Man City 4-0 Real Madrid (Agg. 5-1): Player ratings as Citizens reach Champions League final in style
By Sean Walsh
Manchester City qualified for their second-ever Champions League final after thrashing Real Madrid 4-0 in the second leg of their semi-final on Wednesday.
Pep Guardiola's men were dominant throughout at the Etihad Stadium and are deserving of their place in Istanbul, where they will take on Inter for a chance at a maiden European Cup. Los Blancos were utterly outplayed and offered very little away from their cozy Santiago Bernabeu home.
City started very brightly and went close to taking the lead with seven minutes on the clock. Kevin De Bruyne managed to slip through Erling Haaland, but the Norwegian was forced wide by Thibaut Courtois despite rounding the goalkeeper. The ball eventually came back to Rodri, who danced his way past a couple of trailing legs before dragging a shot narrowly past the post.
The Etihad thought their hosts had notched themselves in front soon after when Jack Grealish's cross was headed down by Haaland and appeared destined for the net, only for the ball to ricochet back off Courtois' hip and bounce clear.
Courtois again came to Real Madrid's rescue with an even better save from another Haaland header, stretching his gangly frame to push the ball to safety.
But the pressure eventually told and City took the lead on 23 minutes. De Bruyne's clever pass inside found the run of Bernardo Silva, who shimmied to the left before firing in high at the near post.
Real Madrid showed few signs of life but they managed to make home supporters a little nervous when Toni Kroos thundered a strike off the crossbar from nearly 30 yards.
City sought that warning and went back down the other end to add their second of the evening. Grealish worked his way in from the right flank and teed up Ilkay Gundogan. His shot was blocked by Eder Militao but the rebound was headed in by Silva.
A driven shot from Manuel Akanji was blocked off the line by David Alaba in first-half stoppage time as Real Madrid managed to just about get into the break only two goals down.
After the break, the visitors gradually and gingerly found their footing, though were still unable to make significant headway. Alaba forced Ederson into a save with a stunning free-kick from a similar distance which Kroos struck the upright.
Courtois popped up with another top stop to keep the score down late on. Gundogan's back-heel was taken in stride by Haaland, whose low shot was turned onto the bar by the Real Madrid goalkeeper.
Man City found their third with 15 minutes left to play. De Bruyne's free-kick was nodded on by Akanji and then deflected into the net by the hapless Militao.
With the pressure off, Real Madrid at last forged a meaningful opening when they caught Man City cold on a quick breakaway. Substitute Dani Ceballos managed to get a shot away from a tight angle but it was beaten back by Ederson.
City completed the rout when Julian Alvarez came off the bench and scored their fourth, calmly finding the bottom corner and cinching their Champions League final berth.
Manchester City player ratings (3-2-4-1)
GK: Ederson - 6/10 - A spectator for the most part. Had the joy of sitting back and watching his side dominate the ball.
CB: Kyle Walker - 8/10 - Revealed pre-match that he feared becoming a meme because of his duels with Vinicius last week. Completely shut him down this time around with his still-searing pace.
CB: Ruben Dias - 7/10 - A little more reckless than his other defenders but that was understandable given he was largely in charge of breaking up quick transitions deep in Man City's own half.
CB: Manuel Akanji - 8/10 - Had the freedom of the left flank on occasion. Held his own and shut Rodrygo out of the game.
DM: John Stones - 7/10 - Flittered all over midfield trying to control possession and keep the ball in Man City's grasp.
DM: Rodri - 7/10 - Likewise had little problem ensuring that Real Madrid's wily veterans couldn't get into the midfield battle.
RM: Bernardo Silva - 10/10 - Hasn't always been a first-choice starter this season but silenced any critics tonight. A match-winning, tie-defining brace sent Man City to the final.
AM: Kevin De Bruyne - 9/10 - Whether playing short or long, De Bruyne proved his superiority up against some of the greatest midfielders of all time.
AM: Ilkay Gundogan - 8/10 - Popped up all over midfield linking play and advancing the ball, getting himself into goal-scoring situations frequently.
LM: Jack Grealish - 7/10 - Technical excellence. Danced away from Carvajal and was unlucky not to grab an assist at some point.
CF: Erling Haaland - 7/10 - Probably should have scored early on but he tormented Real Madrid with his movement. Militao could not repeat Rudiger's man-marking job.
Substitutes
Riyad Mahrez (79' for Gundogan) - N/A
Phil Foden (84' for De Bruyne) - N/A
Julian Alvarez (89' for Haaland) - N/A
Subs not used: Ortega, Carson, Laporte, Gomez, Lewis, Phillips, Palmer, Alvarez, Foden
Manager
Pep Guardiola - 10/10 - Perfection. Now has a chance to avenge Man City's 2021 woes.
Real Madrid player ratings (4-3-3)
GK: Thibaut Courtois - 7/10 - Did his very best to keep Real Madrid in the tie but it was quite obvious he needed more help.
RB: Dani Carvajal - 4/10 - Tried to frustrate Grealish as he did in the first leg but failed to win the battle on this occasion.
CB: Eder Militao - 3/10 - There were eyebrows raised that didn't belong to Ancelotti when he opted to bring Militao back in for Rudiger. The Brazilian was not up to the task.
CB: David Alaba - 4/10 - Pulled about to-and-fro by Man City's movement, failing to keep up.
LB: Eduardo Camavinga - 4/10 - The young Frenchman has bemoaned playing out of position and tonight it showed more than ever that this is not his position. Looked lost in his duels with Silva.
CM: Federico Valverde - 4/10 - Unable to provide his usual energy and goal threat.
CM: Luka Modric - 3/10 - Looked every bit of a 37-year-old here. Off the pace and given the runaround by his younger Man City counterparts.
CM: Toni Kroos - 4/10 - Similarly subpar despite his experience. Real Madrid are fortunate they have suitable young midfielders already on their books and set to come in this summer.
RW: Rodrygo - 4/10 - Had to come infield quite a fair bit to escape the wrath of Akanji, though offered very little regardless.
CF: Karim Benzema - 3/10 - Injuries and Father Time have finally caught up to the reigning Ballon d'Or holder. Barely got a sniff.
LW: Vinicius Junior - 4/10 - Showed glimpses of trickery but was easily dealt with by Walker.
Substitutes
Antonio Rudiger (63' for Modric) - 4/10
Marco Asensio (70' for Kroos) - 4/10
Aurelien Tchouameni (80' for Camavinga) - N/A
Dani Ceballos (80' for Rodrygo) - N/A
Lucas Vazquez (80' for Carvajal) - N/A
Subs not used: Lunin, Vallejo, Nacho, Odriozola, Mendy,, Hazard, Mariano
Manager
Carlo Ancelotti - 3/10 - Real Madrid had their pants pulled down. A dismal way for the champions to bow out.