Champions League Semi-finals: How Man City Whitewashed Real Madrid 4:0 (Analysis, Photos)
The Manchester City, the leading English Premiership Club has whitewashed Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium, humbling the with 4 goals to nothing.
In the first half, the Manchester City well tutored Pep Guardiola’s boys did not leave anyone in doubt that they were ready for business.
In the first half they boys totally outclassed the Ancelotti tutored boys as they capped it with 2 spectacular goals coming from the boot of Bernardo Silva a Portuguese international. The goals came at 23 and 37 minutes respectively.
In the second half of the European Champions League semi-finals, the goal tally was increased to 3 with an own-goal against Real Madrid at 74tthe minute from the flight of M. Akanji.
Compounding the woes of the visiting Champions leagues champions, J Alvarez sank the humbled Real Madrid with a cunning finish at 91 minute, leaving the outgoing European champions.
With this result it is confirmed that Manchester City FC shall be facing Inter Milan for finals on June 10, 2023.
The first leg of the semi-finals at the Madrid, Man. City also got one all draw, reducing pressure around the players.
Player ratings Man City: Ederson (7), Walker (8), Stones (7), Dias (7), Akanji (7), Rodri (7), Gundogan (7), De Bruyne (7), Silva (9), Grealish (8), Haaland (6).Subs: Mahrez (n/a), Foden (6). Alvarez (7).Real Madrid: Courtois (7), Carvajal (4), Militao (4), Alaba (4), Camavinga (5), Valverde (5), Kroos (6), Modric (5), Rodrygo (4), Benzema (4), Vinicius Jr (4).Subs: Rudiger (5), Asensio (5), Tchouameni (n/a).
Player of the match: Bernardo Silva
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.
“We are close and of course we are going to try.”
Man City’s historic win in stats
Manchester City have reached the Champions League final for the second time, previously doing so in 2020-21.Pep Guardiola became the third manager to win 100 Champions League matches, after Carlo Ancelotti (107) and Alex Ferguson (102).
This was the joint biggest margin of victory in a single Champions League semi-final match, and Real Madrid’s joint biggest defeat in any round of the competition.
Manchester City have scored 31 goals in the Champions League this season, their most in a single campaign in the competition. Bernardo Silva became the third player to score two or more goals in a Champions League semi-final match against Real Madrid, after Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski.
Jack Grealish created three chances for Man City, taking his Champions League tally for the season to 35. It is the most of any player this term, and the most on record (since 2003-04) by an English player in a single campaign.
Guardiola has reached the Champions League final for the fourth time with Ancelotti the only manager to reach more in the history of the European Cup.
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