Manchester City welcomed Real Madrid to the Etihad on Wednesday, and a statement victory saw the hosts cruise to the Champions League final.
The Etihad stage was set as two giants from England and Spain battled it out for a spot in the Champions League final – but it was almost David against Goliath over 90 minutes.
With 81% possession after 25 minutes, it was only a matter of time until the pressure cracked Real Madrid as the entire Manchester City squad seemed up for the challenge.
After Thibaut Courtois made two huge saves on Erling Haaland from point-blank range, a wide-open Bernardo Silva blasted home from inside the box for 1-0.
The Portugal international then capitalised on his side’s momentum and doubled the lead with a wide-open header for 2-0 as the visitors were shell-shocked.
Vinícius Júnior was well-marked by an equally speedy Kyle Walker, Karim Benzema was extremely meek, and the age of Toni Kroos and Luka Modrić was well on display.
Los Blancos tried to get their characteristic counter-attacks going in the second half, but Manchester City remained formidable (virtually inch-perfect) and limited every threat.
By the hour mark, a very slow Madrid still had only one shot on target and hauled off both Kroos and Modrić but a light bench suggested any sort of comeback was out of the question.
The game was all but put to bed when Manuel Akanji forced an Éder Militão own-goal, and to pile on the misery, substitutes Phil Foden and Julián Álvarez combined for 4-0 in front of bouncing fans.
Haaland perhaps finished the match as the only frustrated man at the Etihad missing three major opportunities.
It means the reigning champions bow out in incredible fashion as a dominant Manchester City side will now face Inter in the final.