Man City become masters of the anticlimax with Real Madrid demolition and title race non-event

It was meant to be a clash of titans, the two best teams in Europe meeting in a one-game shootout to reach the Champions League final.

Last year, Manchester City and Real Madrid shared 11 goals over two legs, and could only be separated in extra-time. This year, City had Real beaten with a half to spare.

Just like in the Premier League, where a neck-and-neck title race quickly became a canter for City, the Blues made the most difficult challenge look ridiculously easy once again against Real Madrid.

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City had arguably been the better team last week in Madrid, conceding against the run of play, and then scoring when under pressure and probably having the better chances to win it. Real and Carlo Ancelotti felt they edged it, just as City did, which means a draw felt a fair result.

There were no risks taken by City, though, who continued their record of drawing away from home in the Champions League this season (they have drawn five in a row since the opening win at Sevilla), and blowing away the opposition at home. Only Borussia Dortmund can say they gave City a game at the Etihad, as the Blues' home record stretches to 26 unbeaten in Europe, including 24 wins.

Jack Grealish says City feel unstoppable at home, and their ruthless demolitions of RB Leipzig, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid support that. In all competitions, City haven't lost at home since the reverse to Brentford just before the World Cup, and have won 15 out of 15 at the Etihad in 2023. Make it 16, and the Premier League title will be City's.

In that run, City have scored 52 goals and conceded just seven, averaging 3.4 goals per game. Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool,