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ManCity crush Real to cruise to CL final


By Reuters
Published : 18 May 2023 08:17 PM
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Manchester City marched into the Champions League final for the second time in three seasons after outclassing holders Real Madrid 4-0 for a 5-1 aggregate victory at a raucous Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.

Bernardo Silva's first-half double put City in control against the 14-time European champions and an own goal by Eder Militao after the break and a late fourth from Julian Alvarez sealed the deal for Pep Guardiola's side as they avenged last year's bitter semi-final loss.

Silva said he was disappointed with his performance in last week's 1-1 first-leg draw in Madrid, so was thrilled to score the first two goals in the 4-0 win in Manchester that secured a 5-1 aggregate victory and a place in the Champions League final.

"It's a beautiful night for us. We knew it was going to be tough. But to beat this Madrid team 4-0 at home, it was wonderful," the Portuguese midfielder said.

"A wonderful feeling to be in the final again, and hopefully this time we can try and win it," added Silva, whose team lost the Champions League final to Chelsea two years ago.

"My performance in the first game in Madrid wasn't the one I wanted, and I wanted to try and compensate for that because I didn't feel very good at all after the first game. And here today, I had to do better for my team mates and the fans.

"We were very resilient, we very passionate and organised at the same time. I'm so, so happy with that performance."

Silva effectively won the game for City with his first-half brace, the second a clever header.

With Inter Milan awaiting in the final, City will now be huge favourites to finally deliver the trophy Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Mansour has craved since buying the club in 2008, having lost to Chelsea two years ago.

City are now unbeaten in 26 home matches in the competition and that run was never in danger once Portuguese midfielder Silva whipped a shot past Thibaut Courtois in the 23rd minute and then headed his side's second in the 37th minute.

The second half was almost a formality as holders Real, bidding to win the trophy for a sixth time in 10 seasons, were outplayed by a relentless City side closing in on a treble.

And there was no way back for Carlo Ancelotti's side when Kevin De Bruyne's free kick flicked off Militao in the 76th minute.

Alvarez put the icing on the cake of a memorable night for City with a clinical finish after coming on as late replacement for Erling Haaland.