Man City 4-0 Real Madrid (5-1 agg): Bernardo Silva scores twice as Champions League favorites advance to final
The semi-finals were perfectly even after the first leg at the Bernabeu 1-1 and, somewhat disrespectfully towards Inter Milan, the clash with Etihad had been talked about as if it were a final between the two favorites in the competition in which either desperate to win the better of the Serie A team on June 10th.
Real needn’t worry about flights to Istanbul, however, as they were stunned by a sensational first-half display from City and the two goals they scored were the least they deserved in the most one-sided of encounters. Bernardo Silva scored both goals, the first with a left foot and the second with a header as City put the defending champions under pressure.
The second half was a more controlled affair, Real never really threatened a late attack and City were keen to ensure last season’s dramatic collapse was not repeated when Carlo Ancelotti’s side scored twice in stoppage time en route to a remarkable comeback scored
That never seemed in sight, however, as Real were a mere shadow of their usual European streak, and the tie was finally over when Eder Militao converted the ball into his own net before Julian Alvarez equalized in added time for the visitors It was a truly miserable night as City overcame what was reportedly the biggest remaining obstacle in their attempt to equal the treble.
From the first minute City were trapped in Real’s half and in the following 45 minutes things didn’t improve at all for the visitors. Thibaut Courtois was the only reason the defending champions didn’t face something more embarrassing.
City’s relentless display was humiliating enough, however, as Erling Haaland’s close-range effort was saved by Courtois before the Real keeper made a stunning save to somehow parry the Norwegian’s header over the far post.
However, that delayed the inevitable and within minutes City were ahead as Kevin De Bruyne played through a pass to Silva and this time Courtois was unable to counter it as the left footed finish failed to get past him and the hosts finally got the performance that they deserved .
Toni Kroos hammered a shot off the bar from distance but that was best for Real who were otherwise battered in a way they hadn’t seen in many years. The second goal came before half-time when Ilkay Gündogan saved a shot, but Silva was there and headed the rebound into the goal, so the score was at least beginning to reflect the pattern of the game.
The pressure wasn’t quite as unrelenting after the break, City were content with what they had but there were still chances to extend the lead further. Ilkay Gündogan put Haaland into play, with City striker Courtois getting in the way again as the Belgian deflected his shot off the bar.
The final touch came not from Haaland but from Militao as Manuel Akanji’s header caught the Real defender and flew over the helpless Courtois. Akanji’s celebration wasn’t enough to convince people at UEFA headquarters that he should count as his goal.
Alvarez still had time to intervene in the defeat in the closing moments and finished the game calmly after being put through by Phil Foden, giving City just one more step up the road to the one trophy they are more after than everyone else yearns for.
https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/man-city-vs-real-madrid-champions-league-result-2023-silva-guardiola-b1081900.html Man City 4-0 Real Madrid (5-1 agg): Bernardo Silva scores twice as Champions League favorites advance to final
