Manchester City v Real Madrid Live Commentary & Result, 17/5/23, UEFA Champions League

That is all from this Champions League semi-final clash, until next time – goodbye!

Inter, who breezed past city rivals Milan in the last four, await in the Champions League final on June 10. Before that, Madrid will look to heal their ailing wounds when they visit Valencia in LaLiga on Sunday. City’s treble hopes remain firmly alive, with Guardiola’s side able to secure the Premier League title when they host struggling Chelsea on the same day.

City book their place in the Champions League final after a 4-0 victory over Real Madrid secures a 5-1 aggregate triumph. Silva's first-half double placed Guardiola's hosts in full control before Militao turned into his own net and substitute Alvarez added a late fourth. Los Blancos exit at the semi-final stage with a whimper as the English champions ease towards the Istanbul showpiece.

90' + 3' FULL-TIME: MANCHESTER CITY 4-0 REAL MADRID (5-1 AGG)

90' + 2' Akanji shoves Asensio over near halfway but that won't matter for City as it's game over.

P. Foden

Assist

90' + 1' Foden looks one way and disguises a left-foot throughball the other, laying Alvarez into the area. The City striker applies the finishing touches as the two substitutes combine to hammer home their resounding advantage.

J. Álvarez

Goal

90' + 1' GOALLLLLL! 4-0 CITY! Alvarez caps a remarkable performance from the hosts as Guardiola’s side make it 5-1 on aggregate. Foden releases the World Cup winner with a perfectly weighted pass and Alvarez does the rest as he slides a finish into the bottom-left corner.

J. Grealish

Yellow Card

90' + 1' A needless Grealish foul on Vazquez sees the England international cautioned.

90' The semi-final tie heads into additional time and City are three minutes away from confirming their place in the final.

J. Álvarez

E. Haaland

89' In an incredibly rare occurrence, Haaland comes off without scoring. The Norway striker certainly had his chances in this game as World Cup winner Alvarez runs on to replace him.

88' An anonymous performance from Madrid's attackers continues as City regain their shape and win back possession. Rodri dances around a tackle in midfield with ease, which sums up how straightforward this victory has been for Guardiola's English champions.

86' City aren't just heading into the Champions League final; they are doing it at a canter. Passing at will and working possession around, Guardiola's side are strolling towards Istanbul – Inter beware!

P. Foden

K. De Bruyne

84' De Bruyne leaves the field as his chant rings around Etihad Stadium amid a standing ovation. As if Madrid’s outing could get worse, silky winger Foden is the man to come on.

83' DOUBLE SAVE! Benzema finds space towards the right of goal but sees his chipped effort saved by a sprawling Ederson. The City goalkeeper quickly returns to his feet and denies Ceballos' right-footed strike.

81' Madrid are winless in their previous four away games against City in the Champions League (D2 L2), losing each of the last two, which will soon become three. The only team they have faced more times away from home in the European Cup/Champions League without ever winning is Milan (seven games – D2 L5).

Lucas Vázquez

Dani Carvajal

80' Carvajal's battle with Grealish ends in defeat as the right-back makes way for Vazquez.

Dani Ceballos

Rodrygo

79' Rodrygo trudges off as Ancelotti introduces Ceballos.

A. Tchouaméni

E. Camavinga

79' Tchouameni replaces Camavinga as Madrid swap one Frenchman for another.

R. Mahrez

İ. Gündoğan

79' Gundogan gets a well-deserved rest as he makes way for winger Mahrez. Ancelotti looks set to make a plethora of changes as well.

78' Akanji wheeled away in celebration as if he wanted to claim the third goal. It looks like it will be one for the dubious goals committee, although the City centre-back will not care – his side are heading to the final!

M. Akanji

Goal

76' GOOOAALLLLL! 3-0 CITY! Guardiola’s men are on their way to Istanbul as they go 4-1 up on aggregate. De Bruyne clips a delightful free-kick towards the area, where Akanji looks to flick a header on. The Swiss international might not get a touch but that doesn’t matter as Militao deflects into his own net. The VAR has a quick check for offside before deciding the goal can stand!

