Bernardo Silva’s first-half double inspired Manchester City to a dominant 4-0 victory over Real Madrid to book a place in the Champions League final
Resuming after a 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu last week, Pep Guardiola’s side made all the early running as they were roared on by a raucous home crowd.
The reigning European champions were indebted to goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois for two magnificent close-range stops from Erling Haaland but the Belgium goalkeeper had no chance when Kevin De Bruyne’s through ball caught Carlo Ancelotti’s side napping and Silva smashed home.
Madrid responded well to going behind and Toni Kroos clattered the crossbar from long range before Courtois saved from Ilkay Gundogan and could only look on as the diminutive Silva headed into his net.
Man City 4-0 Real Madrid (Agg. 5-1)as Citizens reach Champions League final in style
Man City vs Real Madrid final score
| 2nd Half | Goalscorers | |
| MCI | 4 | Silva ’23, ’37, Militao (OG)’76, Alvarez’90 |
| RMA | 0 |
Man City win 5-1 on aggregate
Lineups:
Man City (3-2-4-1, right to left): 31-Ederson — 2-Kyle Walker, 3-Ruben Dias, 25-Manuel Akanji — 5-John Stones, 16-Rodri — 20-Bernardo Silva, 8-Ilkay Gundogan, 17-Kevin De Bruyne, 10-Jack Grealish — 9-Erling Haaland
Real Madrid (4-3-3, right to left): 1-Thibaut Courtois (GK) — 2-Dani Carvajal, 3-Eder Militao, 4-David Alaba, 12-Eduardo Camavinga — 15-Federico Valverde, 8-Toni Kroos (11-Marco Asensio ’70), 10-Luka Modric (22-Antonio Rudiger ’63)— 21-Rodrygo Goes, 9-Karim Benzema, 20-Vinicius Junior
The visitors enjoyed more of the ball after halftime as City played with composure and control, eager to avoid the sort of unravelling that took them down spectacularly against these opponents last season.
Ederson saved well from a David Alaba free-kick but his opposite number was forced into more heroics when Ilkay Gundogan’s backheel released Haaland and he diverted the shot against the top of his crossbar with his leg.
Madrid’s race was conclusively run inside the final quarter of an hour when Camavinga was booked for a crude foul on Jack Grealish and Eder Militao diverted Kevin De Bruyne’s free-kick into his own net.
Julian Alvarez replaced Haaland and combined with fellow substitutes Riyad Mahrez and Phil Foden to put the icing on the cake and book City’s tickets to Istanbul.