MANCHESTER: Manchester City produced an exceptional performance to book their place in the Champions League final with a 4-0 win over Real Madrid, securing a 5-1 aggregate victory.
Bernardo Silva was the standout player with two goals, Eder Milita also scored an own goal and Julian Alvarez added a late strike. The English champions are now just three wins away from Manchester United’s treble in 1998/99.
City, who are set to win a fifth Premier League title in six seasons, dominated play from start to finish and could have scored more had it not been for the heroics of Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. Even Arling Haaland, who has been in sensational form this season, couldn’t beat the Belgian shot-stopper, as his header was saved twice.
City were dominant in the first half, with Silva’s first goal coming on 9 minutes and his second on 28 minutes deflecting off Ilkay Gundogan’s effort. Madrid equalized in the 35th minute when Toni Kroos’ shot hit the crossbar, but City added a third in the second half through Militao’s own goal.
City fans went berserk at the quality of the display, which Pep Guardiola called one of the best of his tenure as City boss. City will now face Inter Milan in the Champions League final in Istanbul on June 10 and will be strong favorites to lift the trophy for the first time in their history.
City’s success this season is testament to the club’s transformation since the Abu Dhabi-backed takeover in 2008. They are on the verge of winning the Premier League title and have already secured their place in the FA Cup final, so they are in with a chance of winning all three trophies this season.
The English side played with confidence and will be keen to carry this momentum into the final against Inter Milan. With the talent and depth they possess, it’s not hard to see why City are one of the best teams in the world right now.
