Man City’s hopes of back-to-back Champions League titles are over after defeat to Real Madrid (Photo: Getty)
Real Madrid have been likened to Luton by Paul Merson after Manchester City ’embarrassed’ them in the Champions League.
That’s despite Real being the ones who advance to the semi-finals of the competition after victory at the Etihad on penalties on Wednesday night.
After an end-to-end 3-3 draw in Spain last week, the second-leg of this quarter-final tie was far more cagey, finishing 1-1 after extra-time.
City dominated possession and had more shots on target (nine) than Real had shots (eight), but Los Blancos – renowned as Champions League specialists – held on and won the shootout 4-3 after Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic missed their spot-kicks.
Real’s tactics earned the ire of City star Rodri, who said ‘only one team were playing’, and Arsenal legend Merson wasn’t impressed either, telling Sky Sports: ‘Last night’s game was embarrassing.
‘Man City did to Real Madrid what they did to Luton.
‘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.
Real Madrid are favourites to win a record-extending 15th Champions League title (Photo: David Blunsden/Action Plus/Shutt)
‘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.’
With Arsenal also losing to Bayern Munich, there are no English teams left in the Champions League, while Liverpool and West Ham are expected to be knocked out of the Europa League on Thursday having lost the first-leg of their ties.
Arsenal have also been knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich (Photo: Getty)
It would seem that English hopes in Europe all rest on Aston Villa who are only 2-1 up against Lille in their Europa Conference League quarter-final tie.
It is surprising to see the Premier League sides struggle so much after years of success on the continent, though Merson blames it on the quality of the league compared to others and the intensity of the title race.
‘I don’t want to make excuses for the teams. Arsenal didn’t turn up. They weren’t great. Man City destroyed Real but the luck wasn’t on their side,’ he added
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‘However, please don’t let anyone tell you the Premier League is not the greatest league in the world.
‘Of the teams left in the last four of the Champions League, I’m honestly not sure any of them get in the Champions League from the Premier League over a 38-game season. I’m not 100 per cent sure of that.
‘Look at Bayer Leverkusen, who are 16 points clear and unbeaten all season. They needed two set-piece goals to get past West Ham. You could also see it from Man City vs Real Madrid. City were on a different planet to Real.’
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