Wednesday has been hailed as one of their best since Pep Guardiola’s arrival. The team’s exceptional performance was led by Bernardo Silva, who scored two first-half goals, while Manuel Akanji and Julian Alvarez added two more in the second half. City’s 4-0 win over the European champions secured their place in the Champions League final and highlighted their dominance this season.
Guardiola’s side is now just three wins away from becoming the second English team to win the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League in the same season. They will face Inter Milan in Istanbul in the Champions League final, and City’s current form suggests that they are unstoppable in their quest for a historic treble.
Real Madrid, on the other hand, suffered their joint-worst defeat in the competition, and their European magic finally ran out. Carlo Ancelotti and his team will need to regroup and address their struggles in La Liga this season to return to their former glory in the Champions League.
City’s exceptional performance against Real Madrid has cemented their position as one of the best teams in Europe. The team’s next 24 days will decide the success of their season, and they will look to add three more pieces of silverware to their trophy cabinet.
WINNER: Bernardo Silva
Bernardo Silva was the standout player in Manchester City‘s dominant performance against Real Madrid on Wednesday, scoring two goals and leading the team’s attack. His exceptional performance came just days after reports that Paris Saint-Germain was interested in signing him, but Bernardo gave City every reason to keep him at the club.
Aside from his goals, Bernardo was at the heart of every move City made, weaving his way past Real Madrid’s defenders and creating opportunities for his team. His first goal came from an incisive pass from Kevin De Bruyne, which he hammered past Thibaut Courtois, who was in a confident mood. His second goal was equally impressive, as he followed up Ilkay Gundogan’s shot and glanced the ball into the net.
Bernardo’s performance was career-defining, and he became the first player in a decade to score twice against Real Madrid in a Champions League semi-final. With his contract running until 2025, City cannot afford to lose both him and Gundogan, who is also at the end of his contract. After a night like this, it shouldn’t be hard for Bernardo to get a new contract, especially with PSG calling.
LOSER: Madrid midfield
The Madrid midfield was the biggest loser in their defeat against Manchester City on Wednesday. Despite being experienced players, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric went missing in action, unable to cope with the relentless City press. Modric gave the ball away from the first minute, while Kroos was exposed in transition when Madrid didn’t have the ball. Fede Valverde was also nowhere to be found.
This performance was uncharacteristic of the Madrid midfield, who have survived many difficult matches in the past. However, on this occasion, they were unable to match City’s intensity and were outplayed in all areas of the pitch.
Madrid will need to address their midfield issues if they are to regain their form in the Champions League. While reinforcements such as Jude Bellingham and Aurelien Tchouameni may be on the way, the current trio of Modric, Kroos, and Valverde fell apart on Wednesday.
WINNER: Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola was the winner of Manchester City’s dominant performance against Real Madrid on Wednesday. The Catalan coach has suffered some of the worst moments of his coaching career against Real Madrid in the past, including a 5-0 aggregate thrashing when he was coach of Bayern Munich in 2014. However, he stuck with what he knew best and trusted his players to make no mistake this time.
Guardiola’s tactical approach was not a one-off innovation, but rather a continuation of what City has been doing all season. In particular, City has been blowing teams out of the water in the last three months, with impressive victories over Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham, Arsenal, RB Leipzig, Bayern Munich, and now Real Madrid. Guardiola has been the mastermind behind all of these stunning results.
Despite joking that he wouldn’t overthink the game too much, Guardiola had a special plan for this match, and it worked to perfection. This was a truly special performance by City, and Guardiola deserves credit for his tactical approach and his ability to get the best out of his players.
LOSER: Eduardo Camavinga
Eduardo Camavinga was the biggest loser in Real Madrid’s defeat against Manchester City on Wednesday. The young midfielder has been playing out of position at left-back for nearly four months and, while he has done a fine job, he was finally exposed in this match.
Camavinga’s first big blunder as a full-back came on the biggest stage, as he was entirely lost when Bernardo Silva sneaked into the box for City’s opener. This revealed his clear issues at the position, as defending space, which he had to do in this match, has never been his strong suit. City exploited this weakness to their advantage, and Camavinga struggled to cope with their attacks.
After a night like this, Camavinga may want to be moved back to his more traditional spot as a defensive midfielder on a more permanent basis. This match highlighted his limitations at left-back, and he may need to work on that aspect of his game if he is to succeed in that position.
WINNER: The Etihad faithful
The Etihad faithful were the winners in Manchester City‘s dominant performance against Real Madrid on Wednesday. City’s fans have faced criticism in the past for the quiet atmosphere at the Etihad Stadium and wavering attendances, but they have helped turn their stadium into an unforgiving place for visiting teams in recent times.
On this night, thousands of fans greeted the arrival of the team bus with deafening chants and thick blue smoke, setting the tone for the evening. The fans sang along to Blue Moon and Hey Jude before kick-off, and matched the team’s relentless intensity throughout the game. Madrid, who had fought their way back into the tie last year with the help of the Santiago Bernabeu crowd, wilted under the pressure of the Etihad faithful.
Guardiola had said before the game that he knew the fans would not leave the team alone and would be with them in the tough moments. While there were no tough moments in this match, the fans kept singing anyway, and their support undoubtedly helped City secure a historic victory over Real Madrid.
LOSER: Inter
Inter were the biggest losers in Manchester City‘s dominant performance against Real Madrid on Wednesday. As the next opponents for City in the Champions League final, Inter face a daunting task, and few will give them a chance based on the evidence of this game.
Although Inter has enjoyed a fine second half of the season and has had success in cup competitions this year, they don’t seem any more equipped to beat City than Madrid. While Simone Inzaghi will undoubtedly have a plan and come into the game believing he has a team that is capable of winning, surrendering to City or settling for a point may seem like a more agreeable option.
However, as football has shown, anything can happen in the game, and it would be a disservice to rule out Inter altogether. Nonetheless, the evidence of City’s dominance against Madrid suggests that Inter faces a formidable challenge in the Champions League final.