Manchester City has qualified for the Champions League final for the first time in history on Tuesday evening. Six days after the 1-2 victory in Paris, manager Pep Guardiola’s team was again too strong for Paris Saint-Germain, last season’s losing finalist: 2-0. Never before has an English club booked seven victories in a row in European Cup / Champions League history. Manchester City, which won the League Cup almost two weeks ago and is on the verge of winning the league title, will face Chelsea or Real Madrid in the final in Istanbul on May 29.
The home team was shocked when referee Björn Kuipers pointed to the spot after seven minutes of play after an alleged handball by Oleksandr Zinchenko. However, VAR Pol van Boekel pointed out to his compatriot that the ball had landed on the Ukrainian’s shoulder. Three minutes later, Manchester City struck themselves. It all started with a beautiful long ball from goalkeeper Ederson towards Zinchenko, who delivered the leather to Kevin De Bruyne. With a bit of luck, the Belgian’s deflected shot ended up on the right side of the penalty area at the feet of Riyad Mahrez, who then aimed the ball through keeper Keylor Navas’s legs: 1-0.
Watch Riyad Mahrez’s 1-0 here
Manchester City played an excellent first half: on the defensive, the Guardiola’s team made a solid impression and on the counter they looked dangerous. Nevertheless, the home team also got away well a few times. A header from Marquinhos after a cross from Ángel Di Maria ended on the crossbar and two minutes later the Argentinian did not get the ball in the goal when Bernardo Silva was not paying attention. However, PSG was unable to do more. It was telling that Mauro Icardi did not get further than just thirteen ball contacts in the first half, but he also appeared again after the break. The not underarm Kylian Mbappé did sit on the couch with football boots instead of sneakers.
Mauricio Pochettino’s team had to score twice to at least force an extension in the Etihad Stadium, but the Parisians were hardly ever threatening. PSG’s sometimes desperate attempts were often blocked by Rúben Dias or John Stones, while Navas had to take action on the other side of the field on a shot from Phil Foden. Pochettino intervened after just over an hour of play and took both Icardi and Ander Herrera to the side, in favor of Moise Kean and Julian Draxler. The 2-0, barely a minute later after a sublime counterattack, came at a particularly bad time for the visitors. After a combination with De Bruyne, Foden put low forward from the left and Mahrez shot the ball high behind Navas at the far post.
Watch Riyad Mahrez’s 2-0 here
PSG thus needed three goals to reach the final, but a red card for the heated Di María puts an end to the visitors’ illusions. The Argentinian got into trouble on the sidelines with the provoking Fernandinho and gave a firm kick before he threw in. Kuipers had no choice but to show a red card. In a not always friendly final phase, Manchester City were still close to a third goal. Foden aimed for the outside of the pole and then he also came across Navas. In addition to a red card, Kuipers also drew six yellow cards, four of which for PSG.
View the incident between Fernandinho and Ángel Di Maria here