SM
Real Madrid vs. Mallorca: 19 hrs 39 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
MC
Champions League | Quarter-Finals
Apr 12, 2016 at 7.45pm UK
 
PL

1-0

de Bruyne (76')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Manchester City book place in Champions League semi-finals

:Headline: Result: Manchester City book place in Champions League semi-finals: ID:270496: from db_amp
Manchester City reach the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time in their history courtesy of a 3-2 aggregate victory over Paris Saint-Germain.

Manchester City have booked their place in the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time in their history courtesy of a 3-2 aggregate victory over Paris Saint-Germain.

The Citizens came away from the first leg with a 2-2 draw, and followed that up with a 1-0 victory at the Etihad Stadium this evening to break new ground in Europe's elite club competition.

The visitors dominated possession in the opening exchanges of the match as City sat off their opponents, but they struggled to create anything from open play and Joe Hart's only save of the first half came when Zlatan Ibrahimovic's powerful long-range free kick needed to be turned over.

City began to come back into the match as the half wore on, though, and came close twice in quick succession midway through the opening period.

First Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva linked up to find Sergio Aguero, who fired wide of the near post from a tight angle, before the Argentine sent another dipping effort bouncing narrowly off target after Ibrahimovic had been caught in possession.

Aguero would have an even better chance to break the deadlock on the half-hour mark when he was brought down inside the area by Kevin Trapp, who escaped with a yellow card for the challenge.

There was another let-off for PSG from the spot kick too as Aguero, who scored a penalty against West Bromwich Albion at the weekend, placed his finish wide of the target from 12 yards.

Even that didn't give the lacklustre visitors a boost, though, and they gifted City another shooting chance with five minutes left of the half when Serge Aurier's sloppy pass went straight to Jesus Navas, who curled an effort wide of the target from just outside the area.

The uncharacteristically quiet Ibrahimovic had another chance to test Hart early in the second half when PSG were awarded a free kick 25 yards from goal, but the latest thunderbolt from the Swede was parried away by the Man City keeper.

The hosts' first chance of the second half arrived on the hour mark when Fernando, whose mistake gifted PSG their first goal in Paris last week, got the better of Marquinhos from a corner but could only plant his header wide.

Pellegrini's side were still comfortable at the other end from open play, but they were almost undone from a set piece when Hart was needed to turn Thiago Silva's header over the top.

PSG's task was made even tougher with less than 15 minutes remaining when they fell behind on the night as De Bruyne, who opened the scoring in the first leg last week, did so again with a clinical curling finish into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

That left PSG needing two goals to progress, but it was the home side who came close again next as Aguero's 25-yard effort flew a yard or so wide of the target moments after the opening goal.

Laurent Blanc's men finally created their first big chance from open play with 10 minutes left when Edinson Cavani raced through on goal, but Hart prevented a nervy finish for his side by making himself big to deny the Uruguayan.

PSG did have the ball in the back of the net in the 86th minute when Ibrahimovic tucked away Maxwell's cross from close range, but the linesman's flag was correctly raised to cut the celebrations short.

That proved to be the last of the goalmouth action as City comfortably saw out the game to record just their second knockout victory in the competition, consigning PSG to a quarter-final exit for the fourth consecutive year in the process.

amp_article__270496 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2016-04-14 16:24:56:
html db last update - 2016-04-14 16:24:56 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html
Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool19144147192846
2Arsenal20117239182140
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest20124429191040
4Chelsea20106439241536
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle20105534221235
6Manchester CityMan City2010463627934
7Bournemouth209653023733
8Aston Villa209563032-232
9Fulham207943027330
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2061043029128
11Brentford208393835327
12Tottenham HotspurSpurs20731042301224
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd206592328-523
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham206592439-1523
15Crystal Palace204972128-721
16Everton193881525-1017
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2044123145-1416
18Ipswich TownIpswich2037102035-1516
19Leicester CityLeicester2035122344-2114
20Southampton2013161244-326
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .