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Match Report: Manchester City 4-0 Real Madrid (Aggregate: 5-1) UEFA Champions League Semi-Final Second Leg

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Manchester City picked up a massive 4-0 (aggregate: 5-1) win over Real Madrid to book their spot in the Champions League final.

The two teams locked horns at the Etihad Stadium in the second leg of the semi-final, as Manchester City looked to get their revenge against Real Madrid for halting their Champions League campaign last season at the same stage. 

Both teams walked out to deafening noise, welcomed by the home crowd draped in blue and white flags.

After drawing against Real Madrid with one goal a piece in the first leg, Pep Guardiola demanded the highest standards from his players, and they delivered. City kicked off the game on a dominant note, creating quickfire chances within the first ten minutes of the game, but Thibaut Courtois stood his ground. 

Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva ran riots on the left and right flanks to stretch the Real Madrid defense. Close to the 25-minute mark, Kevin De Bruyne passed a delicious through ball to Bernardo Silva inside the opponent’s box, setting up the Portuguese midfielder for City’s opening goal.

Silva, who often reserves himself from shooting, stunned the Madrid defense as he drove the ball into the right slot from a close range.

Ten minutes later, Toni Kroos rattled the goalpost with a powerful strike from a distance. However, the hosts were quick to respond as Jack Grealish found Ilkay Gundogan with a sublime pass, and the latter played a low through ball inside the box. 

The ball slightly deflected off Eder Militao and reached Bernardo Silva, who positioned himself perfectly under it for a header. The angle of the shot betrayed Courtois, and before he knew it, Silva had doubled City’s lead. 

City did not carry the same intensity into the opening minutes of the second half, which allowed Real Madrid to enjoy a brief dominant spell. However, the La Lga side could not capitalize on their chance. 

The other side of the pitch saw Grealish win a foul just outside the box. De Bruyne made a beautiful cross from the freekick spot that met Manuel Akanji at the other end, who headed the ball past Courtois to make it three for City.

Real Madrid created a few chances sporadically in the second half but Ederson did well to keep the ball from crossing over the goal line. Erling Haaland saw two of his shots on target denied, once by Courtois and the other by the post. The final minutes of the match saw Pep replace Haaland with Julian Alvarez, who scored the fourth goal for City with his first touch.

The memorable night ended with the Blues picking up a statement win over 14-time Champions League winners to reach the competition’s final for the second time in history.

Manchester City will face Inter Milan in the final on June 11 in Istanbul as they continue their hunt for a first Champions League trophy.

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