Pep Guardiola’s side are through to the Champions League final after a 4-0 win over Real Madrid on Wednesday night and remain on course for a historic treble
Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland celebrate after Manchester City’s second goal against Real Madrid on Wednesday (Picture: Getty Images)
There was no late heartbreak this time. In last season’s Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid, Manchester City led 5-3 on aggregate going into in the 90th minute of the second leg but somehow ended up losing. At home for this tie’s return match, Pep Guardiola’s side seemed determined to learn their lesson and were totally dominant at the Etihad, scoring two goals and adding another two late in the game to seal their ticket to Istanbul with an emphatic 4-0 win. Through to the final they go and a treble now looks a real possibility. Can anyone stop them?
City have been to a Champions League before under Guardiola and they lost that one to Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea in 2021. Having knocked out 14-time European champions Real Madrid this time, the Premier League leaders will face Inter in Istanbul on June 10th. And they will be big favourites to win it on this form, although they will be up against a team that has conceded in just one of their six knockout games in the competition this term – albeit three times in a 3-3 draw at home to Benfica after a 2-0 win away.
Manchester City players celebrate after their team’s second goal against Real Madrid on Wednesday (Picture: Getty Images)
In the Premier League, City seemed set to miss out on the title to Arsenal after the Gunners led for most of the season. But while Mikel Arteta’s men have stalled in recent weeks, Guardiola’s side have peaked when it matters most: since losing to Tottenham in February, the champions have dropped just two points from their last 14 matches. Following Arsenal’s 3-0 loss at home to Brighton on Sunday, City are now just one win away from a fifth title in six seasons. If they beat Chelsea at the weekend, they will be champjons with two games still left to play. Either way, it is surely now a question of when and not if. Incidentally, City are away to Brighton and at home to Brentford in their last two Premier League games.
And in the FA Cup, City meet Manchester United in a derby clash at Wembley on June 3rd. Up until now, the Red Devils are the only English club to have won a treble of league, cup and Champions League trophies. Stopping their local rivals from matching that feat would likely be sweet for Erik ten Hag’s men and they did beat City at Old Trafford earlier this season, but Guardiola’s side will be fancied to win and should also have wrapped up the Premier League title well before then.
Pep Guardiola celebrates one of Manchester City’s goals against Real Madrid on Wednesday (Picture: Getty Images)
If, as expected, City win the Premier League and then go on to beat United at Wembley on June 3rd, it will all come down to the Champions League final against Inter in the last game of the European season.
The Nerazzuri could provide the toughest test of all. Third in Serie A, Simone Inzaghi’s side have impressed in the cup competitions this term, winning the Supercoppa Italiana at the beginning of the season and going to qualify for both the Coppa Italia and Champions League finals.
So it’s Chelsea, Brighton and Brentford in the Premier League, Manchester United in the FA Cup final and Inter in the Champions League: five games left for Guardiola’s side in their treble chase – and they only have to win three of them.
Can anyone stop City? Don’t bet on it.