Pep Guardiola blows kisses as Man City destroy Real Madrid with statement win

The Treble is on.

Pep Guardiola and certain Manchester City fans may not like to hear it yet, but after this schooling of Real Madrid to reach the Champions League final it is increasingly impossible to shut down the noise around three trophies. City are really here, and if they play like this there is not a team on the planet that can stop them making history.

What a night at the Etihad, City's finest ever in this competition, to banish the nightmares of last season's semi-final by destroying the aura of the greatest team to play in the Champions League. And, it should also be noted, still one of the greatest teams.

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Carlo Ancelotti's side proved that last week, where they withstood an early barrage at the Bernabeu and ultimately ended up feeling unfortunate not to have won after turning the tables so exquisitely on City. They showed it again at the Etihad, with Thibaut Courtois underlining his status as the best goalkeeper in the world with an astonishing fingertip save to deny a powerful Erling Haaland header from close range.

Even that wasn't enough though against this City team. This time, they made good on their early dominance with over 80 per cent possession when Kevin De Bruyne superbly slipped in Bernardo Silva and the Portugal international gave Courtois the eyes before smashing home; "Let's gooooooooo," shouted Guardiola.

There was disbelief as well as joy in the stadium at how dominant City had been - this is Real Madrid after all - and slowly but surely the visitors worked their way back. Kyle Walker had the crowd on their feet after chasing back to dispossess Vinicius in the box before he could get a shot away, before Ederson got a touch on a fierce