Leading 5-1 on aggregate, going to the 2nd final in history…Challenge for the first win on the 11th of next month
(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Ahn Hong-seok = English professional soccer Manchester City (Man City) won a huge 4-point victory over Spain’s giant Real Madrid at home and left only one win to win the first European Football Association (UEFA) Champions League (UCL). put
Man City beat Real Madrid 4-0 with Bernardo Silva’s multi-goal in the second leg of the 2022-2023 UCL semifinal held at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England on the 18th (hereinafter Korean time).
Man City, who drew 1-1 in the first leg played on the 10th away, reached the final with a total lead of 5-1 in the first and second leg.
Man City defeated AC Milan 3-0 on aggregate and clashed with Inter Milan (above Italy), who advanced to the final, on the 11th of next month in Turkey, Istanbul for the championship cup ‘Big Year’.
The two teams have never faced each other in official matches, and have faced each other twice in pre-season friendly competitions, with a record of 1 win and 1 loss.
Man City took a golden opportunity to end the ‘UCL Cruelty’ by succeeding in advancing to the final for the second time in history following the 2020-2021 season, when it lost to Chelsea and finished runner-up.
After being acquired by the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2008, Man City has established itself as a strong player by winning six championships in the Premier League (EPL), but it has hardly been able to stand on the top in the UCL stage.
The same was true even after appointing coach Pep Guardiola, who commanded FC Barcelona (Spain) to win the UCL twice, as the command tower in 2016.
In particular, it became smaller when meeting Real Madrid, who showed an exceptionally strong appearance in UCL.There were only two experiences of kneeling against Real Madrid in the semifinals, but this time, the ‘jinx’ was clearly erased.
Man City, which leads the EPL and is also in the FA Cup final of the English Football Association, is one step closer to achieving the treble (three crowns).
It was only once so far that an EPL club achieved a treble including winning the UCL.Manchester United (Man United) in the 1988-1999 season led by Alex Ferguson is the first and last.
Real Madrid, which has stopped trying to win the UCL for the 15th time in its career, has to be content with collecting one Copa del Rey (King’s Cup) trophy this season.La Liga is won by FC Barcelona.
On this day, Man City suffocated Real Madrid with a perfect performance in the first half.
In the 23rd minute of the first half, Kevin Debrawiner’s penetrating pass was finished by Silva on the right side of the goal area with a strong shot aimed at the near goalpost to score the first goal.
Even 13 minutes later, Silva tasted the goal.When Ilkay Gundogan’s shot bounced off a defender, Silva headed it again to make it 2-0.
In the 36th minute of the second half, Manuel Akanji’s header following De Bruyne’s free kick cross hit Real Madrid’s body and went into the goal.This was recorded as a goal by Akanji.
Manchester City celebrated their run to the final in the 46th minute of the second half with Julian Alvarez’s key goal following Phil Foden’s penetrating pass.