Manchester City stormed into the Champions League final for the second time in three seasons with a dominant 4-0 victory over reigning champions Real Madrid, securing an impressive 5-1 aggregate win in front of a lively crowd at the Etihad Stadium.
Bernardo Silva‘s first-half double put City in control against the 14-time European champions on Wednesday night.
An own goal by Eder Militao after the break and a late fourth from Julian Alvarez sealed the deal for Pep Guardiola’s side as they avenged last year’s semi-final loss.
With Inter Milan awaiting in the final, City will now be huge favourites to finally deliver the trophy Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Mansour has craved since buying the club in 2008, having lost to Chelsea two years ago.
Mail Sport’s JACK GAUGHAN takes a look at some of the things you may have missed.
Bernardo Silva ‘s first-half double put Manchester City in control against Real Madrid
Silva pumps up the crowd
Bernardo Silva will always be regarded as a cult hero.
There is something unique about a player who wants to ply his trade in a different country for so long continuing to operate at this high a level.
Beyond that, he knows what makes the fans tick.
Silva had set the tone before his goals by agitating Eduardo Camavinga and generally acting a bit chippy, which pumped up the crowd further.
De Bruyne cops verbal blast from Pep
You’re never too far away from a Guardiola touchline scolding and Kevin De Bruyne copped for it after attempting a blind pass down the line to nobody, gambling on an Erling Haaland run.
The manager was livid, screaming for quite a while, and was treated to some back by De Bruyne.
The Belgian launched into a very brief tirade at his boss while pressing the ball — good multitasking — and Guardiola promptly slunk back to his seat.
Kevin de Bruyne and Pep Guardiola clashed but all was forgiven when the midfielder came off
Early onslaught stuns Real
Carlo Ancelotti did call City’s early dominance but even so, Real were completely dumfounded.
They barely left their own third in the first half (see heat map, right) attempting only 32 passes in the first 20 minutes and completing just half of them.
Ruben Dias was the only Man City outfielder not to have a shot at goal in the first half, while Madrid had one in total.
Stones on a roll
John Stones is so complete in this centre half-sitting midfielder role that it almost feels old hat now.
Barnsley Beckenbauer by name, Beckenbauer by nature. (See heatmap above)
Tardy VIPs almost cause a scene
Awkward scenes in the moments before City’s bus arrived to a raucous welcome outside the Colin Bell Stand.
A group of VIPs, chauffeured right up to the doors of the Tunnel Club hospitality entrance, left it late to enter. Their driver inside the Range Rover waved them off but then became stuck in front of a sea of blue shirts and pyrotechnics, struggling for a good 10 minutes to fight a way out.
The general make-up of supporters was of interest, with a sizeable number telling Mail Sport they were here for a rare trip.
Tickets were available to anybody who bought a ‘Cityzen’ membership and some were quicker off the mark than others.
Lillo’s wacky plans did not wear off on City boss
There has been a special guest of Pep Guardiola’s around Manchester City this week.
Juanma Lillo, his coaching mentor and assistant manager until last summer, took in training on the eve of this second leg and watched on from the stands on Wednesday night.
Lillo had a profound effect on Guardiola before leaving to take the Al Sadd job. The Qatari season finished last weekend and the 57-year-old accepted the opportunity to be around many of the players he coached at City.
Lillo is known for wacky tactical plans but that did not wear off on City’s boss, who made good on his promise not to ‘over-think’ and kept the selection simple.
Enzo Maresca came back to replace Lillo last summer, while Carlos Vicens is prominent too. Guardiola has always had to mix up his backroom staff.
