17 May 2024 22.52 BST Pep Guardiola speaks ... “At home we feel incredibly comfortable
in front of our people,” 4️⃣ he tells BT Sport. “I have a feeling that for one year we had
a fear in our stomach about 4️⃣ what happened last season but today we went out with
everything we had. Last season was so painful and people 4️⃣ say it was lack of character
but one year later we show just how special these players are. Congratulations to 4️⃣ our
chairman, our owner and every last person [in our organisation] because they work with
a real purpose and now 4️⃣ we are there [in the final].”
17 May 2024 22.33 BST Kyle Walker
joins the chat ... “I’m glad it looked 4️⃣ comfortable from up there,” he says in response
to a question about how easy the first half looked for City 4️⃣ from the studio up in the
stands. “Listen, it’s tough. It’s always going to be tough. I think the emotions
4️⃣ sometimes take hold of you. I was a little ‘Phew, how is this going to go?’ I thought
the lads 4️⃣ dug in well, controlled the ball really well, especially in the first half. I
think in the second half we 4️⃣ were a little bit sloppy when we came out, giving the ball
away in areas where we shouldn’t. Listen, we 4️⃣ got over the line and that’s the main
thing.”
17 May 2024 22.29 BST Jack Grealish talks to BT Sport ... 4️⃣ “It’s unbelievable,”
he says. “We spoke last week after the game and I was buzzing then just to be involved
4️⃣ … well, not to be involved because that makes me sound like a youth team player. I mean
just to 4️⃣ be in the moment, man … it’s so nice. And now a week later I’m standing here
again and it’s 4️⃣ 4-0. I don’t think a lot of teams would do that to Real Madrid. “I
swear, man … you know 4️⃣ when we’re all together and we’re just playing and stuff,
especially here? We just feel unstoppable, honestly. I don’t know 4️⃣ what it is. I seen a
stat the other day about Champions League games, concerning the amount we’ve won at
4️⃣ home compared to away. I think we’ve drawn five in the Champions League away this
season but we’ve won every 4️⃣ game at home. I don’t know what it is, whther it’s the fans
or the pitch, but playing here we 4️⃣ just feel nobody can beat us.”
17 May 2024 22.08 BST
City celebrate: The stands remain packed and Manchester City’s players 4️⃣ have been
celebrating in the centre-circle, where Erling Haaland is celebrating Norway Day by
draping himself in his home country’s 4️⃣ national flag. They could be celebrating again on
Saturday evening, as Bernardo Silva has just said they are determined to 4️⃣ win the
Premier League in front of their home fans with a victory over Chelsea. They may not
even need 4️⃣ to win. If Nottingham Forest can beat Arsenal earlier in the day, City will
be crowned champions without kicking a 4️⃣ ball.
17 May 2024 22.03 BST Bernardo Silva
speaks ... “It’s a beautiful night for us,” he tells BT Sport. “We 4️⃣ knew it was going to
be tough but to beat this Madrid team 4-0 at home it was wonderful. It’s 4️⃣ a wonderful
feeling to be in the final again and hopefully this time we can try to win it.” On 4️⃣ his
own display: “My performance in the first leg in Madrid wasn’t the one I wanted and I
wanted to 4️⃣ try to compensate for that because I didn’t feel very good at all after the
first game. Today I had 4️⃣ to do better for my team-mates, for the fans and that’s what I
tried to do.” On scoring with a 4️⃣ headxer: “I’m very good with my head,” he says with a
laugh. “I’m small but I’m good with my head.” 4️⃣ On facing Inter in the final: “I watched
the game yesterday and they’re a very organised team. I watched the 4️⃣ games also against
Barcelona and Munich in the group stage … and Benfica, because it’s my team. They look
very 4️⃣ organised defensively and quiclk going in the counter-attack … set-pieces. It’s
going to be tough but we’re going to try 4️⃣ it.”
17 May 2024 21.56 BST A quick recap: A
first-half brace from Bernardo Silva along with an own goal from 4️⃣ Eder Militao and the
cherry on top from Julian Alvarez did for Real Madrid, who can consider themselves
lucky to 4️⃣ not to have been beaten by a lot more. Thibaut Courtois pulled off several
sensational saves to keep the score 4️⃣ down, while his opposite number Ederson was only
forced into action on a couple of occasions. The Brazilian saved a 4️⃣ rasping drive from
Toni Kroos and a David Alaba free-kick.
