Manchester City delivered a relentless performance laced with outstanding quality to overpower holders Real Madrid and reach the Champions League final against Inter Milan in Istanbul.
City have lost two previous semi-finals to Real but they made no mistake here at a joyous Etihad Stadium to now stand one step away from claiming the trophy that has always stayed tantalisingly out of reach for Pep Guardiola’s team.
And their display in a magical first half, in particular, will live long in the memory as the masters of this tournament were left bewildered by City’s brilliance.
It maintained a seemingly unstoppable march towards a treble of Champions League, Premier League – which can be won with victory at home to Chelsea on Sunday – and the FA Cup, where they play Manchester United in the final at Wembley.
Real keeper Thibaut Courtois performed heroics to save two Erling Haaland headers early in the first half but he was powerless to stop Bernardo Silva’s close-range finish after 23 minutes, the Portugal midfielder scoring a looping header for the second eight minutes before half-time.
City faced the occasional threats from Real after the break, Ederson saving well from David Alaba and Karim Benzema, but they were no match and when Manuel Akanji’s header deflected in off Eder Militao 14 minutes from time the celebrations started.
Substitute Julian Alvarez then wrapped up the dominant win with a late strike after latching onto a brilliant Phil Foden pass.
City will play Inter on 10 June as they look to win the Champions League for the first time.
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Who can stop Manchester City?
City have put themselves in a magnificent position to become only the English second club to win the Treble first claimed by Manchester United in 1999.
City look to have finally broken Arsenal in the Premier League title race and will be overwhelming favourites to beat Inter Milan, although the desire to keep this feat for themselves will provide fuel and inspiration for United in the FA Cup Final at Wembley.
Guardiola’s side have somehow found ways to miss out on the Champions League in the past but the addition of Haaland’s sheer menace as well as more defensive steel makes it difficult to see how they will not find a way past surprise finalists Inter.
City made a Real side full of experience and quality look several classes beneath them in a first half that will be among the finest this stadium has seen, the dazzling interplay, fierce intensity and pace giving them a two-goal advantage that would have been far more but for the excellence of Courtois.
This night had a special atmosphere even before kick-off and victory will taste even sweeter after the pain of last season’s loss at the same stage, when City were almost in the final only to concede two stoppage-time goals and eventually go out.
The Champions League has inflicted various levels of anguish on City despite their domestic dominance but if they perform anything like this in Istanbul it is hard to see an efficient but unspectacular Inter side having enough to trouble them.
More to follow.
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key1=Give it up10=Pure perfection
Manchester City
Starting XI
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Squad number31Player nameEderson -
Squad number3Player nameRúben Dias -
Squad number25Player nameAkanji
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Squad number2Player nameWalker -
Squad number8Player nameGündogan -
Squad number17Player nameDe Bruyne -
Squad number5Player nameStones -
Squad number16Player nameRodri
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Squad number10Player nameGrealish
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Squad number20Player nameBernardo Silva -
Squad number9Player nameHaaland
Substitutes
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Squad number19Player nameÁlvarez
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Squad number26Player nameMahrez -
Squad number47Player nameFoden
Real Madrid
Starting XI
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Squad number1Player nameCourtois
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Squad number2Player nameDani Carvajal
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Squad number3Player nameÉder Militão
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Squad number4Player nameAlaba
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Squad number12Player nameCamavinga
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Squad number15Player nameValverde
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Squad number8Player nameKroos
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Squad number10Player nameModric
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Squad number21Player nameRodrygo
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Squad number9Player nameBenzema
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Squad number20Player nameVinícius Júnior
Substitutes
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Squad number11Player nameAsensio
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Squad number17Player nameLucas Vázquez
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Squad number18Player nameTchouaméni
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Squad number19Player nameDani Ceballos
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Squad number22Player nameRüdiger
Line-ups
Man City
Formation 3-2-4-1
- 31Ederson
- 3Rúben DiasBooked at 50mins
- 25Akanji
- 2Walker
- 8GündoganBooked at 62minsSubstituted forMahrezat 79′minutes
- 17De BruyneSubstituted forFodenat 84′minutes
- 5Stones
- 16Rodri
- 10GrealishBooked at 90mins
- 20Bernardo Silva
- 9HaalandSubstituted forÁlvarezat 89′minutes
Substitutes
- 4Phillips
- 14Laporte
- 18Ortega
- 19Álvarez
- 21Gómez
- 26Mahrez
- 33Carson
- 47Foden
- 80Palmer
- 82Lewis
Real Madrid
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Courtois
- 2Carvajal RamosBooked at 55minsSubstituted forVázquezat 80′minutes
- 3Militão
- 4Alaba
- 12CamavingaBooked at 75minsSubstituted forTchouaméniat 80′minutes
- 15Valverde
- 8KroosSubstituted forAsensioat 70′minutes
- 10ModricSubstituted forRüdigerat 63′minutes
- 21RodrygoSubstituted forCeballosat 80′minutes
- 9Benzema
- 20Vinícius Júnior
Substitutes
- 5Vallejo
- 6Nacho
- 7E Hazard
- 11Asensio
- 13Lunin
- 16Odriozola
- 17Vázquez
- 18Tchouaméni
- 19Ceballos
- 22Rüdiger
- 23Mendy
- 24Mariano
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Manchester City 4, Real Madrid 0.
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Second Half ends, Manchester City 4, Real Madrid 0.
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Foul by Manuel Akanji (Manchester City).
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Marco Asensio (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Jack Grealish (Manchester City).
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Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Goal! Manchester City 4, Real Madrid 0. Julián Álvarez (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Phil Foden with a through ball.
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Jack Grealish (Manchester City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Jack Grealish (Manchester City).
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Éder Militão (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by David Alaba (Real Madrid).
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Substitution, Manchester City. Julián Álvarez replaces Erling Haaland.
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Foul by Bernardo Silva (Manchester City).
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Marco Asensio (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Substitution, Manchester City. Phil Foden replaces Kevin De Bruyne.
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Foul by Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City).
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Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Attempt saved. Dani Ceballos (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Lucas Vázquez.
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Attempt saved. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the centre of the goal.
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