Manchester City has reached the UEFA Champions League final after a stunning 4-0 victory over 14-time winners Real Madrid at Etihad Stadium. City secured a 5-1 aggregate win over the holders of the competition to set up a contest with Inter Milan in Istanbul. This victory was a sign of football perfection, and City’s supporters were treated to a majestic display of control, purpose, and execution. Pep Guardiola’s team was irresistible, and they undressed Real Madrid, a club with the most storied history in European football.
The game’s story was Kyle Walker versus Vinicius Junior Mk II, the subplot that pundits had predicted. However, it was hard to judge the contest when only one of the combatants was playing. Vinicius, the Brazilian forward, was tangibly unsettled by the early flow of the game, and he was slogging through Manchester mud for most of the match. In contrast, Walker proved too quick and too strong for Vinicius, and his recovery pace caught up with the Brazilian, making a crucial tackle that prevented him from going through on goal.
The pivotal moment in the game occurred when City scored their first goal, which felt like a turning point. City had been so dominant up until that point that not scoring would have fed into the belief that City and the competition are just destined never to get along. However, City’s control of the game was a masterclass from Guardiola’s team, probably their best-ever performance, andit was a sign of their dominance in Europe. City has been the best side in Europe for quite some time, and they have already beaten the best team in Germany, Bayern Munich, in this year’s quarter-finals. Now, they have put the second-best team in Spain in their place, and all that remains is a contest with the third-best team in Italy.
Guardiola’s legacy at City is already secure, but he still has one more hurdle to climb, one more step to take. City’s four-goal victory against Real Madrid was a remarkable achievement, and it has boosted their chances of winning the treble. They are one win away from securing their seventh Premier League title, and they face Manchester United in the FA Cup final on 3 June. Anything half as good as their performance against Real Madrid against Inter in Istanbul next month, and City’s Champions League curse will finally be cast aside. City’s supporters will be hoping that their team can continue their excellent form and claim all three trophies to cap off a remarkable season.