17 May 2024 21.52 BST Full time: Man City 4-0
Real 4️⃣ Madrid (agg: 5-1) Peep! Peep! Peeeeeeeeeeep! It’s all over at the Etihad Stadium,
where Real Madrid have been humbled by 4️⃣ a Manchester City side who have rarely played
better. Pep Guardiola and his men will travel to Istanbul for the 4️⃣ Champions League
final against Inter in 24 days time.
17 May 2024 21.50 BST GOAL! Man City 4-0 Real
Madrid (agg 4️⃣ 5-1) (Alvarez 90+1) Ah here! Rodri plays a short pass inside to Phil Foden,
whose first-time ball in behind is 4️⃣ seized upon by Julian Alvarez. He slots past
Courois, who immediately gets to his feet and berates defenders who were 4️⃣ doing passable
imitations of statues. Julian Alvarez adds the cherry on top. Manchester City have been
sensational. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The 4️⃣ Guardian
Updated at 21.52 BST
17 May 2024
21.47 BST 89 min: Some neat interplay between Foden and Grealish comes unstuck when
4️⃣ Lucas Vazquez charges in to win the ball. Manchester City substitution: Julian Alvarez
on for Erling Haaland, who will go 4️⃣ to bed tonight wondering how on earth he didn’t
score. Thibaut Courtois made two or three excellent saves to deny 4️⃣ him, the first of
which bordered on the downright astonishing.
17 May 2024 21.45 BST 87 min: Real Madrid
press forward 4️⃣ in search of a consolation goal on what has been a miserable evening in
their history. The reigning European champions 4️⃣ have been totally outclassed by their
hosts.
17 May 2024 21.42 BST 84 min: Phil Foden is on for Kevin De 4️⃣ Bruyne, who was
starting to look a bit tired. I think it was Rodrygo who made way for Ceballos.
17 May
4️⃣ 2024 21.41 BST 82 min: Ederson denies Dani Ceballos, standing tall to block a rising
drive from the recently introduced 4️⃣ substitute … whose introduction I missed. Sorry
about that.
17 May 2024 21.38 BST 80 min: Man City substitution: Riyad Mahrez 4️⃣ on for
Ilkay Gundogan, who jogs off to an ovation. Real Madrid substitutions: Aurelien
Tchouameni and Lucas Vazquez on for 4️⃣ Eduardo Camavinga and Dani Carvajal.
17 May 2024
21.36 BST 78 min: En masse, City’s supporters turn their backs to the 4️⃣ action, put their
arms around each other’s shoulders and “do the Poznan”.
17 May 2024 21.34 BST GOAL! Man
City 3-0 4️⃣ Real Madrid (agg: 4-1) (Militao 76og) Game, set and match, Manchester City!
Kevin De Bruyne’s free-kick from the left is 4️⃣ flicked on by Manuel Akanji. His header
takes a big deflection off Eder Militao and fizzes past Thibaut Courtois. Eder 4️⃣ Militao
scores an own goal and Manchester City are on their way to Istanbul! Photograph: Molly
Darlington/Reuters
Updated at 21.39 BST
17 4️⃣ May 2024 21.32 BST 75 min: Eduardo Camavinga
is penalised for a late challenge on Jack Grealish. His claims that 4️⃣ he won the ball
fall on deaf ears.
17 May 2024 21.31 BST 73 min: Oh my! Haaland exchanges passes with
4️⃣ Gundogan, running on to a backheel from his skipper and finding himself clean through
on goal. He looks certain to 4️⃣ score from six years but is somehow denied by Courtois
again. The goalkeeper makles himself big and manages to deflect 4️⃣ the ball over the bar.
Denied for a second time tonight, Haaland cannot believe he hasn’t scored. Haaland hits
the 4️⃣ bar! Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/Action Images/Reuters
Updated at 21.37 BST
17 May
2024 21.28 BST 71 min: Vinicius Jr goes to ground in 4️⃣ the Manchester City penalty area
claiming to have been pushed by John Stones. He’s chancing his arm and referee Szymon
4️⃣ Marciniak is quite rightly having none of it.
