Manchester City defeated Real Madrid 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium to book a date with Italian giants Inter Milan in the 2023 Champions League finals while keeping their treble hopes alive.
Two goals from Bernardo Silva in the first half, an own goal from Eder Militao after the break, and a late fourth goal from replacement Julian Alvarez all contributed to the rout of the current European champions.
Next month’s final between City and Inter Milan in Istanbul might end up being the final leg of the treble if they also win the Premier League and FA Cup. Just three victories separate Pep Guardiola’s squad from matching a feat that has only ever been accomplished in English football once, by Manchester United in 1999.
Courtois made an outstanding save to stop an Erling Haaland header from the penalty spot to keep Madrid in the game early on. Soon after, he was back at it, lunging fully extended to thwart another Haaland attempt.
Bernardo Silva found himself unmarked in the box and scored City’s first goal from close range, but he was helpless to stop it. Before the break, the playmaker for Portugal added a second, neatly heading the ball into the far corner.
After the break, Madrid made various adjustments and gradually re-entered the game. However, they failed to produce a clear chance and didn’t do enough off the ball to stop City from putting together their own offensive attempts.
The game was effectively over when the home team scored their third goal, this time on a deflected header that touched Eder Militao’s shoulder.
It became a thrashing after a fourth from Julian Alvarez in stoppage time. Losing might be the end of Madrid’s reign of terror in the Champions League. And Modric, who is now 37, may have witnessed his final significant opportunity to win European glory vanish into the Manchester night.
