Kevin de Bruyne Seeks Champions League Vindication To Sparkling Man City Career

Real Madrid managed to blunt Manchester City's goalscoring phenom Erling Haaland in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final, but there was no stopping the brilliance of Kevin De Bruyne. The Belgian's thunderbolt at the Bernabeu left the tie delicately balanced at 1-1 heading into Wednesday's second leg, but with City oozing confidence thanks to a 100 percent record in 14 home games in 2023.

Pep Guardiola's men are four matches away from becoming just the second side to ever win the treble of Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup in the same season.

A fifth league title in six seasons is as good as won with a maximum of three points needed from City's final three games.

Manchester United will have their chance to prevent the Red Devils' treble in 1998/99 being matched in the FA Cup final.

But with whoever emerges victorious at the Etihad big favourites to be crowned European champions against Inter Milan or AC Milan in Istanbul next month, Madrid are the biggest obstacle between City and immortality.

Real's own run to Champions League glory last season was fuelled by goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois' perceived slight at his reputation in England.

"I don't think I get enough respect, especially in England," said the former Chelsea stopper after his man-of-the-match performance denied Liverpool in the final.

For his international teammate De Bruyne, it is the opposite.

Widely considered one of the Premier League's finest imports, the 31-year-old has twice been crowned players' player of the year by his peers alongside a growing haul of 10 major trophies under Guardiola.

But City's failure to get over the line in the Champions League and the Belgian golden generation's lack of a major tournament victory means he