Audio By Carbonatix
Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus were on target as Manchester City kept their cool to secure their place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League with a 4-2 aggregate victory over Real Madrid.
Pep Guardiola's side held the advantage having recorded a 2-1 victory at the Bernabeu in the first-leg back in February, meaning Real needed to score twice without reply to advance in 90 minutes.
Their objective didn't change when Sterling opened the scoring for City after just nine minutes, but the goal would have had alarm bells ringing for Zinedine Zidane who watched Raphael Varane lose possession to the high-pressing Jesus who set the England international up for a simple finish.
City's pressure was relentless in the early exchanges, but Real - who had a week's longer break than their English counterparts - finally began to settle in the tie and in the 28th minute they reduced the deficit through a Karim Benzema header from an excellent Rodrygo cross.
The game ebbed and flowed in an exciting second-half and it was City who grabbed the evening's all important third goal courtesy of another mistake by Varane. The World Cup winning defender sold his header back to Thibaut Courtois short and Jesus pounced to lift it over the Real goalkeeper.
It was a thoroughly deserved and convincing victory for City who set up a quarter-final tie with Lyon after the Ligue 1 side edged Juventus. They will be strong favourites to advance to the last four. Meanwhile, Zidane - who suffered his first Champions League exit as a manager - will reflect on a disjointed and uncharacteristically sloppy performance.
Latest Stories
-
History made! Accra Academy book first-ever NSMQ final Spot after dominant semi-final display
1 hour -
Woman’s decomposed body found in gutter near Haatso DVLA office
1 hour -
Residents of Akaa, surrounding communities demand improved network coverage
1 hour -
‘Chief Justice’s role is to administer justice, not protect any agenda’ – Haruna replies Franklin Cudjoe
1 hour -
PRURide winners to receive GHS 15,000
1 hour -
AMA announces Post-Homowo clean-up exercise for September 5
2 hours -
Asantehemaa welcomes Otumfuo home after US engagements
2 hours -
No automatic duty on travellers carrying more than two phones – GRA clarifies Customs rules
2 hours -
School rivalry cannot justify arson – Peace Council condemns clashes between Okuapeman, Mount Sinai SHS
2 hours -
From recognition to redistribution: Women’s leadership and the future of Africa’s economy
2 hours -
Chief Justice’s visits to Executive institutions raise neutrality concerns – Prof Duah
2 hours -
Gbande rejects NPP’s call for Chief Justice to resign
3 hours -
AT Ghana’s PPL Net must clear audit arrears before spectrum allocation – Sam George
3 hours -
GSE to close 2026 with 81% return for investors
3 hours -
New oil agreements should spur economic development – Deloitte Senior Partner
3 hours