'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson made an interesting claim about the recent Manchester City vs Real Madrid UEFA Champions League quarterfinal, which the English team lost on penalties. The former Arsenal player reckoned that the Cityzens outplayed the Spanish giants at the Etihad in the second leg and were unlucky not to go through.
Manchester City and Real Madrid played out a 3-3 draw in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal at the Santiago Bernabeu last week. The two teams locked horns again at the Etihad on Wednesday.
It took the Spanish giants just 12 minutes to open the scoring via Rodrygo Goes but the Cityzens had the game under control and eventually equalized through Kevin De Bruyne in the 76th minute. The game eventually went into extra time and then to a shootout where Carlo Ancelotti's side triumphed.
With Pep Guardiola's side enjoying a huge share of ball possession and recording more shots on goal, Paul Merson felt the game was one-sided.
"Man City did to Real Madrid what they did to Luton," he told Sky Sports (via Metro). "For anybody watching that game, it was mind blowing. It was pure luck that Real got past City. They absolutely destroyed them. They embarrassed them.
"It was one of the most one-sided games I’ve ever seen, and City were just bang out of luck losing on penalties. Real Madrid cannot come away from that game and think they are a better team than Man City. They are a million miles behind them."
Real Madrid came out on top in the shootout after scoring four of their five kicks, with Manchester City scoring three.
What is next for Real Madrid and Manchester City?
After seeing out the Premier League giants, Carlo Ancelotti's men will now lock horns with Bayern Munich over two legs in the semifinals, with the first leg scheduled for April 30 in Germany.
Before then, however, the Spanish giants will continue their push for La Liga title this season. They've got El Clasico coming up this weekend, with Barcelona set to pay them a visit at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday, April 21.
Manchester City, meanwhile, will go head-to-head with Chelsea in the semifinals of the FA Cup at the Etihad on Saturday, April 20. With Guardiola's men now out of Europe, they can now focus on finishing well on domestic fronts.
