Yahoo News Man City come of age with Champions League tactical masterclass to shatter the legend of Real Madrid
The legend of Real Madrid was shattered by Manchester City on a night when Pep Guardiola’s side have never looked more like champions of Europe in the making.
Zinedine Zidane’s Spanish giants were beaten home and away – and were ultimately flattered by the 2-1 score line at the Etihad.
City had chances to win by a much greater margin and dominated this round-of-16 second leg.
Any fears of a Real comeback were based on history, reputation and aura.
In reality, it was Guardiola’s team that looked like the seasoned pros in this competition – besting their storied opponents in every department.
Behind closed doors, this was football stripped back of the distractions that have so often damaged City in Europe.
No nervous energy from the crowd. No hysteria in reaction to a controversial call.
Just two teams – head-to-head – with the superior one triumphing on the night.
Real’s 13 Champions League crowns counted for nothing.
Likewise Zidane’s unblemished record as a manager in this competition.
Instead it felt like a landmark occasion for Guardiola and his players – winning 4-2 on aggregate.
And with Lyon to come in the quarter-finals in Lisbon, they can start to dream of finally conquering Europe.
Not that they should look too far ahead. They were favourites to beat Monaco, Liverpool and Tottenham in each of the past three seasons before they were sent crashing out.
But the truth is, they will never have a better chance of going all the way.
This was a night when they came of age.
They have become accustomed to meltdowns on this stage. The difference on this occasion is that it came from a man in pink.
Raphael Varane had a nightmare. But his errors that led to City’s two goals were a direct result of Guardiola’s instructions to his players to press high up, be brave and not allow Real time to get comfortable.
The vision of Gabriel Jesus will keep the centre-back up a night after this.
The Brazilian striker hounded him out of possession in the box after just nine minutes before squaring to Raheem Sterling to open the scoring.
And in the second half with Real still in the tie after equalising through Karim Benzema after 28 minutes, Jesus capitalised on Varane’s error again – nipping in score from his tame headed backpass.
Those were the goals, but this was about so much more.
Sterling was supreme – easily winning the battle of the No7s with Eden Hazard.
While Hazard was a virtual spectator for much of the night, Sterling sparked panic every time he burst forward.
Neither Varane nor Dani Carvajal could track his runs and if not for the efforts of Thibaut Courtois, he would have added to City’s lead.
Rodri, meanwhile, dominated in central midfield and Joao Cancelo was immense at left with his high pressing.
Guardiola had claimed beforehand that Zidane was master tactician – too hard to read.
But he knew precisely how to hurt Real – or rather, let them hurt themselves.
The Spanish champions’ determination to play out from the back caused them countless problems as City hassled and harried them around the box.
They couldn’t breathe under the pressure, with Phil Foden, Kevin de Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan snapping up second balls.
It was a masterclass from City. They did to Real, what they so often do to Premier League rivals.
They made them look ordinary.
City, meanwhile, had a distinct look of kings. The kings of Europe perhaps.
