UCL: How Man City humbled Real Madrid

One spectacular goal apiece in the Bernabeu last week had left the tie delicately poised and there was quality everywhere you looked.

SkySports says City were looking to reach the final for the second time in three seasons but they were up against the 14-time champions of Europe.

There was an atmosphere to match the occasion. Pyrotechnics as the team bus arrived at the stadium. Boos for the Champions League anthem, of course, but a raucous mood thereafter with supporters desperate to see their side take down European royalty.

What followed was a one-sided game from the first whistle.

Pep Guardiola made no changes to the Manchester City team that drew in Madrid with Riyad Mahrez, Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez among the high-profile substitutes.

Carlo Ancelotti made one change to the Real Madrid team that drew in the Bernabeu with Eder Militao returning in place of Antonio Rudiger.

Erling Haaland had been kept surprisingly quiet by the dogged Antonio Rudiger in the Spanish capital but Militao’s availability saw the Germany international defender drop to the bench. And the job of shutting out the City striker had only been half done.

Inside 13 minutes, he would have put City ahead but for an unlikely stop by Thibaut Courtois with his body. Soon after, Haaland was denied again by the outstretched arm of the Real Madrid goalkeeper. Courtois kept him out again late on but he could not deny City for long.

Guardiola’s side had dominated the early proceedings in the first leg but the lesson of that game had been that appearances can be deceptive. Ancelotti’s team have demonstrated repeatedly that they have the self-confidence to wait for their opening.

There was a warning or two. Vinicius Junior briefly finding space in behind Kyle Walker only for the City defender to show his recovery pace. Toni Kroos came even closer to scoring when striking the crossbar with Madrid’s only attempt of the opening 45 minutes.

But those moments aside, there was no hint of quiet control from Ancelotti’s side. They were not biding their time. They were being swamped. The second goal brought a fairer reflection of the gulf, Silva nodding in after Ilkay Gundogan’s shot was blocked.

Madrid’s best bits were isolated and individual efforts, David Alaba’s wicked shot being tipped over by Ederson. City were slicker, the only surprise being that their third goal was not a thing of beauty. Militao put the ball into his own net from Kevin De Bruyne’s free-kick.

That brought Poznan-style celebrations in the stands that turned into childlike joy when Alvarez slotted in the fourth. These fans expect something to go wrong in this competition. This was a complete performance, maybe even a passing of the baton in European football.

Having already overcome Bayern Munich in the quarter-final, now another heavyweight of the European game has succumbed to this City side. Inter await in Istanbul next month. The likelihood of that being the night they complete an historic treble is increasing.

Carlo: City deserved it | Pep: Three games away

Ancelotti accepted that City were worthy winners. “I think tonight Manchester City deserved to win because they played better than us,” he said. “Last season was different. They were better than us [tonight] as last season we were better than them.”

Asked where he ranks this performance, Guardiola could not have been clearer. “The highest,” he replied. “Considering the opponent, Real Madrid in the semi-final of the Champions League. We had to perform well and we did, especially in the first half.”

He added: “I had the feeling these last days that we had the mix of calm and tension. After 10 or 15 minutes, I had the feeling that all the pain of last season was there today. It was so tough last season … We had to swallow everything.”

That was a reference to the stunning defeat in the Bernabeu at this stage one year ago when City contrived to surrender a two-goal lead with just minutes remaining. His players’ character was criticised. “We accepted defeat and today we were there.”

Guardiola has been reluctant to discuss the possibility of the treble but did concede that it was natural for it to be in the players’ minds as his team close in on an historic achievement for the club. “It is normal,” he said. “We are three games away.”

One more win in the Premier League will retain that title. Manchester United await them in the FA Cup final at Wembley. Secure those results and the treble can be won with victory over Inter.

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