Champions League S-Final: It’s Man City Vs Real Madrid Again!

• Haaland propels City past Bayern at the Allianz Arena
• Inter survive Benfica’s scare to rekindle Milan rivalry

That Manchester City sailed so serenely past the six-times European champions, Bayern Munich, shows how far Manager Pep Guardiola has already taken them since taking charge of proceedings at the Etihad Stadium about seven seasons ago in 2016.

However, the big question still remains; Can the Cityzens go all the way and finally seal the glory of a first ever Champions League triumph in their chequered history.

Beckoning now is a mouth-watering semi-final clash with the holders Real Madrid who knocked them out at the same stage last year and are always ready to bank on their pedigree of a record 14 victories in the treasured competition.

Looking ahead, Guardiola would never be presumptive. But for the neutral, what now roves into view is the prospect of his gilded team needing to win a maximum 13 more matches to land a treble that would cast them as immortals.

On the day, it rained hard under a steel-grey sky in this industrial area of Munich. However, by kick-off, the wet stuff cleared and the hosts fired an early warning, as Kingsley Coman’s arrowed cross was timely headed away by John Stones.

Then, in what was Bayern’s ploy, City’s high line was sprung. Benjamin Pavard chipped beyond Nathan Aké and Coman galloped along the right. With the visitors scrambling he pinged the ball in and, again, City escaped. Here was the pace Guardiola had referenced as a potent German weapon.

At home, where Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona had been defeated in twin 2-0 results, this was to be expected, as was the noise from a Bavarian faithful roaring their men on. But the night belonged to the English Champions and easing past Madrid in the semi-final is a huge task that must be done by the Sky Blues if they are to finally end their age-long Champions League nightmares.

Inter Survive Late Goals At San Siro

In Italy, Internazionale set up a Champions League semi-final derby with AC Milan, after edging Portuguese side, Benfica 5-3 on aggregate following a thrilling 3-3 draw in the second leg at San Siro.

Carrying over a 2-0 lead from the first leg in Lisbon, that result proved critical for the Italians as Benfica fought hard, scoring twice in the closing minutes to battle back from 3-1 down on the night.

Nicolò Barella, Lautaro Martínez and the substitute Joaquín Correa all hit the target for Inter, with Fredrik Aursnes levelling in the first half before Antonio Silva and Petar Musa completed a fine but futile comeback.

“It will be a special derby,” Martínez told Amazon Prime Video, adding; “We all know what this game means, to play a Milan derby in the Champions League semi-finals.”

Speaking further on the match, the Argentine World Cup winner said; “Happiness is the word, I’m so proud to represent this crest and this great club which is back to where it belongs.”

Simone Inzaghi’s men now face a tantalising clash against their city rivals, AC Milan in the last four next month, with a place in the Istanbul final up for grabs. – With The Guardian report