17 May 2024 21.26 BST 67 min: Marcelo
Bielsa was appointed Uruguay manager 4️⃣ yesterday and if the great man has tuned in to
this game to see how Federico Valverde is getting on, 4️⃣ he could be forgiven for
wondering if the midfielder is even on the pitch. Valverde has been totally anonymous
tonight 4️⃣ and is one of several Real players who are just strolling around the pitch
waiting for somebody else to flick 4️⃣ the switch and get them out of their current
pickle.
17 May 2024 21.23 BST 65 min: The ball’s sent fizzing 4️⃣ through the centre to
Karim Benzema, whose touch on the half-turn lets him down.
17 May 2024 21.21 BST 62
min: 4️⃣ Ilkay Gundogan is bookedd for a foul on Vinicisus Jr. Real Madrid substitution and
it’s an interesting one: Antonio Rudiger 4️⃣ on for Luka Modric. One presumes he’ll slot
into ther heart of Real’s defence, Alaba will move to left-back and 4️⃣ Camavinga will move
further up the pitch to play alongside Toni Kroos.
Updated at 21.21 BST
17 May 2024
21.18 BST 60 4️⃣ min: Dani Carvajal recovers to steal the ball off the toe of Ilkay
Gundogan as the Manchester City skipper shaped 4️⃣ to shoot from seven yards after a
ricochet off the left-back’s leg broke his way. It was a half-chance but 4️⃣ Gundogan
hadn’t time to sort his feet out.
17 May 2024 21.16 BST 59 min: Kyle Walker cuts out a
cross 4️⃣ aimed towards Benzema from the boot of Rodrygo. He’s been outstanding tonight,
like most of City’s players.
17 May 2024 21.15 4️⃣ BST 57 min: Real Madrid have been
considerably better in this half than the first but it’s a very low 4️⃣ bar. They’re
enjoying far more possession but not doing a great deal with it. If they could conjure
up a 4️⃣ goal from somewhere it would really spice things up. Eder Militao battles for the
ball with Kevin De Bruyne. Photograph: 4️⃣ Martin Rickett/PA
Updated at 21.21 BST
17 May
2024 21.13 BST 55 min: Jack Grealish is dragged to the ground by Dani 4️⃣ Carvajal as he
tries to skip around him down the left wing. The Real Madrid right-back has his name
taken 4️⃣ and City have a free-kick wide on the left. Kevin De Bruyne’s delivery is cleared
by Carvajal.
17 May 2024 21.11 4️⃣ BST 53 min: Kevin De Bruyne has just exchanged cross
words with Pep Guardiola, apparently annoyed with his manager’s constant 4️⃣ interference
from the technical area. Pep takes the criticism on board and returns to his seat but
is unlikely to 4️⃣ stay in it for too long.
17 May 2024 21.09 BST 51 min: Ruben Dias is
booked for a technical foul 4️⃣ on Vinicius Jr; a “Fernandinho” if you will. Free-kick for
Real Madrid, a few yards outside the City penalty area, 4️⃣ in line with the right side of
it. David Alaba’s dipping effort is saved superbly by Ederson. That was a 4️⃣ ridiculously
good shot by the Real Madrid defender. Ruben Dias pulls back Vinicius Junior for a
free-kick to Madrid. Photograph: 4️⃣ Jon Super/AP
Updated at 21.13 BST
17 May 2024 21.07
BST 51 min: Modric plays a cross-field diagonal to Dani Carvajal in 4️⃣ space on the right
side of the City penalty area. He’s dispossessed by Rodri.
17 May 2024 21.06 BST 49
min: 4️⃣ A Bernardo Silva pass out wide to Jack Grealish is intercepted and Real Madrid
break upfield. Silva nips any potential 4️⃣ counter-attack in the bud with a lung-busting
run to atone for his earlier error.
17 May 2024 21.04 BST 47 min: 4️⃣ Real Madrid manage to
string a few passes together and dominate possession in the very early stages of this
second 4️⃣ half. Rodri is fouled by Camavinga and City get a free-kick wide on the
right.
