Man City reach Champs League semi-finals for first time since 2016

Manchester, UK | THE INDEPENDENT | City came from behind with a stunning second-half display to end the Champions League quarter-final jinx in style on Wednesday.

Trailing to an early Jude Bellingham strike, second-half goals from Riyad Mahrez and Phil Foden secured a fully deserved 2-1 victory as they move into the last four of the competition for only the second time in their history.

Now, Paris St Germain and City will battle it out for a place in next month’s Champions League final.

“Of course, we want more. We are going to play PSG, the finalists last year against Bayern Munich. We know how tough they are. They knocked out Bayern Munich, the best team in the world right now,” said coach Pep Guardiola as he hailed the importance of the achievement.

“We will see what happens and how we arrive, but for the club and especially the players, it is a good moment for all of us.

“We cannot forget, in the five years we are together, we have gone out of the Champions League quarter-finals three times.

Liverpool fall out

Jürgen Klopp was pleased with Liverpool’s improved showing against Real Madrid on Wednesday night but rued the first-leg display after his side were eliminated from the Champions League.

The Reds exit the competition at the quarter-final stage following a 3-1 aggregate defeat by Zinedine Zidane’s team in their last-eight tie.

Tasked with overcoming a two-goal deficit at Anfield, Klopp’s men applied heavy pressure on the Real backline throughout the second leg but, ultimately, were unable to find a breakthrough on the night and drew 0-0.