K. De Bruyne

Assist

76' Assist Kevin De Bruyne

E. Camavinga

Yellow Card

75' Grealish draws another foul with a driving run from the left flank. Camavinga lunged in from behind and referee Marciniak promptly brandishes another yellow card.

73' ANOTHER COURTOIS SAVE! Gundogan flicks a delightful backheel into the path of Haaland, who opens up his body and looks for the bottom-right corner. The Madrid goalkeeper races out, tipping the low effort onto the crossbar via a deflection off his feet as Los Blancos luckily escape.

72' City were about a minute away from the final last season before Madrid staged a famous extra-time comeback. At this rate, though, Los Blancos won't even have the chance of a repeat as they are so far off the pace.

71' Stones ushers the ball behind as Vinicius lays on the floor and suggests he was fouled. The referee shows no interest as the City supporters jump up to question the Madrid winger's intentions after going down so easily.

Marco Asensio

T. Kroos

70' After experienced midfielder Modric made way, fellow veteran Kroos is the next to come off. Forward Asensio is on.

69' Grealish and Carvajal engaged in a verbal spat throughout the first leg, but it's the City man who has had the last laugh in the return meeting so far. He goes past the Madrid right-back once again, although Los Blancos just about manage to clear his low cross.

68' De Bruyne and Haaland lead another City breakaway attack but the former's low cross finds Militao inside the Madrid area. Benzema and Vinicius are simply passengers at the other end as Los Blancos cry out for their stars to step up.

66' An exquisite Silva flick releases De Bruyne over halfway but Camavinga tracks back well to recover. Haaland was lurking in behind before the Frenchman made a vital intervention.

65' City have only lost one of their last five meetings with Madrid in the Champions League (W3 D1), all of which have come under Guardiola. They were winless in their first four games against them in the competition between 2012 and 2016 (D2 L2).

A. Rüdiger

L. Modrić

63' Strangely, five-time Champions League winner Modric comes off for centre-back Rudiger. A bizarre change from Ancelotti with Madrid chasing the game.

İ. Gündoğan

Yellow Card

62' Gundogan joins team-mate Dias in the book after a sliding challenge hauls Vinicius down inside City’s half.

62' Modric is the next Madrid man to hack Grealish down, with the England international constantly on the end of some rough treatment. He laughs it off as always, with City edging ever closer towards Istanbul.

61' Benzema threatens to create an opportunity but City crowd the Frenchman out. De Bruyne and his midfield colleagues then resume dictating possession.

59' Militao somehow escapes a caution after the frustrated centre-back needlessly drags Grealish to the floor. The referee ignores the cynical challenge, though, with the Brazil defender getting away with a clear bookable offence.

57' A poor De Bruyne free-kick from the left-hand side is comfortably cleared by Carvajal. The Belgian midfielder's set-piece deliveries are the only thing to let him down in this clash.

Dani Carvajal

Yellow Card

55' Referee Marciniak has no option but to show Carvajal a yellow card after the Madrid right-back hauls down Grealish on the left flank.

55' Madrid appear to have another counter-attacking chance but, as has been the case all game, Walker speeds past Vinicius and averts the danger. The City right-back has dealt with his opposite number excellently so far.

54' Grealish forces Carvajal into conceding another corner on the left-hand side. The England winger whips an inswinging delivery towards the far post, where Modric manages to head away a clearance.

53' Madrid, as expected, are showing far greater intent this half as they look to press higher and challenge City in their own third. That gameplan is yet to bear fruit, but at least Los Blancos are fighting a little now.

51' WHAT A STOP! Alaba and Kroos hover over a free-kick just inside the right channel from around 25 yards out. The Swiss international whips a left-footed attempt towards the top-left corner, where Ederson stretches to tip a wonderful save over the crossbar!

