guardiola’s side are now one game away from winning the one trophy which has tantalisingly eluded him during his tenure at city.
The atmosphere at the Etihad Stadium was electric even before kick-off, setting the stage for an unforgettable encounter. Determined to avenge their previous heartbreak, City left no room for error this time. Memories of last season’s painful loss at the same stage, where they conceded two stoppage-time goals and were denied a spot in the final, only fueled their determination.
The contest began with a flurry of action, as City’s relentless attack tested Madrid’s goalkeeper Thibaut Coutois from the onset. Courtois showcased his skill by making heroic saves from two headers by Erling Haaland. However, he soon succumbed to the growing pressure from a bloodthirsty City side, Bernado Silva opening the scoring with a close range finish 23 minutes into the game. the Portuguese midfielder soon doubled his tally, displaying his aerial prowess with a looping header past a helpless Courtois eight minutes from the halftime whistle.
Real were desperate to strike back in the second half, City goalkeeper Ederson however was equal to the occasional efforts being made by David Alaba And Karim Benzema. However these proved futile as Manual Akanjis header deflected in off Eder Militao 14 minutes from time.
Celebrations were well and truly underway as Juilan Alvarez, the substitute, stepped up to seal a dominant win after latching onto a wonderful Phil Foden pass.
As Manchester City heads to the Champions League final on June 10th against surprise finalists Inter Milan, the future of Real Madrid hangs in the balance. The match marked a potential turning point for the Spanish giants, with doubts arising about the continuity of their esteemed manager, Carlo Ancelotti. Real Madrid’s trophyless season in both La Liga and the Champions League might trigger significant changes within the club’s hierarchy.
