The Mancunians crush the Merengues and reach Inter in the final

This time Real Madrid didn’t work miracles. A year after toppling Manchester City against all odds in the semi-finals of the Champions League, Real Madrid were eliminated by Cityzens (4-0) on Wednesday 17 May at the same stage of the competition. Thanks to a splendid first period rewarded with two goals from Bernardo Silva (23rd, 37th), and two goals at the end of the match from Manuel Akanji (76th) and Julian Alvarez (90th +1), Manchester City offered the right to participate in the C1 final against Inter on 10 June in Istanbul.

After 2021 and the failure in the final against Chelsea (0-1), Pep Guardiola will therefore have a new chance to win his first C1 since 2011. A football revolutionary, often unhappy in recent years when the competition comes to an end, the City The coach has set up a steamroller this season, capable of bringing the reigning European champions to their knees, without them being able to compete.

Courtois frustrated Haaland though

The first 45 minutes proved it and the Madrileños tasted it, because City never gave up the ball, made ten times more passes than their opponents in the first quarter of an hour (124 to 13) and found the way through thanks to the first goal by Bernardo Silva (23rd). The Portuguese rarely disappoints in big events and compensated for the clumsiness of Erling Haaland, the top scorer frustrated by a spectacular Thibaut Courtois in front of the Norwegian despite the defeat (13th, 21st, 73rd).

During this first period spent in apnea, Real Madrid was able to breathe for five short minutes. Time to touch the ball and see Ederson clear Toni Kroos’ long-range shot (35th) onto his crossbar. But just out of the water, Real found the abyss with Silva’s second goal (37th).

The ordeal eased in the second half for the Merengues, because City chose to make the match more balanced by giving them more ball. But you shouldn’t let the raw statistics fool you: The gap was big, too big. The score didn’t reflect it, until Akanji’s goal (76th) then Julian Alvarez, with his first ball, right at the end of the game (90th + 1).

Big city favorite against Inter in the final

Faced with the Cityzens masterpiece, which will be remembered for a long time, Real Madrid and its captain Karim Benzema, powerless tonight, could only bow down. Without ever believing in the miracles that led him to victory in the Champions League last year. The final therefore belongs to Manchester City who will play it on 10 June in Istanbul, against Inter. Against the Nerazzurri, the Cityzens will undoubtedly be the big favourites.

Pep Guardiola and Manchester City were already, to a lesser extent, in the final loss in 2021 against Chelsea. The Mancunese club then discovered these Champions Cup peaks and, despite their Catalan leadership, had been dazed. The two return, this time determined to achieve what their fates have linked to in 2016: lifting the Big Ears Cup. More than ever, and Wednesday’s demonstration against Real proves it, this year seems to be Manchester City.