Even by Manchester City’s standards, this night will go down as one of their best.
It was a Pep Guardiola masterclass to make the reigning European champions look downright ordinary. Bernardo Silva scored twice but it was all about City’s complete, all round team display which saw them overwhelm Real Madrid.
This is Real Madrid we are talking about. The 14 time European Cup winners, current holders and yet they could not live with City.
Now City are just three wins from football immortality and the Treble. They need to beat Chelsea on Sunday to clinch the Premier League title. They are in the FA Cup final and will be red-hot favourites against Inter Milan in the Champions League final next month.
And no-one can surely deny that City will deserve it because, playing like this, they are simply unstoppable. The best team in Europe by a mile.
It almost felt as if they were taking all of their Champions League frustrations out on Real Madrid. All those near misses, last year’s semi final heartbreak in the Bernabeu and now it feels inevitable that Guardiola will finally win the Holy Grail for City.
The City fans were doing the Poznan by the time Real Madrid defender Eder Militao put through his own net after 76 minutes to make it 3-0. There were no late scares or dramas. They were in cruise control all the way to Istanbul for the final.
You could tell right from the start that City were in the mood because they started at a million miles an hour - and hardly slowed down.
They were so good in the first half it was frightening. These were levels they have rarely hit even under Guardiola’s era of brilliance.
The only reason the scoreline as not bigger was the brilliance of Real Madrid keeper Thibaut Courtois who made a string of super saves. Frankly, it felt as if Leeds gave City a harder game a fortnight or so ago.
City could surely be forgiven for looking a little tired as they chase trophies on three fronts… but not a bit of it.
They were red-hot from the start and it needed a stunning save from Courtois to deny Haaland’s header from point blank range. The only wonder was that Haaland did not score for once as he also hit the woodwork.
It was always a matter of time before the first goal and it arrived after 23 minutes. It was brilliantly worked as Kyle Walker fed Kevin De Bruyne and his perfect through ball put in Silva who fired past Courtois at his near post.
Guardiola raced down the touchline to celebrate as the whole place was jumping. Meanwhile, Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior went over to his manager as if to ask Carlo Ancelotti to ask: “What are we supposed to do?”
There was even a comical moment soon after as Vinicius Jr threatened to race through, Kyle Walker sprinted back and nicked the ball off one of the best players in the world as if he was taking candy from a baby.
Real Madrid star Toni Kroos did hit the crossbar but it was 2-0 before you knew it. Ilkay Gundogan’s shot was blocked by Courtois and the ball span up into the air before Silva headed home.
It was all over with the third goal. De Bruyne’s free kick curled in, caused chaos and Militao ended up with an own goal after 76 minutes.
Haaland was replaced by Julian Alvarez and the substitute got another in injury time as he slotted home from Phil Foden’s through ball.
It was that easy.
