Manchester succeeded in revenge for last year’s semi-final, in which Real succeeded and subsequently dominated the entire competition. City will play in the Champions League final for the second time in their history and will be looking for their first ever triumph. Their opponent in the fight for the winning trophy will be Inter Milan on June 10 in Istanbul. Real suffered the biggest defeat in the Champions League since 2009 and the 0-4 debacle with Liverpool will not add to the record fifteenth overall championship in the prestigious competition.
While City started with the same line-up as a week ago, Real coach Ancelotti made one change, replacing Rüdiger with Militao following a booking. The coach of the “White Ballet” coached the 50th game in the Champions League on the bench of the Madrid team and the 191st overall in the competition, breaking the record of the legendary Ferguson.
As in the opening match a week ago in Madrid, City had the upper hand and much more possession from the start. In the 13th minute, the leader of the scoring table of the competition, Haaland, was the first to threaten, but he did not add the thirteenth goal in the Champions League season, as he hit Courtois with his head from close range. Real’s goalkeeper made a great effort against the Norwegian gunner even in the 21st minute, when he tipped his header into the corner.
In two minutes, the favorite was leading. The author of the equalizing goal from the opening duel, De Bruyne pushed Silva out with a perpendicular and he shot past Courtois from the side. Real could equalize in the 35th minute, when Kroos hit the crossbar with a long-range shot with a light flow of the home goalkeeper Ederson. It was the guests’ only shot attempt in the entire first half.
In the next two minutes, the home team increased the score. Gündogan’s shot was blocked by the defense, but the chasing Silva hit a header right at the right post of the open goal. The Portuguese attacking midfielder became the third player to score twice in a Champions League semi-final against Real.
City have won 18 of the last 19 matches of the prestigious competition, in which they led by at least two goals at the break, on the other hand, the “White Ballet” have never overturned a two-goal deficit after the first half in the Champions League. The balance of both teams was valid this time as well. Also because, in the 51st minute, Ederson took a free kick shot by visiting Alaba.
Real added after the change of sides, but the home team did not let him have more chances. On the contrary, in the 73rd minute, Haaland could have made the final decision, but even this time he did not get the first goal in this year’s semifinals, as Courtois pulled his not-so-successful shot onto the crossbar.
In the next three minutes, City celebrated for the third time, De Bruyne’s cross from a free kick was easily deflected by Akinji and Militao knocked the ball into his own net. A year ago, Real turned the semi-final against City at the very end, but this time there was no revenge to dramatize. In the 83rd minute, Ederson struck against both Benzema and Ceballos.
Manchester confirmed their excellent current form. He did not lose even in the twelfth match of this season’s Champions League and stretched his unbeaten streak to 23 competitive matches. City can still dream of winning the treble – they are one step away from the title in the Premier League and also face the final of the domestic cup. On the contrary, Real did not knock out the third English opponent in a row after progressing through Liverpool and Chelsea in the previous rounds.
2023-05-17 20:54:45
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