CITY, REAL REACH CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUARTER-FINALS

BUDAPEST: Manchester City and Real Madrid both won their second-leg matches in the UEFA Champions League last 16, to reach to the quarterfinals with ease. Due to travel restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, City and their German opponents Monchengladbach met at Puskas Arena in Budapest as they did in the first-leg, Xinhua news agency […]

by Our Correspondent - March 19, 2021, 1:22 pm

BUDAPEST: Manchester City and Real Madrid both won their second-leg matches in the UEFA Champions League last 16, to reach to the quarterfinals with ease.

Due to travel restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, City and their German opponents Monchengladbach met at Puskas Arena in Budapest as they did in the first-leg, Xinhua news agency reported.

Bringing a 2-0 lead to the second meeting, City started brightly with two goals in the early stages.

City captain Kevin De Bruyne opened the scoring by lashing home Riyad Mahrez’s pass 12 minutes into the first half. Six minutes later, Phil Foden assisted German international Ilkay Gundogan to add a second with a close-range low shot.

Monchengladbach failed to respond, meaning the English Premier League leaders advance 4-0 on aggregate.

In Madrid, the hosts broke the deadlock in the 34th minute with Karim Benzema sweeping home after Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Sportiello’s poor clearance giving Luka Modric the opportunity to feed the French international.

Madrid advances 4-1 on aggregate. The 13-time champions reached the quarterfinals for the first time in three seasons.

The quarterfinal draw will take place on Friday.