Rúben Dias

Yellow Card

50' Benzema rolls through for Vinicius, who lets the ball go past him as he looks to break through the middle. Dias hacks down the Madrid winger and becomes the first name in the referee’s book.

49' De Bruyne launches a long free-kick into the area with Dias the target. Ancelotti's side clear the first phase of the attack, with City having to settle and play all the way back to goalkeeper Ederson.

48' Silva is the second City player to score a brace in a Champions League semi-final after Riyad Mahrez v Paris Saint-Germain in 2021. The Portugal winger is also just the third player to net twice in a game against Madrid in the last four of this competition, after Lionel Messi (2011) and Robert Lewandowski (2013). His two-goal contribution has the hosts in a commanding position.

47' City have started the half a bit more slack in possession but Madrid have failed to punish their hosts just yet. Guardiola's men can't afford to offer Los Blancos any form of hope, with last year's semi-final between the two sides surely living long in the memory still.

46' Referee Marciniak gets the second half in Manchester under way!

That first-half performance was as good as it gets from City, who rarely allowed Madrid possession and repeatedly pinned their visitors back. Los Blancos' Champions League glory last season came with a plethora of late drama but – barring a minor miracle – that seems out of reach for Ancelotti's side here. With 45 minutes of this semi-final tie to go, Guardiola's world-class team are within touching distance of the European showpiece.

City head into half-time with a 2-0 lead and a 3-1 aggregate advantage over Madrid. Silva's deadly double was just what Guardiola's hosts deserved after a dominant, one-sided first half in which Los Blancos offered little. Benzema and Vinicius have barely had a kick, although Ancelotti's side did hit the crossbar at 1-0 down when Kroos rifled against the woodwork. The English champions will be beginning to dream of Istanbul!

45' + 2' HALF-TIME: MANCHESTER CITY 2-0 REAL MADRID (3-1 AGG)

45' + 1' Haaland queues up near the penalty spot but opts to offload to Akanji. The City defender powers a low strike towards the bottom-right corner but a couple of Madrid bodies manage to turn behind for a corner, which comes to nothing.

45' Silva drills a low attempt straight at Courtois before City soon carve out another opportunity. De Bruyne crosses towards the back post but Grealish's touch is poor and Madrid get away with one.

44' City are toying with Los Blancos as they manoeuvre possession across the pitch. Madrid are chasing shadows, with Ancelotti's men in desperate need of the half-time whistle.

42' Silva makes a vital interception as Madrid look to counter after clearing City's right-wing corner. The Portugal man appears to be everywhere.

41' De Bruyne drills in a low free-kick and Rodrygo can only turn behind for a City corner. Madrid look out of ideas; they aren't used to being dominated like this and are searching for answers that are not forthcoming.

40' Silva's opener was his first goal in 10 games across all competitions, since netting in the home leg of the quarter-final against Bayern Munich. The Portugal international will scarcely believe his upturn in fortunes after finding the net once again with his double putting City in the driving seat here.

39' The City fans are in full voice as they begin to dream of a place in next month's final in Istanbul. Madrid have to score the next goal in this game to keep their hopes alive in this tie, albeit Guardiola's men have their foot on the throttle and are in complete control.

Bernardo Silva

Goal

37' GOOOOOOOALLLLLLL! 2-0 CITY! It’s Silva again as Guardiola’s men go 3-1 up on aggregate. Grealish slips in Gundogan, who sees a low left-footed prod denied by Militao. The deflection loops up fortuitously into the path of Silva, who delicately heads over Alaba on the line and into the top-right corner!

35' OFF THE WOODWORK! Madrid manage to recycle possession from their corner and the ball falls to Kroos around 25 yards from goal. The Germany international strikes a pure right-footed drive and Ederson makes a fingertip save to turn onto the crossbar. Another remarkable save!

34' A first Madrid corner comes on the right as Carvajal sees his low cross blocked out by Akanji. Modric delivers an outswinger, which Militao can't divert towards goal.

