Erling Haaland and Bernardo Silva celebrate against Real Madrid. © Dave Shopland/Imago
Manchester City is in the final of the Champions League. In the second leg, someone who wanted to join Real Madrid in 2022 is causing a sensation. Three things that stood out.
Manchester - Much had been discussed in advance. Who is the fattest shark in the pond of European heavyweights that calls itself the Champions League? On Wednesday evening, Manchester City impressively provided the answer in a 4-0 win over Real Madrid. This means that Pep Guardiola's "Sky Blues" are in the final of the Champions League for the second time after 2021. And slowly, as a City opponent, you don't even know who to cover. What stood out.
1. Where is Antonio Rüdiger?
Is Antonio Rüdiger playing? Or will Eder Militao be allowed to play again? It was the question before the second leg between City and Real. And although Rüdiger had almost completely eliminated Erling Haaland in the first leg, Carlo Ancelotti preferred to rely again on Militao, who was still suspended in Madrid. A wrong decision! After 21 minutes, Haaland had already missed two top-class goals. Both times, a brilliant Thibaut Courtois saved. Both times, Militao was far too far away.
Now it would be too easy to knock out Real's premier class. to Militao. Manchester City simply showed what was probably their best game of the season from minute one, pressing, pressing, crushing the less Royal on this evening. And yet it was fitting that none of Real – including Militao – really got into the duels. Rüdiger was much better at that in the first leg against Haaland. Somehow symbolic: Militao unluckily scored an own goal to make it 0-3 in the final.
2. Haaland? De Bruyne? Silva!
Before the duel between Manchester City and Real Madrid, a video went viral on social media. It shows a young Real fan who asserts that his colours are not afraid of Haaland. Rather, you have to beware of Kevin de Bruyne. In the second leg, however, a completely different one shone: Bernardo Silva. With a meager recommendation of five goals from 51 appearances this season, Silva first scored to make it 1-0 and later to make it 2-0.
Especially in the first half, almost every attack went over the nimble Portuguese. He demanded the balls, he distributed the balls and: he sank the balls. According to media reports from Spain, he is said to have wanted to join Real Madrid at the beginning of 2022. But the royals didn't want Silva. So Silva stayed in Manchester. Gone stupid for Real.
3. Vinicius Junior is fast, Walker is faster
In our head-to-head between City and Real, we had named Vinicius Junior the best winger at the moment before the second leg. Probably is. But at the Etihad Stadium, it was once again Kyle Walker who took the Brazil international out of the game entirely. When Vinicius was sent off steeply in a full sprint after a good 30 minutes, Walker ignited the turbo and ran off the Real star as if it were nothing. Yes, you read that right! There are players who can run a Vinicius.
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In the course of the game, the picture repeated itself several times. Duel Walker against Vinicius, winning the ball City. In the end, it was 80 percent won duels for Walker. And his counterpart? Zero successful dribbles, no assists on goal, 38 percent tackle rate. Which would prove that there are even faster footballers than Vinicius Junior. (Nico Scheck)
