Twitter reacts as Man City thrash Real Madrid to qualify for Champions League final
By Sean Walsh
Manchester City have done it. They have avenged last year's collapse. They have beaten Real Madrid and reached the Champions League final.
The reigning Premier League champions put their Spanish counterparts to the sword and were utterly dominant at the Etihad Stadium.
The big news pre-match was that Antonio Rudiger had been dropped to the bench for Real Madrid, with Eder Militao coming back into the side following a suspension.
Rudiger only makes the BENCH for Real Madrid tonight π³
β LiveScore (@livescore) May 17, 2023
We all wanted to see round two here π₯π© pic.twitter.com/Coy5q42h4Q
No Rudiger in the Madrid starting lineup
β Koulibalyβs houseboy (@iamyourspec) May 17, 2023
Haaland : pic.twitter.com/7BHh1lkNrj
Pep Guardiola seeing Carlo Ancelotti overthink by dropping Rudiger after his masterclass against Haaland pic.twitter.com/t5NSgP845T
β ODDSbible (@ODDSbible) May 17, 2023
Man City started fast on home turf and were twice denied by brilliant saves from Thibaut Courtois, with the Belgian's hip denying Erling Haaland an early header before stretching to push away a second.
THIBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
β Real Madrid C.F. π¬π§πΊπΈ (@realmadriden) May 17, 2023
Courtois. Every single game.
β The Spanish Football Podcast (@tsf_podcast) May 17, 2023
πΈ - It was Courtois who denied Haaland! pic.twitter.com/Eu2E4bxEKm
β ππ π ππππ π (@TheEuropeanLad) May 17, 2023
Courtois is on one, jeez
β Scott Saunders (@_scottsaunders) May 17, 2023
HE DID IT AGAIN, OF COURSE HE DID IT AGAIN
β Real Madrid C.F. π¬π§πΊπΈ (@realmadriden) May 17, 2023
Courtois' heroics couldn't last forever though and Bernardo Silva gave Man City the lead midway through the first half.
BERNARDO SILVA OPENS THE SCORING FOR MAN CITY! pic.twitter.com/cnL4V8hvjl
β ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) May 17, 2023
Not anymore, City take fully deserved lead! https://t.co/mtrNpSaYt0
β Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) May 17, 2023
Pep surely made them watch last seasonβs loss.
β Rahman osman (@iamrahmanosman) May 17, 2023
This is a weird experience. Weβre all watching Madrid get absolutely smashed to bits; yet weβre all still convinced they somehow win it, even at 1-0 down
β Sam Tighe (@stighefootball) May 17, 2023
Toni Kroos had Real Madrid's first shot of the evening, with his near 30-yard strike crashing against the crossbar.
Kroos missile.
β Greg Johnson (@matigersuit) May 17, 2023
However, Real Madrid were then caught out back down the other end as Silva added his second of the evening, heading home after Ilkay Gundogan's shot was blocked.
The thing that astounds me most about elite footballers is their calmness, given the pressure, noise, intensity, meaning.
β Daniel Storey (@danielstorey85) May 17, 2023
Bernardo Silva there, dinking a header like he's in the playground.
Real Madrid currently getting washed and dry-cleaned
β Melissa Reddy (@MelissaReddy_) May 17, 2023
Did Carlo Ancelotti overthink it https://t.co/tyzyTi07uw
β Grace Robertson π³οΈββ§οΈ (@GraceOnFootball) May 17, 2023
I've had two whatsapps saying that's the best City have ever played. Which is a bloody high bar. Thoughts?
β Sam Lee (@SamLee) May 17, 2023
Carlo raising his eyebrow as madrid go another 6 minutes without touching the ball pic.twitter.com/j904cAlgC7
β π₯·πΎ (@dat1activist_) May 17, 2023
Of course, it wouldn't be a big game without Arsenal fans piping up when it has nothing to do with them. Gooners targeted Gary Neville but he wasn't having any of it.
Real Madrid arenβt playing βSouthamptonβ ππ»
β Gary Neville (@GNev2) May 17, 2023
Rudiger was eventually introduced after the hour mark, replacing a ragged Luka Modric.
Rudiger comes into the game 63 minutes too late.
β Simon Johnson (@SJohnsonSport) May 17, 2023
β¦Carlo, are you okay?
β Chris Deeley (@ThatChris1209) May 17, 2023
Man City's third came with 15 minutes left. Kevin De Bruyne's free-kick was flicked on by Manuel Akanji, with the telling touch coming off Militao.
City have absolutely dismantled Real tonight. #MCIRMA #UCL
β Ali Mullaley π π¦ π (@alimullaley) May 17, 2023
Madrid look absolutely goosed. Florentino Perez is gonna go crazy with this next rebuild
β Mitch (@mitchwilks) May 17, 2023
Man City 3-0 Real Madrid π«’ pic.twitter.com/IfNcpMOxef
β B/R Football (@brfootball) May 17, 2023
There was still time for Real Madrid to concede another, though, with Julian Alvarez coming off the bench to grab Man City's fourth.
The dark magic tank finally ran dry https://t.co/hWzwoRqMxH
β Sam Tighe (@stighefootball) May 17, 2023
And so, Man City's place in the Champions League final was confirmed. The treble dream is still alive.
FULL-TIME | WEβRE ON OUR WAY TO ISTANBUL!!!
β Manchester City (@ManCity) May 17, 2023
π΅ 4-0 (5-1) β«οΈ #ManCity | #UCL pic.twitter.com/tVxT2nhQzs
Julia Roberts attending the final and throwing Pep off guard pic.twitter.com/oNe1Fsj25J
β Ashwin Raman (@AshwinRaman_) May 17, 2023
The man responsible for stopping the quadruple. pic.twitter.com/Av3OwmFLE6
β Colin Millar (@Millar_Colin) May 17, 2023
City π pic.twitter.com/QGjI7rxEND
β Emilio Sansolini (@EmilioSansolini) May 17, 2023