Manchester City has a foot and a half in the semifinals after setting a match worthy of a champion. In the press conference prior to the duel, coach Pero Guardiola said that Michael Jordan barely won six NBA rings in his 16 career seasons. This City, like this, has no rival to win the title.
Manchester City and Bayern played the first leg of a tie that honors football. The key between both European giants was decided in the first leg for the cityzen (3-0) thanks to a great goal from Rodri, Guardiola’s extension on the green and a player without whom it would not be understood how this blue machine works that was expanded with goals from Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland in the second half.
Tuchel’s new Bayern came out onto the Etihad pitch without Joao Cancelo, without Müller and without Mané and even so they were able to stand up to an English team that had to give thanks to a great Ederson.
The Brazilian goalkeeper, who is always haunted by an aura of insecurity, vindicated himself with a succession of saves that managed to keep a clean sheet despite numerous attempts by a Bavarian team that traveled to England with the intention of getting something positive.
The defender Upamecano became a nightmare behind for Bayern. The French central defender remained insecure throughout the match. It is true that he could not do anything in the 1-0, but Bernardo Silva’s 2-0 is all his fault for losing the ball coming from behind and leading to a cityzen play that began with a Grealish heel, recovered for the sky blue cause , continued in Haaland who this time acted as a delivery man to put a measured ball on the head of Bernardo Silva.
The Swiss goalkeeper Sommer avoided Julián Álvarez’s 3-0 lead, but he could do nothing against the push from Guardiola’s men, who smelled blood and went for it. They found it by means of -almost- always. Haaland added his 6th goal in 8 games against Bayern, 11th in this Champions League. In addition, the Norwegian removed his particular thorn: it is the first match that he has beaten the Bavarians after the previous seven defeats.
He also added his 45th goal among all competitions this season. According to Opta, it is the first time in history that a Premier League player has reached that figure.
Madrid sees it easy against Chelsea
Real Madrid and Chelsea cross paths for the third consecutive year. The team that won the tie was proclaimed champion of the Champions League in the last two editions.
The London team was Madrid’s ‘black beast’ until they were defeated in the first leg of last year’s quarterfinal at Stamford Bridge (1-3). It is the team that has faced Real Madrid on more than five occasions and has the lowest percentage of defeats, 14%, only one in seven matches.
It is the nineteenth time that Real Madrid has reached the quarterfinals of the Champions League. He is on a good streak after overcoming the last ten times he has played it. If he succeeds, he will reach his eleventh semifinal in thirteen seasons.
