Manchester City entered the UEFA Champions League Semi-finals for the 3rd season in a row and Pep Guardiola’s side are all set to challenge reigning champions Real Madrid in a replay of last year’s epic battle for the ticket to Finale. Both teams displayed top quality football over 2 legs with City enduring a daunting loss which still haunts a lot of City fans.
But say no more. The Cityzens have the best chance of settling the score this season and their Norwegian number 9 Erling Haaland gives them a winning attitude. If we talk about the 1st leg against Bayern Munich then most of the work was done and dusted as City cruised 3-0 through goals from Rodri, Erling Haaland and Bernardo Silva.
https://youtu.be/j_ybsiEGEtI
In the 2nd leg however, the English Champions mainly parked the bus and threw bodies forward for any potential threat. They were simply playing for their lives and the goal City conceded was an unfortunate hand ball by Manuel Akanji only for the scoreline remain 1-1 and 4-1 on aggregate.
Up next they have Real Madrid, a team which has denied them a Finale spot Twice. Los Blancos came out victorious in the dying minutes of a 6-min extra time at Santiago Bernabeu and dramatically overturned a 2-goal deficit to win by 6-5 on aggregate.
https://youtu.be/UoUjz-bOn_w
Even during City’s first UCL Semi-final appearance under Manuel Pelligrini during the 2015/16 season, after a goalless draw at Etihad, Real had won the 2nd leg after City midfielder Fernando found the back of his own Net. Then 3 years later, they met for the Quarter-finals and Pep Guardiola’s were able to secure 2-1 wins home and away.
The anticipation of this Fixture is extremely high and surprisingly Manchester City are given a chance to avenge last year’s defeat. With Erling Haaland, the team has transcended to the next level and his quality is what City were missing a year ago. Man has already bagged 48 goals this season and he will have a chance to make it 50 against Sheffield United at Wembley for the FA Cup Semi-final.
England’s Jack Grealish has been incredible in important matches this season. The 100-million-man has just started to show his quality and is yet bloom under Guardiola and contribute for major silverwares. Guardiola’s crazy obsession with perfection is what has landed players like Haaland, Grealish, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Foden among others.
When asked about the replay against Real Madrid, the 52-year-old who once managed Barcelona said – “I had a feeling we would see them. All clubs know if you want to win the Champions League you need to beat Real Madrid.”
