Man City Outclass Real To Secure UCL Final Spot
18 May, 2023
Manchester City advanced to the UEFA Champions League final for a second time after defeating Real Madrid 5-1 on aggregate in the semi-finals.
UEFA Champions League
Result: Manchester City 4-0 Real Madrid (5-1 on aggregate)
Date: 17 May 2023
Venue: Etihad
Man City were unchanged from the first-leg that ended 1-1 a week ago, as Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish operated the flanks, with Erling Haaland in the centre up top.
Madrid, meanwhile, made one change from first-leg, as Eder Militao returned from suspension and took the place of Antonio Rudiger. Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo flanked Karim Benzema upfront.
City were relentlessly on the front foot from the word go and Haaland came close on 13 minutes with a point-blank header that brushed the thigh of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and out of goal.
Read More : Inter Advance To First UCL Final Since 2010
The Citizens kept on piling the pressure and Haaland thought he had found the net seven minutes later with an arrowed header towards the far post that was breathtakingly parried away by Courtois.However, Courtois could not do anything about Silva's cracking shot two minutes later that found the top corner at the near post and gave Pep Guardiola's charges a 1-0 lead and 2-1 lead also on aggregate.
Los Blancos, who were subdued, nearly came to life ten minutes before the break after Toni Kroos unleashed a dipping shot from range that was tipped into the crossbar by shot-stopper Ederson.
Carlo Ancelotti's men could not get their heads up as Silva doubled City's lead two minutes later, got his brace and made it 3-1 on aggregate with a sublime looping header in the box from a rebound off a shot by IIkay Gundogan.
Los Blancos were 2-0 down at the break and had a positive response from the interval as five minutes in David Alaba nearly pulled one goal back with a dipping free-kick destined for the top corner but Ederson made a world class save.
The Spanish giants gained momentum and confidence after that as they had a good attacking spell and just after the hour-mark, Ancelotti raised eyebrows with a seemingly defensive change, as Rudiger came on for Luka Modric.
Madrid were caged again in their own half in the closing stages and Haaland should have made it 3-0 for City 16 minutes before time after he broke clear on goal but his low right-footed shot was kept out of goal but the outstretched leg of Courtois that looped his shot into the top of the crossbar.
But it did not matter as moments later the Citizens eventually put the game to bed as Militao deflected a chipped free-kick by Kevin De Bruyne into his own net and the home side went 4-1 up on aggregate.
Guardiola's men had the fresh legs of the likes of Riyad Mahrez and Phil Foden in the dying as they dominated possession and Julian Alvarez, on of the changes, made it 4-0 in stoppage time moments after coming on with a low finish from a through ball by Foden.
City reached only their second final and will be up against Inter Milan on 10 June.
Source: www.snl24.com
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