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Nana Amoah

A year ago

MAN CITY DEFEATS REAL MADRID 4-0 TO ADVANCE TO THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL

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A year ago



Manchester City marched into the Champions League final for the second time in three seasons after beating Real Madrid 4-0 and winning 5-1  at the Etihad Stadium. 

  Bernardo Silva's first-half brace put City in control against the 14-time European champions on Wednesday, while Eder Militao's own goal  after the break and Julian Alvarez's late four sealed the deal for Pep Guardiola's side as they avenged last year's upset. quarterfinal loss.  City are now unbeaten in 26 home games. That run was never in danger as Portugal attacking midfielder Silva curled a shot past Thibaut Courtois in the 23rd minute before scoring his side's second in the 37th minute. 

 The second half was almost a formality as reigning Real, looking to win the trophy for the sixth time in 10 seasons,  outplayed  a merciless City who came out on top. There was no way back for Carlo Ancelotti's side when Kevin De Bruyne's free-kick flew past Militao in the 76th minute.  Alvarez put the icing on the cake for City's memorable night  with a clinical finish when he came on as a late substitute for Erling Haaland.  There was anticipation and excitement in the City stronghold before kick-off, especially as the match was billed as a de facto final against Inter Milan - their first in 13 years despite a mediocre Serie A season - and it awaited the winners. 

  The line-up was almost identical to last week's 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, with the only change being Real's full-back, Milita replacing Antonio Rudiger. 

  Just like in the Spanish capital, City found themselves in an early stranglehold on Real, barely connecting two passes  and making it almost impossible for their side to escape. In the opening 20 minutes, Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois saved his team twice, saving Haaland's points, the first was a bit lucky, the second was amazing. 

 But City's pressure was relentless  and the breakthrough was short-lived as Silva curled a left-footed shot past Courtois from the right-hand side of the box - City's eighth  attempt on target in the 23rd minute. 

 It took Real half an hour to  attack and even then City's Kyle Walker won a sprint  with Vinicius Jr to snuff out the threat. Toni Kroos, one of five current Real players to have won the trophy five times with the Spanish club, then unleashed a right-footed shot that was glanced off the crossbar by City goalkeeper Ederson. 

 A one-goal lead was always going to be dangerous against league winners Real, but Silva ensured City went into half-time with one foot in the final, reacting quickest to head home Ilkay Gundogan's shot. City toyed with the 14-time champions for the rest of the half and could have been further ahead. 

  Real needed some magic to give them hope and got one almost  six minutes into the half when Ederson made an acrobatic save from David Alaba's rising free-kick. 

 Courtois did his best to equalize for Ancelotti's side and saved Haaland again as the Norwegian was left waiting for his incredible 53rd goal of the season.  

 But any thoughts of a repeat of last year's miraculous turnaround, when Real won 6-5 on aggregate, were quashed when Militao's De Bruyne's free-kick flashed into the net. 

  Alvarez then hit the bottom corner for the first time on the break. "It's a nice night for us," Silva told BT Sport. 

 "[The fans] helped us  go after Madrid. We were very persistent, passionate and organized." 

 

 With a place at the showpiece in  Istanbul  secured, City can clinch their fifth Premier League title in six seasons this weekend and  also have an FA Cup  to look forward to.

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