A year ago
The treble-chasing team of Pep Guardiola defeated the European Champions to secure a spot in the Istanbul championship game.
Manchester City is enjoying its return to the Champions League final after destroying league leaders Real Madrid in one of the club's all-time great displays.
At the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, Pep Guardiola's treble-chasing team defeated the 14-time European champions 4-0, securing a 5-1 overall victory and a spot in the championship game in Istanbul next month.
The victory was as clear-cut as the score indicates, with Madrid finding it difficult to match City's speed and strength and grateful to goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois for averting a larger landslide.
With two goals in the first half, Bernardo Silva put City in position to face Inter Milan in the championship game. Eder Militao then scored into his own net, and Julian Alvarez tacked on a late fourth goal.
City will now attempt to win the trophy and atone for their defeat in the 2021 championship game as part of what would be a magnificent treble.
If they defeat Chelsea to win the Premier League and go to the FA Cup final against Manchester United on June 3, the first of those trophies may be won on Sunday.
"In the Premier League, we are close, but we know we need one more game," stated City boss Guardiola.
"In the finals, we compete against a team from Italy and our neighbors. The current season is excellent. We must now lift it. We are going to try, of course, and we are near.
The first leg of the semifinal match against Madrid last week at the Bernabeu Stadium had been a close match.
For extended periods of time, City had possession, but Real were more incisive on the counterattack.
This time, City made sure that their rivals couldn't just relax and enjoy the pressure. The Spanish giants were unable to handle their speed and mobility since they were much more dynamic.
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