33' Rodrygo pops up on the left flank and plays a throughball with the outside of his right foot towards the area. Benzema lurks in behind but Ederson is quick off his line to avert any danger.

32' Vinicius has his first chance of the game to dribble down the left-hand side, yet Walker displays remarkable pace to track back and recover. Not many in world football could keep up with the Madrid winger, never mind dispossessing him as well.

31' Recent form suggests this could be a long way back for Madrid. City are unbeaten in their last 25 home games in the Champions League (W23 D2), with Lyon in September 2018 being the last away side to win there. Only two teams in the history of the competition have had a longer unbeaten home run: 38 games for Barcelona (2013-2020) and 29 games for Bayern Munich (1998-2002).

29' Grealish glides past three or four Madrid players from the left flank but falters at the decisive moment. The England winger was looking to slide in Haaland but his pass is far too strong and Courtois collects.

27' CLOSE! Silva wanders inside and feeds Gundogan, who fires a rapid pass into the feet of Haaland. The City talisman takes one touch to set himself before aiming for the top-right corner with a thunderous half-volley. Courtois stands beaten but Madrid are fortunate as the attempt flies just wide.

25' City are entirely deserving of their lead, with Madrid punished for their insistence to sit back and attempt to soak up pressure. Now, Los Blancos will have to at least try and attack – if they can get the ball off the hosts.

K. De Bruyne

Assist

23' De Bruyne has pulled the strings so far and deservedly assists the first goal of the game with a delicate right-foot throughball for Silva. The City winger did the rest after taking a moment to gain his composure before deceiving Courtois and beating the Madrid goalkeeper at his near post.

Bernardo Silva

Goal

23' GOALLLLLLLLL! 1-0 CITY! Silva puts Guardiola’s men 2-1 up on aggregate with a brilliant finish. Walker and Stones work it patiently on the right-hand side before De Bruyne rolls in Silva. The Portugal international takes a touch before smashing a left-footed effort past the helpless Courtois.

21' WHAT A SAVE! De Bruyne and Silva work a short corner before the former cross towards the back post. Akanji heads back across goal and Haaland nods towards the top-left corner, where a stretching Courtois makes a world-class stop to tip wide with his right hand. Somehow the game remains level.

20' Madrid have won their last two away games against English sides in the Champions League knockout stages (both this season). Only one team has ever won three consecutive away trips to English sides in the latter rounds of the competition, with Barcelona doing so between 2013-14 and 2015-16. Los Blancos will have to fight for their lives to extend that record here.

19' WIDE! With everyone expecting De Bruyne to cross from the free-kick, the Belgium midfielder tries a cheeky attempt towards the near post. Courtois remains untroubled as he watches his international compatriot's effort sail wide.

18' Valverde looks to nick possession in the middle of Madrid's half but instead fouls Gundogan. De Bruyne hovers over a free-kick just inside the left-hand channel as City send their defenders forward.

17' Los Blancos are yet to really escape their own half as Guardiola's well-drilled hosts continue to dominate proceedings. Grealish has another run at Carvajal before De Bruyne sees a low centre cleared by Militao.

15' The first corner of the game comes on City's left and Grealish whips a cross in. Madrid deal with the first delivery before Gundogan swings another ball over the heads of his team-mates.

13' HOW HAS THAT NOT GONE IN? Haaland somehow gets denied by a combination of Courtois and Alaba. Grealish crosses in from the left flank and the unmarked City striker nods downwards from inside the six-yard area. The Madrid goalkeeper manages to produce a brilliant reflex stop before Alaba hooks away a goal-line clearance!

12' Gundogan, the two-goal hero against Everton, roams around the Madrid area but can't find space. City play towards the edge of the box again, with Stones rocketing a right-footed attempt well wide to Courtois' right.

11' This is Ancelotti’s 191st game as a manager in the Champions League, the outright most of any coach in the competition’s history (overtaking Alex Ferguson, 190). It is also Ancelotti’s 50th game in charge of Madrid in the competition, becoming just the second manager to reach 50+ games with two teams (73 with Milan), along with Guardiola (73 City, 50 Barcelona).

