City Smashes Real Madrid to Reach UCL Final -By Shereefdeen Ahmad 

Manchester City have cemented a masterclass display after crushing Real Madrid 4-0 in the second-leg tie of the UEFA Champions League semi-final on Wednesday at the Etihad stadium to advance to the final on 5-1 aggregate. 

Bernardo Silva’s first-half brace, Eder Militao’s own goal and Julian Alvarez’s strike at the death minute were all the Premier League champions needed to knock out the 14th time title holders Real Madrid following a pulsating 1-1 contest in the first-leg clash last week. 

Unlike last season, the Los Blancos could not muster a moment of miraculous magic of staging an almighty comeback as Carlo Ancelotti’s men went 2-0 down before the break. 

Bernardo Silva placed the Citizens at the driver’s spot in the 23rd minute following an immaculate pass from Kelvin De Bruyne inside the area. The Portuguese star doubled City’s lead at the 37th minute, leaving the defending champions in utter despair in the first-half as they barely recorded an on target.

Real Madrid came back into the second-half in an electric mood, dominating their host but the pressure did not tell the hour before Eder Militao deflected Akanji’s header into his own net. 

Carlo Ancelotti’s men would have conceded more than the four goals but thanks to Thibaut Courtois who denied in-form Erling Halaand from scoring his 53rd goal of the season.

Julian Alvarez came up for Haaland at the stoppage time but it was only the few minutes needed before the World Cup winner added to the misery of Real Madrid, wrapping up the scoring 4-0. 

City and Pep Guordiola are still craving to lay their hands on the Champions League showpiece, needing just three points to clinch the English Premier League for the third consecutive time.

Manchester City will be eyeing forward to finally branding their name with the UCL title when they meet underdog Inter Milan in the final at Istanbul in June.