17 May 2024 21.03 BST 46 4️⃣ min: Kyle Walker dispossesses Vinicius Jr with an
excellent tackle and sends City on their way upfield again.
17 May 2024 4️⃣ 21.02 BST
Second half: Man City 2-0 Real Madrid (agg 3-1) 46 min: Play resumes, although given
the mauling they 4️⃣ were subjected to in the first half, Real Madrid’s players could have
been forgiven for sneaking out of the stadium 4️⃣ and heading to the airport. City have
been imperious and it will be fascinating to see what, if anything, the 4️⃣ reigning
champions can do to stop what seems their relentless march to next month’s final in
Istanbul. There are no 4️⃣ changes in personnel on either side … yet.
17 May 2024 20.51 BST
An email: “Thibaut Courtois and Bernardo Silva have 4️⃣ been the outstanding players so
far,” writes Colum Fordham. “Real have the class and guile to come back but City 4️⃣ have
been utterly dominant and the final should be City-Inter.” “I was going to write that I
feared this match 4️⃣ might be like that Raiders of the Lost Ark scene where the guy with
the sword does that incredible routine 4️⃣ of fancy moves, but Indy pulls out a gun and
settles it in a second (I see Modric in the 4️⃣ Indy role),” writes Joe Johnson. “But
clearly, now they’re a couple up, the swordsman has learnt a thing or two.”
17 4️⃣ May 2024
20.49 BST Half-time: Manchester City 2-0 Real Madrid (agg 3-1) Peep! The players of
both sides walk off 4️⃣ for the break with City two goals to the good thanks to a brace
from Bernardo Silva. If anything the 4️⃣ scoreline flatters Real Madrid, who have been made
to look extremely ordinary and have their goalkeeper to thank for preventing 4️⃣ City from
scoring more with a couple of outstanding saves. Karim Benzema can’t believe it.
Photograph: Marc Atkins/Getty Images
Updated at 4️⃣ 20.56 BST
17 May 2024 20.46 BST 45 min:
Kevin De Bruyne picks out Jack Grealish in space at the far 4️⃣ post but a poor touch from
the City winger lets Real off the hook.
17 May 2024 20.45 BST 43 min: 4️⃣ City’s players
ping the ball around halfway inside the Real Madrid half, playing keep-ball with ease
as their visitors chase 4️⃣ shadows. This is a masterclass from City and Real Madrid
incrfeasingly resemble a rabble. THere’ll be a serious half-time inquest 4️⃣ in their
dressing-room and it will be interesting to see how Carlo Ancelotti attempts to
extricate his side from the 4️⃣ mess in which they find themselves.
17 May 2024 20.42 BST
41 min: City win a free-kick wide on the right 4️⃣ touchline. Kevin De Bruyne’s delivery is
flat and put out for a corner. De Bruyne’s outswinger is headed clear, Real 4️⃣ Madrid lump
the ball forward and Kyle Walker mops up at the back for City.
17 May 2024 20.40 BST 39
4️⃣ min: While there was no Roberto De Zerbi style kneeslide down the touchline from Pep
Guardiola as Bernardo Silva bagged 4️⃣ his second goal of the night but City’s manager did
go skipping down the side of the pitch, fist-pumping away 4️⃣ to his heart’s content.
17
May 2024 20.38 BST GOAL! Manchester City 2-0 Real Madrid (agg: 3-1) (Silva 37) City
double 4️⃣ their lead! Real Madrid give the ball away and City advance upfield with
Grealish on the ball. He plays it 4️⃣ inside to Gundogan, whose shot is blocked by
Courtois. The ball breaks to Silva, who heads it into the empty 4️⃣ net from 12 or 13 yards
out. Bernardo Silva scores again for City! Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty
Images
Updated at 20.45 BST
17 4️⃣ May 2024 20.36 BST 34 min: Real Madrid win a corner.
Modric sends the ball into the City penalty area, 4️⃣ where Militao wins the header but is
unable to steer it goalwards. The ball is recycled and Toni Kroos unleashes 4️⃣ a shot from
distance. It’s on target but Ederson gets a fingertip to the ball and touches it on to
4️⃣ the woodwork. At last, some signs of life from Real Madrid …
