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Superb semi final tie sees Manchester City qualify for the 2023 Champions League Final

A superb semi final tie sees Manchester City qualify for the 2023 Champions League Final after beating Real Madrid on Wednesday night.

Vinicius Junior and Kevin De Bruyne got on the scoresheet as they lit up a high-quality Champions League semi-final first leg in the Bernabeu last week with nothing to separate Real Madrid and Manchester City.

It meant that it was all to play for at the Etihad, and boy were we treated to quite the game, from wonder saves to quality goals.

Going into this, we knew that the winner would go on to face Inter Milan in final in Istanbul on Saturday, the 10th of June.

Just 13 minutes in, Jack Grealish sent in a beauty of a cross and Erling Haaland thundered in from six yards, only to put his header straight at Thibaut Courtois, who blocked it and Alaba scrambled clear.

Just under 10 minutes later, Haaland was denied by Courtois again. A City corner was taken short and chipped in by Kevin de Bruyne. Manuel Akanji headed it back across for Erling Haaland, again in point-blank range for a header that saw Courtois somehow tip it wide.

23 mins
GOAL – Man City 1-0 Real Madrid (Agg: 2-1)
Bernardo Silva

Right after that, Man City broke the deadlock, City finally made their chance count as Kevin de Bruyne’s brilliant pass sent Bernardo Silva in on goal on the right side of the box, and fired his shot past Thibaut Courtois at his near side.

Real Madrid fought back, and on the 35th minute, Kroos sent a stunningly powerful drive that has Ederson at full-stretch, possibly getting a finger to it and the ball came back back off the crossbar.

36 mins
GOAL – Man City 2-0 Real Madrid (Agg: 3-1)
Bernardo Silva

Man City were in dreamland on 37 minutes after extending their lead. Grealish danced into the box and found Gundogan who got the ball under his spell and tested Courtois, who blocked it. The ball looped to Silva from 10 yards, before producing a guided header into the top corner.

Chris Sutton on BBC Radio 5 Live: “Manchester City have blown this Madrid team away in the first half. We wondered whether City would come out of the traps and they have been totally dominant. Missed a couple of chances early on. Thibaut Courtois has had a stormer in this first half but really clever play from City.

“You felt it was coming and when it did come, lovely pass from De Bruyne into Bernardo Silva who produces an exquisite finish and then a clever header for his second goal. In many respects, Man City could and should be further ahead.”

Michael Owen on BT Sport: “City are dominating that much, everyone is running forward wanting to get involved, even the centre backs are running forward. What chance have you got? This is a bigger mauling than I’ve ever seen.”

Shay Given on BBC Radio 5 Live: “It’s been one way traffic, absolutely brilliant from Manchester City. Two big goals from Bernardo Silva. I just wonder what Carlo Ancelotti is going to do at half-time, is he going to change it?

“The Real Madrid players are blowing and shaking their heads, there’s a lot of negativity around.

“Man City are just passing them around the pitch and burning the legs and energy of the Real Madrid players.”

Thibaut Courtois, who else for Real Madrid, kept the tie alive with another incredible save on 73 minutes.

City’s build-up was patient with Erling Haaland finding Ilkay Gundogan, who back-heeled the striker in on goal, but while the Norwegian’s effort is on target, the Real Madrid keeper got contact on it to send the ball looping over the bar.

But just like that, it was all over, with Man City making it 3-0 on the night.

76 mins
GOAL – Man City 3-0 Real Madrid (Agg: 3-1)
Manuel Akanji

Kevin de Bruyne curled the free-kick from the left into the middle, with it met by a flicked header from Manuel Akanji that Eder Militao attempted to clear, yet could only steers the ball into his own net.

Yep, there was still time for another goal, as Alvarez made sure they would be no Real Madrid come back this time.

90 mins
GOAL – Man City 4-0 Real Madrid (Agg: 5-1)
Julian Alvarez

A beautiful goal to sum up a stunning performance. Foden, who had only just come one, cushioned a pass in behind and Alvarez slid the finish into the far corner.

Bernardo Silva speaking to BT Sport:

“A beautiful night. We knew it would be tough but to win 4-0 is wonderful to be in the final again – and hopefully we can win it. We had the momentum to go after Madrid because they are tough – even when we were winning 2-0 they pushed us and they could’ve scored. But we were resilient, passionate and organised. I’m so happy with the performance.

“My performance in the first game wasn’t the one I wanted and I was to try and compensate that. I didn’t feel good after the first game and today I had to do better for my teammates and the fans. I’m very good with my head – I’m small but good with my head!”

Shay Given: “Great atmosphere tonight. The players are going around the pitch and celebrating with the fans. It’s a special occasion for them. They lost to Real Madrid at this stage last season. The treble is getting ever closer.

“For me, this was the biggest hurdle to get over. I know 4-0 looks like a mauling which it is of course but Real Madrid you can never rule them out but they got past them tonight.”

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