CITY WERE VAR TOO HOT
Real punished for errors by Pep’s heroes
PEP GUARDIOLA said his Manchester City players were ready to humble the kings of Europe and they proved him right.
City go into the last eight against Lyon after dismantling the 13-time winners with a masterclass that has made Guardiola’s side one of the favourites to go all the way in Lisbon.
Real had no answer to City’s relentless work-rate and enterprise, embodied by match-winner Gabriel Jesus, who made the first for Raheem Sterling and then scored the second to send the Blues through.
But Real’s Raphael Varane, a World Cup winner with France, gave City a helping hand with both goals.
Varane won’t forget this match in a hurry, Jesus seizing on his frailties as newly-crowned La Liga winners Real were made to look ordinary.
Jesus insisted they had come to the pitch ready to “work hard”.
He added: “Like the last game we can run a lot, we played good with the ball and scored the goals. We beat a top team, the best club in this competition so for us it is massive.
“It is about belief, believe in their mistakes. We are human and can make mistakes so I believe always and I press, press a lot. It is one of my powers. I was happy to score.
Sterling’s goal was his 100th for
City and he said: “We know how good they are, we know how good we are and the difference was who would run the most – and we were brilliant.”
When Karim Benzema cancelled out Sterling’s early opener, it seemed as though frailties that have plagued City in Europe in recent seasons could cost them once again.
But Guardiola’s side stepped up to the plate to produce a performance that suggests this season may be the year when they can finally realise the club’s final unfulfilled ambition of conquering Europe.
It was more Mediterranean than Mancunian at the Etihad, with the temperature still nudging 25C when the sides emerged from the tunnel.
Guardiola told his players before the game to impose themselves on Madrid and they did just that,
pressing their opponents relentlessly, the policy ultimately yielding the opening goal.
City made the perfect start, opening the scoring after nine minutes, courtesy of calamitous defending from Varane.
Jesus honed in on Varane and his pressing paid off, the striker winning the ball with ease, then squaring it for Sterling, who was presented with a tap-in.
The goal settled any early anxiety City may have been feeling, as Guardiola’s side began to play with customary fluency, one sweeping move ending with Sterling shooting just over.
Sterling was through on goal again moments later but was thwarted by a perfectly-timed tackle from Real midfielder Casemiro just as he prepared to pull the trigger and shoot.
Real served notice of their enduring threat in the 20th minute, when Eden Hazard found Benzema, who wriggled free of Aymeric Laporte, Ederson doing well to block the shot.
It was a reminder to City of the dangers of switching off but one they failed to heed in the 28th minute, when Benzema rose unchallenged to equalise with a towering header.
City had chances to restore their lead, Foden screwing a shot wide after Kevin De Bruyne had taken full advantage of a sloppy Thibauy Courtois goal-kick.
Courtois had to be alert in firsthalf added time, when De Bruyne whipped in a goal-bound corner, the Real keeper doing well to punch the ball away to safety.
Sterling had a chance to put City back in front in the 53rd minute but Ilkay Gundogan’s pass was overhit, allowing Courtois time to suppress the danger.
Gundogan atoned moments later, putting De Bruyne through but City’s most influential player was shackled by Daniel Carvajal, who made a crucial interception.
Courtois was called upon again to turn away a Jesus shot.
And in the 68th minute, Varane again the culprit, Jesus took full advantage of his under-hit header to Courtois to beat the keeper to the ball and steer it into the net and send City through.