9' Militao does not get away with his second heavy tackle on Haaland in the opening 10 minutes. City earn a free-kick near halfway and resume their patient possessional play.

7' CHANCES! De Bruyne slides Haaland through with a pass that has become synonymous with the City creator. The Norway striker rounds Courtois but can't find a team-mate in the middle. Just moments after, Rodri drills a right-footed strike just wide of the left-hand post.

5' Militao, like his team-mate Rudiger last week, leaves a little bit on Haaland in their first contest. Expect those physical tactics to continue as Madrid look to neutralise the world's most in-form talisman.

4' The hosts work the ball patiently inside before Madrid invite Walker into open space outside the area. The England right-back duly obliges and skews an ambitious effort well over.

2' City monopolise possession to start proceedings, with Rodri and Stones dictating play from their double-pivot combination. Madrid, as in the first leg, are happy to watch Guardiola's men play in front of them.

1' With the Champions League anthem and pleasantries out the way, referee Szymon Marciniak gets this clash under way!

City have been eliminated in two of their previous three Champions League semi-final ties, with both coming against Madrid (2015-16 and 2021-22). Should they fail to progress here, it would be the first time that a team have been eliminated in the last four by the same side in consecutive campaigns of this competition. With kick-off moments away, Guardiola's side will be out for revenge.

Ancelotti makes just one change to his starting XI that hosted City in Madrid last week. Rudiger, who caught the attention with his unusual and ultra-aggressive marking style of Haaland, drops down to the bench. Militao returns from suspension and takes the Germany international’s place alongside Alaba at the heart of Madrid’s defence. As usual, at the other end, Benzema leads the line with Vinicius and Rodrygo on either flank to support.

Guardiola vowed to not overthink his team selection and has stayed true to his word as City opt for no changes from their last starting line-up against Madrid. De Bruyne and Stones both return after resting as unused substitutes against Everton at the weekend, while Silva and Grealish get the nod on either flank. Haaland starts up top, aiming to further his remarkable 35-goal tally in only 28 Champions League appearances.

SUBSTITUTES: Andrii Lunin, Jesus Vallejo, Nacho, Eden Hazard, Marco Asensio, Alvaro Odriozola, Lucas Vazquez, Aurelien Tchouameni, Dani Ceballos, Antonio Rudiger, Ferland Mendy, Mariano Diaz.

REAL MADRID (4-3-3): Thibaut Courtois; Eduardo Camavinga, David Alaba, Eder Militao, Dani Carvajal; Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Federico Valverde; Vinicius Junior, Karim Benzema, Rodrygo.

SUBSTITUTES: Stefan Ortega, Scott Carson, Kalvin Phillips, Aymeric Laporte, Julian Alvarez, Sergio Gomez, Riyad Mahrez, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Rico Lewis.

MANCHESTER CITY (3-2-4-1): Ederson; Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias, Kyle Walker; Rodri, John Stones; Jack Grealish, Ilkay Gundogan, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva; Erling Haaland.

Madrid were up against it for large parts at Santiago Bernabeu in the opening encounter but, as has become the norm in this competition, Los Blancos battled their way into the contest. Carlo Ancelotti’s side edged past Getafe on Saturday in LaLiga in preparation for this mouthwatering clash under the Mancunian lights.

City will have home advantage at Etihad Stadium, with the tie finely poised at 1-1 after Kevin De Bruyne’s stunner cancelled out Vinicius Junior’s exquisite opener in the first leg. Pep Guardiola’s side dispatched Everton 3-0 in the Premier League on Sunday, making light work of their relegation-threatened opponents as a warm-up for this European meeting.

Hello and welcome to live coverage from the second leg of the Champions League semi-final clash between Manchester City and Real Madrid.

Manchester City v Real Madrid Live Commentary, 18/5/23

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