Real Madrid v Manchester City feels like a final as two dominant teams meet

I was looking forward to Bayern Munich against Manchester City. In April, when the best meet, you expect exciting matches. But I was disappointed. City managed the 3-0 advantage from the first leg. Bayern were not able to challenge their opponents.

Now I’m looking forward to Real Madrid against City. It’s the semi-final from last year, and back then it was the highlight of the season, with a narrow winner at the last. Again, it’s the two strongest clubs in the Champions League, which says a lot about Europe’s football. The English and Spanish leagues are not producing a second top team at the moment, the Bundesliga none at all. PSG promise but do not deliver. Italy is on the up, and Inter and Milan have taken advantage of the draw. But Real against City is the real final.

How do Real and City manage to dominate the competition? Through first-class footballers, through first-class managers, through clarity, identity, unity. Everyone at the club, whether coach, manager or team, pursues the same vision. Only then is harmony possible on the pitch.

And location plays a role. Real Madrid, 14-times Champions League winners, have always been in the top bracket. City have risen there with Pep Guardiola, assisted by the sporting director Txiki Begiristain. So far, City have won only one international title, the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1970. City were even No 2 in their own city for decades. What 1860 are in Munich, City were in Manchester. Fame and glory are not associated with such a club; it is not the natural place for the outstanding football stars.

That has changed. A year ago, the football world was preoccupied with the question: where is Erling Haaland moving to? It is an achievement by City that the coveted Norwegian