Bernardo Silva of Manchester City celebrates scoring his second goal with Erling Brut Haaland. , Photo Credit: Reuters
Manchester City produced a stunning performance to reach the Champions League final as Bernardo Silva’s double hammered Real Madrid 4-0, securing a 5-1 aggregate victory for the English champions on Wednesday.
An Eder Militão own goal and Julian Alvarez’s strike in stoppage time set up a memorable night for Pep Guardiola’s men as they moved within three wins of matching Manchester United’s treble in 1998/99.
A fifth Premier League title in six seasons appears to be a formality, with City needing only three points from their last three games, while United have to look forward to the FA Cup final on 3 June.
But it is the first ever Champions League that City are most keen on and they will be favorites to finally win Europe against Inter Milan in Istanbul on 10 June.
Seven years into Guardiola’s reign as City boss, home fans were blown away by the quality of performances that rivaled the former Barcelona boss’ Champions League final victories in charge of the Catalan giants in 2009 and 2011 .
Madrid dashed City’s dreams at this stage last season when they made a stunning comeback from two goals down in the dying moments of the second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola reacts after Bernardo Silva scored the opening goal during the Champions League semi-final second leg football match between Manchester City and Real Madrid at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, May 17, 2023 in Manchester, England Did. Photo Credit: AP
But this time Carlo Ancelotti’s men had no answer for City’s excellence.
If it had not been for Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, the defending champions would have been on the receiving end of hiding before half-time.
The towering Belgian needed all of his two-metre (6 ft 7 in) frame to hook Erling Haaland’s header around the post.
Haaland had already been denied his 53rd goal of the season by Courtois with another downward header.
Rodri, John Stones and Jack Grealish also saw pot shots fly off target from the edge of the area, but Madrid’s luck finally ran out on 23 minutes.
Kevin De Bruyne broke loose as his pass found Silva inside the area, and he smashed it past Courtois’ left hand.
The visitors had barely registered a touch inside City for the opening half-hour, but were inches away from an equalizer 10 minutes before half-time when a piledriver from Toni Kroos rattled the crossbar.
Bernardo Silva of Manchester City, second left, celebrates scoring with teammates during the Champions League semi-final second leg match between Manchester City and Real Madrid at Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Wednesday May 17, 2023 . Photo Credit: AP
Just as Madrid were starting to settle, City grabbed the second goal, having dominated the first half.
In-form Ilkay Gundogan was denied May’s fifth goal by Eder Militão’s block, but the ball went into the net unguarded for Silva.
Haaland scored another blistering effort and Courtois denied Silva an unlikely hat-trick as City’s attacks continued in waves before the break.
But he had to show a different side of his game at the start of the second half to withstand Madrid’s response and ensure there was no repeat of last season’s late drama between the sides.
The closest he came to a real lifeline was David Alaba’s dipping free-kick which was turned over by Ederson.
Julian Alvarez of Manchester City celebrates scoring his fourth goal. , Photo credit: Action Images via Reuters
Courtois at the other end continued to win his individual battle with Haaland by curling the Norwegian’s shot over the bar.
But City won the battle to go within a match of completing a turnaround in the club’s fortunes since the Abu Dhabi-backed takeover in 2008.
The next blow for the Spanish giants was self-inflicted as Militão deflected off Courtois’ Manuel Akanchi’s header 15 minutes from time.
Haaland was replaced by Alvarez two minutes from the end and the Argentine World Cup winner needed to make a mark after he headed home from Phil Foden’s pass.