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UEFA Champions League

Champions League turns unrealistic for Real; crumble miserably at City!

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Champions League - Semi Final - Second Leg - Manchester City v Real Madrid - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - May 17, 2023 Manchester City's Julian Alvarez celebrates scoring their fourth goal with Phil Foden, Rodri, Ruben Dias and Riyad Mahrez Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

Bernardo Silva scored twice as Manchester City advanced to the Champions League final with a 4-0 win against Real Madrid on Wednesday.

City will play Inter Milan in Istanbul on June 10 when Pep Guardiola will get the chance to win European soccer’s elite competition for the third time as a coach.

Bernardo scored in the 23rd and 37th minutes at Etihad Stadium, with Eder Militao’s own goal in the 76th and a stoppage-time strike from substitute Julian Alvarez sealing a 5-1 aggregate win.

City is aiming to lift the Champions League for the first time in its history and has advanced to the final for the second time in three seasons.

Madrid was going in search of a record-extending 15th European Cup, but was totally dominated in the second leg after the first match at the Santiago Bernabeu ended 1-1.

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Bernardo beat Thibaut Courtois at his near post to put City ahead after Erling Haaland had already forced two saves from the Madrid goalkeeper.

Toni Kroos then hit the bar for the visitors, but Bernardo struck again when heading in a rebound after Ilkay Gundogan’s effort was blocked.

Madrid have been the comeback kings over the past two season — including in last year’s semifinal against City when going through 6-5 after extra time.

There was to be no repeat on this occasion, however, as Militao headed into his own net in the second half to end Madrid’s hopes, before Alvarez’ late strike.

Guardiola twice won the Champions League when coach of Barcelona, but has failed to add to that total at former club Bayern Munich or City.

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-AP

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.